B&B REALLY close to Bunratty

Jerilyn Mc · Veteran Member

B&B REALLY close to Bunratty

Michele Erdvig · Host

RE: B&B REALLY close to Bunratty

Jerilyn Mc · Veteran Member

Have you tasted mead? I haven't, just wondering what you thought of it.

CowboyCraic · Guru

I have tasted Mead and found it not to my liking. I prefer Jameson or Irish Mist. It gave me a tremendous headache after one small glass. I couldn't imagine imbibing large quantities.

Maybe someone else has had a more favorable experience.

Slan Go Foill,

Bit Devine

Michele Erdvig · Host

Jerilyn,

As Bit has said, mead does not suit everyone. That is why they also serve red and white wine at the banquets. Mead is on the sweet side and is very potent. You will want to drink in moderation or (as Bit discovered) you will have a whopping hangover.

Michele

wojazz3 · Guru

You can find mead at most liquor stores in the States. I have a "meadery" not far from where I work. It's too sweet for my tastes. The hangover effect is probably from the sugar. Champagne does that to me.

Bill

Jerilyn Mc · Veteran Member

Whew! I'd better be careful. I like a good glass of wine, but get headaches a lot. I'll have to be careful. Won't be planning a hike to the Cliffs of Moher the next morning, falling off would adversely affect the rest of the trip. Ha!

Jerilyn Mc · Veteran Member

Hi Michele,

I decided to go with your recommendation of Bunratty Lodge and just spoke with Mary Browne. She's on holiday in FL right now and was able to talk with her without having an international phone call charge. Yea! She certainly seemed "bright and cheerful". I can't wait to meet her. She's even going to make the reservations for Bunratty Castle and banquet for us. Thanks for all your help. You have a great thing going here and I've already passed your info on to a potential Ireland-goer.

Another question: What's your choice of hotel/b&b in Dublin? We'll be staying there Fri & Sat, July 6 & 7, flying out 9 am on Sunday. "Doing" Dublin on the weekend isn't the most ideal, but it was the only time I could fit it in. (I revised the itinerary many, many times... we couldn't do everything during the week). How's the bus system there? If we stay kind of close to the airport, can we get to all the activities around town? If we stay close to the activities, can we get to the airport easy enough with all our luggage? What do you suggest?

Thanks again for all your help!

Michele Erdvig · Host

Jerilyn,

I'm glad to hear you tracked Mary down in Florida. She is having a well-deserved rest in the warm sunshine. I know you will enjoy staying at Bunratty Lodge.

As for Dublin, do you have a budget per person per night? It is an expensive city to stay in so don't get shocked when you see the rates. Personally, I like staying in Malahide village about 8 miles north of the city center. It is much quiter. You can get a bus or DART into the city from there.However, there are advantages to staying in the city center since you can walk most everywhere or grab a bus or taxi. If you stay in the city and have a lot of luggage I suggest a taxi to the airport. When staying in the city you will not need a car so turn it in before hand. What you save on the two days of no car rental you can use for taxi fares. I have some hotel suggestions in my book's Quick Picks section. Take a look. Or get back to me with what you can spend.

Michele

P.S. Thanks for recommending my site to others!

Word of mouth and happy readers and clients are the best way of advertising.

cryogenine · Veteran Member

RE: B&amp;amp;B REALLY close to Bunratty

Jerilyn Mc · Veteran Member

RE: B&B REALLY close to Bunratty

Jerilyn Mc · Veteran Member

I'm thinking that I'd rather be closer to the action, my daughter & I like to walk, hubby & son, not so much. But if I make the reservations, they have to go along with it. A family room is preferable, but 2 rooms work ok, too. I saw a Travel Lodge family room for €89/night in Swords. No atmosphere, but it's cheap. But that's a ways from downtown. Do you know of anything in the downtown area that's cheap? It doesn't have to be fancy or even all that nice, just clean, we'll only be sleeping there. I noticed you have the Four Seasons listed in the quick picks section. Ahhh, to afford that would be grand! But, alas, our budget isn't quite so high.

Michele Erdvig · Host

Jerilyn,

Try Jurys Inn Christchurch and Bewley's Ballsbridge. Both have low room rates for Dublin (breakfast not included).

Michele

Jerilyn Mc · Veteran Member

I'll look into those hotels. Thanks. And now, another question.

We get into Dublin at 6 am on a Tuesday. Mr Antsy wants to get the car right away and get on the road. I figure we'll head out to Newgrange. But that doesn't open until 9:30. We have at least 2 hours to do what? Know of a place where we could get breakfast between the airport and Drogheda? Personally, I'd like that time to take a little nap, but hubby and the 2 teens sleep well in a plane, I don't. They'll be ready to roll. Have you been in that situation, got in early and with nothing open yet? So far this is the only glitch in the itinerary (which has undergone several revisions, of course).

Thanks for all your help...I really appreciate knowing if I have a question, you (and the others) on this forum will offer suggestions.

