Advise about booking ahead and where to stay in Dublin

susanhoffman@wi.rr.com · Newbie

Advise about booking ahead and where to stay in Dublin

CowboyCraic · Guru

First off, welcome to the Forum!

For a first visit to the Isle, you have chosen a wonderful time. Everything will be in bloom and there will be lambs in the pastures.

You will definitely need advance bookings in Dublin. I would suggest the Brook's Hotel or Jury's Inn Christchurch. The Jury's Inn Christchurch is well situated in the Historic district. They are running a good rate currently. Take a look at your dates and make sure that you aren't traveling during a holiday weekend or that there aren't any festivals happening. Otherwise, you should be able to book your lodgings on the fly. Galway may be another plave in which you would want to lock in your lodgings.

Is it an evening flight which has you staying overnight in Dublin on your arrival? If not, seeing that you plan a three night stay at the end, I would suggest that you select a town on your south route at which to stay for your first night. also, when you return to Dublin, have the driver drop everyone else and the luggage off at the hotel and then turn in the rental car. You will find it more of a hassle than it is worth in Dublin.

I hope this is of some help.

Slan Beo (Take Care), Bit

susanhoffman@wi.rr.com · Newbie

Thank you!

Our flight arrives at 8:30 a.m. in Dublin on a Thursday. We thought it might be too much of a shock to our systems to jump in a car and begin our drive, what do you think? We thought we might spend that first day getting our bearings in Dublin, pick up a car the next morning and then jet out of town.

If we were to head out right from Dublin airport in our rental car, realistically what would be a good first night destination? We'd probably be trying to battle through some jet lag by afternoon.

Sadly, we will be there during a bank holiday May 25 but that falls during our Dingle stay.

Do you think Galway area would be a good place to stay a night or two or three? Use it as a base for sightseeing? It looks to be a straight shot back to Dublin.

Again thank you. I'll check out the hotels you suggest next.

Irrover · Veteran Member

Sue

Sounds like a wonderful trip. the self catering on Dingle will be wonderful. I would recommend staying in Kilkenny on your first night. About a two hour drive from the airport but you can make several stops and even change drivers if required (although 20yr old would probably not be allowed on the car contract). You could either drive straight there or stop in Powercourt or Glendalough on the way. Kilkenny has the castle and is a cool medieval city. Get Corey's walking tour (irishfireside.com). Your son would love it.

it would help if you provided your relevant dates (arrive, depart, self catering) so we could provide better recommendations.

Also get rid of the car before the 3 nights in Dublin. You won't need it and parking and getting to the hotel will be so much easier

-- Edited by Irrover at 14:19, 2009-02-20

CowboyCraic · Guru

Susan,

By the time you collect your car and head out, it will be closer to ten in the morning. I would suggest heading south and staying overnight somewhere in the Glendalough area, taking in Glendalough & Powerscourt. I would recommend Hunter's Hotel, in Rathnew, which is a mere 45 minute drive from Dublin or Cherrybrook House in Avoca, which is about an hour's drive. Both hotels will give you a good base for seeing the Co. Wicklow attractions such as Glendalougha and Powerscourt. Also, beginning in April, Co. Wicklow kicks off a Garden Festival and there will be many private Gardens which will open to the public.

You could also head for Kilkenny and spend your afternoon exploring the town and surrounding environs such as Jerpoint Abbey. If Kilkenny is your destibation, I would highly recommend my favorite stay which is Lawcus Farms. If you wanted one in the city, I can recommend Butler Court

After a transatlantic flight, I would recommend no more than a two hour drive. I compensate for Jet lag by staying hydrated and taking a short nap once I am settled in my lodgings. Exploring an outdoor site, such as Glendalough or Powerscourt, will also stave off the jet lag, due to the fresh air & physical activity.

Slan Beo (Take Care),

Bit

Michele Erdvig · Host

Sue,

Wonderful info from Bit and Irrover. I too would recommend getting a jump start on your trip by staying in Co. Wicklow or Kilkenny your first night. Check my Lodgings page for recommendations on where to stay.

Bewleys Ballsbridge Hotel is doing some super low rates of 59 euro per room. It is in the burbs a few miles from city center but you can bus or DART into the city center: http://www.bewleyshotels.com/ballsbridge_hotel_details.asp

Will your son be sharing a room with you and your husband? If so, you will need a triple or family room. If you need that, then I would suggest making reservations simply because there are less of those type rooms available. You don't want to have to spend lots of time while in Ireland searching for accommodations. If some place does go out of business you can deal with it on a case by case basis. Plus if you reserved with a credit card there is no problem with losing money.

A week in Dingle sounds heavenly. Where are you self-catering? Since the holiday falls during your self-catering week you will have no problems with it.

Galway is a good base for doing Connemara and the Aran Islands. You can see the Cliffs of Moher and Burren on your drive from Dingle north. Look into taking the Shannon Ferry.

Michele

Sudie · Newbie

Thank you Michele;

We have booked an apartment with John Benny's Pub. Fingers crossed it will be nice.

Thank you for the suggestions. Lodgings in Dublin are so expensive and having three people seems to limit our choices.

Now time to begin researching places to stay in or near Galway.

Sue H.

CowboyCraic · Guru

Sue,

If I want to stay in Galway proper, I usually choose between St Martin's (2 Nuns Island, Galway City, Co. Galway, tel. 091-568286, e-mail: stmartins@gmail.com) or St. Jude's. Both of which are well located and close to everything. Your son would find Galway to be quite enjoyable for a young man of his age, as Galway is a University town.

Slan Beo, Bit

Michele Erdvig · Host

Sue,

I hope your self-catering is good too. You will have to let us know how it was when you retrun. I tend to like Salthill, a suburb of Galway. It tends to be just a bit quieter at night. Look at my Lodgings page for some options.

Michele