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Post Info TOPIC: Adare Manor Townhouses


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Adare Manor Townhouses


We will be staying in the townhouses at Adare Manor Feb 17th-24th - has anyone stayed there?  What are they like?  Any tips of what to do?

Thanks.

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How much are you paying?  Seems like that is a nice place, but really high price.

I guess my tip would be to hope that the dollar gets stronger vs. the Euro before you arrive!   wink

Seven days in Adare? Why so long in one spot?




-- Edited by Sidz at 14:26, 2008-01-30

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Catcrazy, 

The townhouses at Adare Manor are being heavily promoted as part of a fly/drive/self-catering package. Have you booked one of those? There has been a lot of discussion on the Internet about some of those package companies using "bait and switch" methods. Some people have booked the package for the Adare Manor townhouses and are then informed there is no vacancy there, hence their reservations are switched to the Castle Gardens self-catering in Bunratty. Just want you to be aware of what is happening. 

Adare Manor is a 5-star hotel and the townhouses are new additions to the estate. Although they are on the estate they are a 15 minute walk to the main hotel. I have not personally visited the townhouses yet but they are rated highly. You can visit the Adare Manor website for photos and more info: http://www.adaremanor.com/

There is plenty to do and see in the area for a week. Pop into the tourist office in Adare and they will supply you with maps and brochures about the area. Let us know how you liked the townhouses. I guess you will be the forum guinea pig! biggrin

Michele

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Should anyone in your group like to golf, the course at Adare Manor is spectacular.  Did not play it, but was able to drive around it.  Appears to be the last course ever designed by Robert Trent Jones.  Really impressive setting.

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Thank you all for your responses - yes we did book a package through Air Lingus so hopefully there will be no bait and switch although we did think the price was too good to be true.  The package was for 4 people - 6 nights in the Adare Manor Townhouses (that is why we are staying in one place and doing day trips), rental car (Dan Dooley) with unlimited milage - one car for the 4 of us, and airfare from NY to Shannon, and full Irish breakfast for the 4 of us - the price was $499 a person which was in my opinion a steal.  Even if there is a the bait and switch it, then it will still seem to be a good value - unless the hotel is horrible.  Although we have also been told that we can use all the amenities of the Manor - the heated indoor pool, spa, etc,  so we will be pretty upset if we cannot stay there.  Is it possible to do a trip for this amount of money by booking each thing individually?  This will be our 2nd trip through Air Lingus packages and the first one was incredible - but it offered B&B vouchers - we had no problem with using them.  It will be our third trip to Ireland the other two were in March of 2002 and March of 2005.  This trip will be the middle of Feb. so I would hope that all the townhouses would not be full.  I would hope that Air Lingus would not pull a bait and switch.  Thanks for this info.  I have not seen it anywhere else on the net and have done all of my research for our itinerary on line.

Thanks again for all of your replies.

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Question:  How is the Castle Garden Self Catering in Buntratty?  I will look up on the net, but would like your input.  We plan to do day trips - itinerary is as follows - depending on the weather:

Day One - Arrival and seeing Adare, maybe St. John's Castle, Afternoon Tea at Adare Manor
Day Two - Dinlge and Slea Head
Day Three - the Ring of Kerry and the Skellig Ring - it is incredible and maybe my favorite of all - I love St. Finian's Bay and the wonderful Skellig Chocolate Factory there - best chocolate I have ever had - even better than Godiva.
Day Four - New Market on Fergus, Cliffs of Moher, and any road that strikes our fancy
Day Five - Maybe back to Killarney to do the Gap of Dunloe and Lakes tour - again depending on weather
Day Six - Drive to Cork - want to go to Cobh to see the Titanic Museum
Day Seven - Back to the airport to go home

All of the above depending on weather, how we feel, and how many pictures we take, how many off the beaten path roads we go down. We hope the Connor Pass will be open when we are in the Dingle area. There is a wonderful road over the Mulgillihudy Reeks (speling?) that goes from just outside Killarney and comes out close to Waterville, we did it in 2005 and it was incredible - but not for the faint hearted - many steep areas and some of the narrowest of the narrow of roads. We want to see as many ruins as possible.

