More specials

Dude · Guru

More specials

Michele Erdvig · Host

Dude,

Thanks for the heads up on the website.

Michele

Dude · Guru

Just received an answer--you must book before March 31 but you can book any date. Just be sure to note that you are booking the special offer.

Michele Erdvig · Host

Dude,

Thanks for the additional info. That will save some here money.

Michele

Roy · Guru

Looks like a very good deal and a way to wrap up our last night before flying out of Shannon the next day.

Dude · Guru

Just what we are planning, Roy.

Can anyone tell us, before I e-mail the Bunratty Folk Park, if we pay to get in in the morning, leave for Doolin for the Cliffs cruise, and then come back can we get in on the same ticket for the balance of the afternoon? Also thinking of squeezing a quick trip to Craggaunowen in so we may not have time to hit the Folk Park twice, but you never know.

Roy · Guru

This is a prepaid offer. I would suggest you contact Shannon heritage to inquire. The person I have been in contact with is Anita O'Loughlin OLoughlinA@shannonheritage.com

Michele Erdvig · Host

Dude,

I don't know if they will let you back into the park. Best to ask directly for the definitive answer.

Michele

Dude · Guru

I shall, and will report back with a definitive answer.

Michele Erdvig · Host

Here is another discount to report: http://www.irishfarmholidays.com/ifh/index.cfm?fuseaction=browse.discountsTCs

Michele

Dude · Guru

According to Fiona, you pay once at the Folk Park and then can come and go all day. My guess is that you should hang on to your ticket.

Anchoress · Guru

Is that what they call "cookies"? Maybe they rubber stamp your hand?

Dude wrote:

According to Fiona, you pay once at the Folk Park and then can come and go all day. My guess is that you should hang on to your ticket.

Dude · Guru

Now there's another question that I can't answer, yet! I shall know in June. Cookies, LOL!

Anchoress · Guru

Well, when I first got a computer, the man was trying to explain what "cookies" were.

His example was that when you went to a night club, and you wanted to leave then come back, they stamped your hand.

That, said he, was a "cookie"

No, he had never seen me:)

But that is what the man said!!

As we have just had Ash Wednesday..... the first Ash Wednesday I was in Ireland, I went to Knock.

I was not used to a Catholic country of course, then.

They "ashed" everyone with a wee rubber stamp.... A Cross of course; very neat and efficient.

I did not realise until the following year that that is NOT the norm here.

Interesting parallels with "cookies" though.

Dude wrote:

Now there's another question that I can't answer, yet! I shall know in June. Cookies, LOL!

Michele Erdvig · Host

Anchoress,

I enjoyed those stories. Very funny! Been to any night clubs lately in the wilds of Donegal?

Michele

Anchoress · Guru

As we have a 6 PM Grand Silence Curfew;)

But we hear cars rolling home up to 4 am.

We could literally fill a large book with Irish Stories, but under a pseudonym of course....

The computer was actually pre-Irish
Michele Erdvig wrote:

Anchoress,

I enjoyed those stories. Very funny! Been to any night clubs lately in the wilds of Donegal?

Michele

Roy · Guru

I booked the Shannon heritage internet special for Bunratty Castle and Folk Park and the Traditional Irish Night for our last night. Even though I was charged in euros, the exchange rate managed to get padded. The explanation was I was charged in euros and the Bank of Ireland established the exchange rate ($1.31).

I checked on what I paid for car rental through Kemwell on our last trip in 2007. It came in at $421 for 13 days. Current quotes are in the $620 range for a similar booking this year. I book the 2007 trip about this time of the year. Our trip is in August. Anyone have any quesses why the rates are so much higher?

Thanks,

Michele Erdvig · Host

Roy,

I don't know why the car rentals are higher this year. Was your trip at the same time last year? August is prime time so prices are higher than in May or November. I guess it is time to shop around.

As for the exchange rate did you look at the daily rate on Oanda for the day you did the transaction? Keep in mind that banks do set rates and they are usually higher than that website shows. You can always call your credit card for clarification. Does your cc add an "international surcharge"? Could that account for it?

Michele

Roy · Guru

Hi Michele,

It was the same time of the year, in August. My wife works in the public schools, so we end up having to travel during the high season. I have been shopping around, and will continue to before booking! Fifty percent higher seems steep. With tourism down, it will be interesting to see how rental rates might be affected.

Yes, I am using the exchange rate on Oanda. I used my debit card to avoid the international surcharge. According to Shannon Heritage, it was the bank of Ireland that set the exchange rate when the charge in euros was made. Live and learn I suppose. I usually pay cash as I go (from ATM's) to avoid these problems.

Sidz · Guru

That does seem real high. Check Dan Dooley's -- they might be a better choice at the price you are stating, as I've been happy with their options.

-- Edited by Sidz at 12:39, 2009-03-04

Michele Erdvig · Host

Just got a newsletter from Dromoland Castle. Evidently the recession is hitting castles hard too. They are offering a special for those traveling May 31 or sooner. To avail of the offer you must spend one night at Dromoland and one at Castlemartyr Hotel. The rate pps is 97.50 euro for B&B.

Snap it up now!

Michele

-- Edited by Michele Erdvig at 15:34, 2009-03-04

Roy · Guru

Dan Dooley's is comparably high, as are other rental companies I have checked.

Michele Erdvig · Host

Roy,

I am finding (for spring) $103 per week from Kemwel for a manual Ford Fiesta. That is with no CDW or Super CDW since I have cards that still cover them.

Funny, but when I input an August date they don't have any Fiestas available. The cheapest car that shows up is an Opal Corsa at $182 a week.

Have you tried clearing the cookies from your computer? I find that doing that will give you better prices sometimes. I usually do it after visiting each car site.

Michele