Self Catering Cottage Locations

noshot9 · Veteran Member

Self Catering Cottage Locations

Michele Erdvig · Host

noshot9,

Welcome to my forum! Your request is a tall order. I am mullling it over and will get back to you shortly with a couple of good places.

Michele

noshot9 · Veteran Member

Thanks. Also I looked at your picture that you posted on a website on one of your forum replys showing the 3 prong plug and adapter from 3 prong to 2 prong that is used in Ireland. Do the 3 prong plugs in Ireland have 2 flat prongs and one round one like in the US or are all 3 prongs flat prongs? I could not tell from the picture.

Irrover · Veteran Member

Three flat ones, 2 going one direction and the 3rd at a right angle

yesiree · Guru

They are three square prongs...two horizontal and one vertical. The same plugs are used in the UK, so type in "uk plug" in google images and you'll have an abundance of visuals.

CowboyCraic · Guru

The only cottage that might fit the bill in the southwest that I can think of is Croughmore cottage, which is just outside of Mitchelstown, which is in County Cork. You can do day trips from there to Cahir(17 miles), Rock of Cashel(28 miles), Blarney(38 miles), Killarney(62 miles), Cork(32 miles), Cobh(39 miles) and Waterford(55 miles). It would be a long daytrip, to be sure, but you could also reach the Dingle peninsula (106miles to Dingle town).

As for your request in the upper West coast, that is indeed a tall order. That is quite a spread out list of daytrips. I would suggest Caheroyan House & Farm in Athenry, which would certainly fill the the bill for Galway (15miles), Knock (42miles), Sligo (82miles) and Roscommon Town (44miles). However, Donegal would be 120 miles, which would be a long daytrip.

If these seem like reasonable distances, bearing in mind a speed limit of 30-35 mph in most areas, then these self catering cottages might serve you well.

Slan Beo (Take Care),

Bit

noshot9 · Veteran Member

Thanks for your reply and help. If I concentrated my efforts in just Clare County(Cliffs of Moher, Barren and Loop Head), Kerry County(Dingle Peninsula, Killarney Area & Ring of Kerry, Kenmare Area) in the Southwest, does this change your suggestion on the one week self catering cottage location in the Southwest?

As for the North, If I concentrated on Galway, Connemara Area, and Silgo and stayed somewhere between Galway and Sligo for the one week self catering cottage in the North does this change your suggestion for the North location? Would staying between Galway and Silgo put me closer to Donegal County?

My wife's ansestors came from Scotland to Ireland and settled in Donegal County, so therefore the interest in Donegal Country. Also I have read that the north part of Ireland is kind of remote and rugged.

noshot9 · Veteran Member

Thanks on the "UK PLUG". I will try to find one in USA at Home Deport, Lowels, etc. Google listed several web sites that you can order from. One picture showed UK to US Plug and their web site said UK to North America, South America, Japan and several other countries. Can you find one upon arrival in Ireland if I can't find one beforehand?

yesiree · Guru

Adapters are usually available at the airport shops and other electronics shops (both in the US and Ireland). I know Hughes & Hughes in Shannon Airport has them...and the airport stores at O'Hare and JFK also carry them.

Department stores like Wal-Mart and Target also sell the adapters and converters.

Michele Erdvig · Host

noshot9,

Self-catering presents its own joys and problems. It is lovely to have a base for a week and to get to know the immediate area well. However, branching out and trying to see more distant areas can be a stretch. Perhaps you should narrow your focus if you want to self-cater. If you absolutley must see all those areas you mentioned self-catering may not be the best plan for you. Instead think of staying at B&Bs, guesthouses or hotels for a few days at a time.

For the SW I would consider Killarney or Kenmare. But Co. Clare is is a couple of hours from them. The west and NW presents even more problems. If you look at a map the area is even larger. There is really no one place from which to do it all there. I wish I could wave my magic wand and make your dreams come true but with travel to Ireland there are always compromises to make. Let me know if I can help in any other way.

Michele

CowboyCraic · Guru

Good Morning,

Both of my self-catering cottage sugggestions would allow you to see the areas that you want.