Any suggestions of where to go and what to see will be appreciated as we know going in Feb some things may be closed. Have already seen the Rock of Cashel (twice) and Blarney Castle so we plan to bypass those.

Thanks again for all of your help.

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Catcrazy,

Yup, Aer Lingus Vacations was one of the companies using the "bait and switch" of booking people at Adare Manor Townhouses and sending them to the much lower cost Bunratty Castle Gardens Townhouses. Very mixed reviews for the Castle Gardens. Many people have had problems with cleanliness, no heat and other things.

Adare Manor is much more expensive than Castle Gardens. From what I have observed if you stand up for yourself and demand to be put at Adare Manor they will do it. They are counting on people just saying "okay" we will go with whatever you say. Some people were told there was "no vacancy" at Adare Manor so they actually went to Adare Manor and inquired. Guess what? There were plenty of vacancies. Sounds like it is a matter of money over customer service.

Perhaps Aer Lingus Vacations and the other companies selling the packages have had so many complaints now that they have cleaned up their act. I certainly hope so. If I booked Adare Manor and got Castle Gardens instead I would be steamed. Read the fine print on your package and insist on your rights.

Some of your proposed days will be very long such as ROK. I would suggest doing it only in good weather and with an early start. Some other interesting things:

Foynes Flying Boat Museum
Loop Head (catch the ferry there and back)
Hunt Museum (Limerick)
Cliff Walk (Ballybunion)
Kilmallock town & church ruins

Michele

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"Ireland Expert"  Michele Erdvig

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Thank you so much.  My niece emailed Adare Manor and they have confirmed that they have a reservation for us in their townhouses during the time we are supposed to be there - so yes we will be going straight there and see what happens. 

Also thanks for the suggestions of some things to see and do.  I will do a review of the townhouses when we get back.

The Cat.



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Catcrazy,

Your niece is very smart! I am delighted to hear that you have your reservation at Adare Manor Townhouses. Can't wait for your feedback. Take photos and notes! Please.

Michele

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"Ireland Expert"  Michele Erdvig

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Michelle,

Thank you so much for all of the advise. Sorry I have not gotten back with you sooner. I have had a conference to prepare for. Now that it is over I can share our trip and photos.  I hope this link works - I have about 275 or so pictures in this album which can be viewed as a slide show.

I know you were concerned that AerLingus might pull a bait and switch on us - but I am glad to say that they did not.  We did stay in the townhouses at Adare Manor and the townhouses were wonderful, with one exception.  The beds were like sleeping on the floor.  We asked about foam pads and were told that they did not have those, but would put 2 blankets per bed under the sheets - they helped a little.  That was the only thing that was disappointing - everything else was wonderful from breakfast every morning to afternoon tea in the drawing room.  

We got our rental car with no problem and when we got to the Manor about 10AM the townhouse was ready for us to check into. 

We went from there to Barney Woolen Mills to have some sweaters sent home.  The next morning we were up bright and early and headed to Dingle via the Connor Pass - the last time in Ireland it had been closed due to fog.  I would love to return drive it again and again.  It was incredible.  The picture of my neice, her husband and my husband by the car on the beach was taken somewhere close to the Connor Pass.  My husband is the shorter of the two.

Dingle was wonderful and the day was so clear after starting off so foggy.

Next day was Killarney and we had planned to visit the Aran Sweater Shop there on College St.  We had bought sweathers there in 2002 on our first trip over. We got there and it was closed and would be closed for 3 days for inventory.  My husband and I said oh well and started away, but my neice is stubborn and wanted sweaters for her kids and in-laws.  She knocked on the door and a very kind gentleman waved us to the back of the store where she told him the truth but made a sad story - that we had come from America to shop there and we really wanted to buy sweaters from his shop - he said - come on in - only in Ireland - I loved it - we had the store to ourselves except for the staff who took time away from inventory to help us!!!!smilesmilesmile  And we ended up spending a lot of money there - my husband got 3 sweaters, I got some knitting yarn for a friend and my neice bought sweaters, blankets and I don't know what all - but we had a grand time - all because of one man's kindness.  After lunch in Killarney we went to the Kerry Woolen Mills - not far from Killarney, but we were grateful for the GPS in the car with us. 

