8 day itinerary

kcone · Member

8 day itinerary

Dude · Guru

In County Mayo you can't do better than Achill Island!Of course, it's not centrally located in the County but I could certainly spend 3 happy days there.

-- Edited by Dude at 10:58, 2008-05-23

CowboyCraic · Guru

KC,

Westport would be a fantastic launch point in County Mayo. I would heartily suggest that you make the drive around and through Achill Island, as Dude noted in her post. It is filled with spectacular scenery and historic ruins. You might enjoy staying at Mill House B&B, which is in between Castlebar & Westport. All of the rooms are on the ground floor there, which would make it easier on your mam. You could also look at Glenderan B&B, which I believe has one ground floor room.

In Dingle Town, I believe the Bay Watch offers one ground floor room. They are right in Town Centre. I haven't been in since they refurbished but it was very comfortable before. Tom, one of the owners runs archeological tours, as well.

Slan Beo (Take Care), Bit

kcone · Member

Thank you, I have been doing my research on this end but I love to hear options from folks who have "been there, done that" great suggestions thus far.

YaYa · Guru

kcone,

I've stayed a few times at TempleGate right in the center of Ennis. Its location is on a little square across from the Tourist Office. I'm older also, walk with a cane and found TempleGate comfortable and Ennis itself very walkable. It does not feel like a large city, it's a small very walkable little town. I'd ask for rooms away from the hall door and not facing the parking lot. I've heard Old Ground Hotel is also nice and is central. Both of those places would be fine for your Mother. You can tour during the day and come back to a lively little town.

Regards, Joan

YaYa · Guru

P.S.
If I were you, I would check out Micheles list of accommodations. She has stayed in all of them.

Michele Erdvig · Host

kcone,

I think you have a good idea of what will work for your trip. Ennis is ideal for the areas you are interested in for Co. Clare. I agree with Joan about the Temple Gate Hotel. It is very nice. The Old Ground is excellent also and has recently had an update. You can not go wrong with either place.

Much as I like Achill Island, I think that Westport will be more in line with what you need for your trip. Boffin Lodge has ground floor rooms and rooms that have handicapped accessibility. It is not too far from the town but a stretch if you plan on walking it.

Dingle is charming. Benner's Hotel is right smack in town. If you don't mind a slight walk try for Emlagh House (they have a lift). Heaton's and Castlewood are also places to consider.

Michele

Michele Erdvig · Host

Joan,

I have stayed at all the accommodations that I have a full review for in my book. I do have some "Quick Picks" also. They are places that I have inspected but not yet stayed at. For instance Dromoland Castle is lovely and I have inspected it and found it very good. At current prices I don't think I will be staying there or giving it a full review any time soon. But I don't think they feel slighted by not being reviewed by me!

Michele

YaYa · Guru

Dear Michele,

I know you haven't stayed in your Quick Picks but you've heard enough good things about them to have a place for them in your book. Do you think I chime in too often about people checking out your accommodations? It's hard for me not to talk about a good thing. I think at a certain age a bad mattress, unclean rooms, not friendly hosts and not the right location does not make for a happy trip. I just wish everybody planning a trip would get your book.

Regards, Joan

Michele Erdvig · Host

Joan,

Feel free to chime in when and where you want. I think it is very helpful especially to new people who don't yet know what the website and forum are all about. I very much appreciate your endorsement of my book. I have tried to make it as "user friendly" as possible. The owners of B&Bs in my book even use it themselves when traveling around Ireland!

I just wanted to clarify to anyone reading that although I stay in most of the recommended places, a few are accommodations that have only been inspected. Although I always try to look at as much as possible at each establishment. For instance I recently spend a few hours at Adare Manor seeing the rooms, the manor, grounds, the townhouses, the villas, golf club, etc. B&Bs take less time to view.

I will be posting a brief trip report soon with recommendations and tips from my recent trip.

Michele

kcone · Member

There is some talk about us staying in Galway, it seems very much a big city to me. Is there a recommended place in town. I am also curious, is there a web site that will inform me of distances/time for driving to and from locations. We will be renting a car but I was wondering how long it will take us to drive from Galway to Kylemore Abbey or to the mountainous 12 Pins road and back. I loved Westport but Mom is now very interested in Galway. Thanks everyone for the info thus far.

Dude · Guru

Just west of Galway in Spiddal, we stayed at An Caladh Gearr Thatched Cottage. All three guest rooms are on the ground floor. It is right on the R336 so easy to find. The hostess was lovely and we enjoyed our stay. Since we had all three rooms booked, we were able to sit around a peat fire in the salon in our jammies and drink Bailey's. One of those unplanned happenings that make a trip.

It's not much farther to Kylemore or the 12 Pins from there than from Westport.

Michele Erdvig · Host

kcone,

Try the AA RouteCalculator. Get the miles (not kilometers) and divide by 35 to get your best estimate of driving times.

Galway is much larger than Westport. A good city center hotel is Park House Hotel. There are many different B&Bs in the city also but you need to choose carefully to find a ground floor room for your mother. In your case the hotel may be preferable. Salthill is a suburb of Galway and where I usually stay. Spiddal (mentioned by Dude) is several miles west of Salthill.

Michele