CowboyCraic · Guru

Jerilyn,

The Great Southern Dublin has a restaurant which serves breakfast from 7 a.m to 10 a.m. That might be your best bet when you arrive. There are coffee bars at the airport itself but Potter's has an extensive breakfast menu.

As for Newgrange, you want to get there early, before it opens, in order to get your name on the list for the tour, especially during high season.

Have you tried Tylenol PM or even chamomile tea & valerian root caspule just after settling in on the long flight? The flight attendants will give you hot water for a tea bag. I have found both helpful, as I am usually a light sleeper. There is a Continental Airlines Attendant who wishes they'd not touched my shoulder whilst trying to regain their balance. I am a bit aggressive when startled awake.

Along with Michele's suggested lodgings, check in to Clifton Court Hotel and Kellys Hotel. They are basic hotels nothing frivolous. That being said, both have excellent, knowledgeable staff, the rooms are clean and comfortable, the breakfast hearty and tasty and they are close to everything. Clifton Court even has an excellent Pub which usually has traditional music at night. Kelly's has a family room, double bed and two twins, for $100 euro a night.

There are mixed reviews of both on tripadvisor and other travel ratings sites. However, I stayed at Kelly's this past July whilst waiting "patiently" for globe trotting luggage. I drew the short straw and had the time of my life. Someone at the information desk suggested both hotels. Kelly's had an airport bus stop close at hand so I chose Kelly's. I am not a fan of Dublin, because of the traffic, but that stay over has softened me some. Lanagan's I believe is the name of the pub at Clifton Court, which is where the staff at Kelly's directed me to head. I found trad music in full session, which I was invited to join and did, and Jamesons at the bar.

The luggage I was waiting for was there at the desk upon my return.

Slan Agus Beannacht,

Bit

Jerilyn Mc · Veteran Member

Thanks for the info, Bit. I sent Kelly's an email asking about accommodations. Michele is right, Dublin is expensive. I was thinking I could find a cheap (by my standards) hotel, but I guess I'll have to bite the bullet and pay to stay there. I HAVE to see the Book of Kells!

Thanks again for the help.

Michele Erdvig · Host

Jerilyn,

As Bit suggested you can get breakfast either at Dublin Airport's cafes or the Great Southern Hotel. If you get to Newgrange early you could maybe have a nap in the car for an hour in the parking lot to perk you up.

Michele

CowboyCraic · Guru

Jerrilyn,

Kelly's is a great value in Dublin. I hope they have a family room for you!Taking the Open-Top hop-on/off tour is an excellent way to see all the main sites, as they offer discount admissions to the sites at which they stop. Value Menu is another way to save money whilst dining at some of Dublin's best restaurants. Boticelli, in Temple Bar, has a Value Menu for both Lunch and Dinner. If you love seafood, have lunch at Brownes Brasserie in Stephen's Green, which offers a value menu for lunch.

If shopping is your game, there are some great open air markets to explore, Cow's Lane Market for fashion, Moore Street Market for watching Dublin's best street hawkers in action, Temple Bar Market for a gourmand farmer's market. If all that walking has you wishing for a rest stop, Butler's Chocolate Cafe would be my suggestion. Now, if they just had one in the States!

Just consider Dublin your end of trip "splurge"!

Slan Agus Beannacht,

Bit

Jerilyn Mc · Veteran Member

Thanks Bit,

Mmmmm chocolate. I think we'll have to stop there. That Value Menu is pretty amazing...a website devoted to the cost of meals. What a great idea!

Now I'm thinking about chocolate....gotta go find some. :)

Michele Erdvig · Host

Jerilyn,

Be sure to buy some Butler's Irish Chocolates while on vacation. And if you find Thornton's mini carmel shortcakes buy them all! Good thing they aren't sold in the US 'cause I am addicted to them.

Michele

Jerilyn Mc · Veteran Member

Are the Thorton's carmel shortcakes covered in chocolate? That would just be a little bit of heaven! And they come in a mini size? What's the weight limit a person can bring back to the US? I could bring a whole suitcase full of them home. YUMMY! What I'm really looking forward to in Ireland is a good draft hard cider. It just doesn't taste the same here as it does there (I think it's the preservatives that the US makes the companies put into the imported cider that aren't in the ingredients over there). Hmmm can I smuggle cider home???

Michele Erdvig · Host

Jerilyn,

There are lots of different ciders to try in Ireland. I haven't done a taste test myself. The Thornton's mini carmel shortcakes have a bottom layer of shortcake, an inch of carmel and a layer of chocolate on top. Decadent!

Michele

Jerilyn Mc · Veteran Member

I'll just have to do an official taste test of all the ciders. Does anyone have a favorite that should be put on the list? I promise to try it. :)

Michele Erdvig · Host

Jerilyn,

These websites may wet your whistle:

http://www.bulmers.ie/
http://www.ciderindustrycouncil.com/

We will be expecting a full report on Ireland's cider. Don't forget to take notes!

Michele

Irisheyesrdreaming · Veteran Member

RE: B&amp;B REALLY close to Bunratty

Jerilyn Mc · Veteran Member

RE: B&B REALLY close to Bunratty