Site seeing in Killarney and then back to Adare.

Next day we spent seeing all we could around Adare - a very lovely village.

Thursday - on the road again to the Cliffs of Moher - way too much wind to even get out of the car so we went to Galway - a little far from Adare, but fun.

Friday, My husband and I went down to the Ring on Kerry - only half way round to St. Finian's bay to the best chocolate shop in the world - just my opinion.  Then came back via the pass over the Mullgillicuddy Reeks - not sure of the name of the pass, but would do it over again also - the beauty of this land is amazing to behold.  And the people the nicest I have ever met and we travel a lot. 

Saturday back to Shannon Airport and home - oh well - can't wait for another trip over there.

Thanks again for all of your help.


http://picasaweb.google.com/catzcrazy/Ireland2008SharingPictures


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Dear Catzcrazy,

I enjoyed your report and I'm happy you had a good time. Goodness, I know about those hard beds all over Ireland. When I was researching my last trip and Michele said The Lodge in Kenmare had cushy beds, I booked right away. Very comfortable. I'm older and my bones need a little softness, my last trip I bought a single bed tempur-pedic mattress pad, a medium size duffle which I could handle and would put the pad on my beds at almost every stop. Really helped.

Regards, Joan

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Cat Crazy, Very nice trip, so much to see as you quite well know.  Thanks for some new ideas.  If and when you make another trip, try www.adarecountryhouse.com in Adare, excellent bed!  The owners are very nice, as is everyone in Ireland!, and they serve a wonderful breakfast.  It is a very short visit to town and the Blue Door restaurant is not far away.  I had heard a lot of about the restaurant, but we missed it twice when driving thru Adare this year.  Youngka

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Catcrazy,

Welcome back from your trip. Thank you for the update on Adare Manor Townhouses. Perhaps your request will make the management remedy the hard bed problem in the future. I personally like a firm bed - but not board hard.

What a wonderful experience at the Aran Sweater Shop. Only in Ireland is right. Glad your trip to Ireland was so good. I hope you can return again some day.

Michele

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youngka,

How did you like Adare Country House? Last time I stopped in Adare there was no one at home so I couldn't inspect it. It looks lovely on the website. I must stop by next time.

Michele

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"Ireland Expert"  Michele Erdvig

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Michele, It was furnished with very nice antiques. We had a four poster bed with draped light material around the top making it look so relaxing and romatic, bed was WONDERFUL with very nice comforter and pillows so you just sank into the bed and fell fast asleep. Large bathroom with a towel heater, I think. Armoire, bedside tables for my stuff and a nice vanity, plus a table and chairs -- large room, as you can see. Whole B/B is in a "U" shape with the owners home on top - was added later, I think, but done well. Bedrooms on both sides of the building - we didn't check them out, sorry - and a nice large and cozy breakfast room -- the night before you could choose between three/four breakfasts choices--waffles/Irish breakfast/and others, with a side buffet covered with juices/yogart/cereals, --wonderful Granola!/and other items -- looking out on their backyard that, unfortunately, was not in flower yet. The owners were so nice and let us have our room earlier than the check in time -- knowing we were sooooo tired -- and made sure we were comfortable after bringing our luggage in. Wish we could have stayed longer
youngka

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youngka,

Thanks for the review. It sounds lovely. I will be in Adare this year and will stop by again.

Michele

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"Ireland Expert"  Michele Erdvig

Click links for Michele's Book or Custom Ireland Itinerary

Visit Michele's Irish Shop for unique Irish gifts and beautiful photos of Ireland.

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