That being said, Michele has a valid point about staying in B&Bs in different locations. Perhaps you could look to self-cater one week, say in the Southwest, and then B&B the second week doing two night stays in three locations and the last night close to your departure airport. Something such as 2 nights Sligo, 2 nights Donegal, two nights in Galway and then your last night in Ennis or Bunratty.

Another suggestion would be to self-cater at the Bridge Cottage in Co Donegal for a week and explore that area throughly as that is ancestral home ground. Then you could do the B&B in the SW, 2 nights Galway, 2 nights Killarney, 2 nights Dingle and again the last night within in close range of the airport.

Slan Beo,

Bit

noshot9 · Veteran Member

Thanks to you and Michele. I guess it is back to the drawing boards as they say. I am glad that I am not the only one with this kind of problem, otherwise I would feel like an idiot. If we made the trip in October, would we need to make reservations at each B & B or could you just stop when you feel like it and find a B & B to stay in for a night or two? I know that you would need reservations in Dublin.

CowboyCraic · Guru

It takes several times of drawing up itineraries before I ever think I have a good enough itinerray and I have traveled to Ireland quite a bit.

Traveling over in October will give you some room for booking as you go. The Caveat is that the daylight hours are shorter and driving around in the dark is not for the faint of heart. If you go to the Tourist Information Office in whatever town you decide to stop in, they will usually have a B&B locator desk and will help you locate lodging for a nominal fee. You are correct that it is best to book your lodging ahead of time in Dublin.

However, if you are concentrating on the West coast, Donegal & Kerry, it would make more sense to fly in/out of Shannon. Shannon is much easier to navigate in and around.

Slan Beo,

Bit

Michele Erdvig · Host

noshot9,

I like Bit's idea of self-catering for a week in the SW and doing another week in the NW at B&Bs. Generally you don't need reservations in October except for a Bank Holiday weekend at the very end of the month.

Don't worry about trying multiple times on your itinerary. Playing with ideas and changing things around is what makes for a better trip. Once you make a decision you know you have thought it all out and it is the best one for your trip.

We are here to help. Let us know if you have other questions.

Michele

youngka · Guru

Please see notes in your private messaging area. Got too wordy to put everything on the forum.
Youngka

youngka · Guru

Michele, We have been thinking of not so many self catering, for the exact reason/s you mentioned, eventhough I mentioned to noshot9 that is what we always used in the past. If we ever return to Ireland, after 3/08, I think the single night stays would/are better. They cost a little more, but I think, like in your case Noshot9 for your plans, that self catering may be to long in one place eventhough you can use it as a "base"
Youngka

youngka · Guru

Noshot9
You're welcome. Have a really nice trip, and welcome as a new member!
Youngka

Michele Erdvig · Host

Youngka,

I love self-catering although it is more work for me. It is nice to be settled for a week and not have to pack up every day. It makes sense in many cases. However, in other cases and depending on what you want to see it is sometimes better to do B&Bs. It depends entirely on the situation. What is perfect is a mix of both.

Michele

youngka · Guru

I get so settled in, almost don't want to leave from one self catering place to another! We are sorta in a spot that would warrant not having one. When we go to Ireland in 2008, we will be staying in pretty much the West. However, we really want to go to the Giant's Causeway -- in case we do not return to Ireland. Is it possible to take a train from Shannon/Galway or ? and go that far North in a decent amount of time? This is the place where having our self catering place does not benefit us -- because we are sure we will not be able to return to it and will probably have to stay in the North at least one night. Can we fly North from say Shannon and not pay too much? Thanks a lot
Youngka

Michele Erdvig · Host

Youngka,

Aer Arann flys from Cork to Belfast. Otherwise you would have to return to Dublin to get a train up to Belfast. If you are going north you should spend a couple of days at the least. The Antrim coast is spectacular. And there is much to see and do. However, in March many sightseeing attractions may only be open on weekends. Plan around that. The Giant's Causeway is always open.

Michele

youngka · Guru

Thanks, Michele. You are always so helpful
Youngka

Michele Erdvig · Host

Youngka,

You're welcome! I do my best.

Michele