Lovesatq

03/12/01 2:29 PM

Do I really need B&B reservations during the summer?

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Hello Michele, My teenage daughter and I will leaving for Ireland the last week of June for two weeks. We have reservations in Dublin for 3 nights and Castle Cregg for 2 nights but do you really think we should pre-book all of our nights? We would like to keep this trip as flexible as possible but then again I don't want to spend our time searching for a B&B. Our general plan is to take in the areas of Dublin, Waterford, Cork, Kilarney, Dingle, Galway and then back to Shannon. Any suggestions you can give will be greatly appreciated. Love this site...


IrelandExpert
(Community Owner)
03/12/01 6:40 PM

RE: Do I really need B&B reservations during the summer?

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Hi Lovesatq,

Thanks! I'm very glad that you like my site. Hope you're getting some good tips from it.

Winging it in Ireland is best kept for the shoulder season or off season. Since you are going to be there at the very height of the tourist season and because you don't want to spend a lot of time searching for accommodation, my very best advice is to make a firm ininerary in advance and then make reservations for lodgings. I'm working on many itineraries right now for my clients who are traveling when you are and things are already filling up. Some of them had to go with their second or third choice of lodgings, since their first choice was full already! Also, the places you mentioned are very popular and will get booked up during the season.

To make the trip as easy and carefree as possible make those reservations! (You can be flexible in between with what you see and do.) And don't forget to use "home bases" for two or three days and do day trips from them. There's nothing like settling into a place without the hassels of packing, unpacking and moving on every day.

Feel free to post any other questions.

Michele


Lovesatq

03/13/01 12:11 PM

RE: Do I really need B&B reservations during the summer?

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Hello again Michele,

You've convinced me to go ahead and book reservations now for my trip in June but what do you think of making Dublin, Waterford, Cork, Kilarney, and Shannon my home base for two to three days each? Is there any one area in which you feel we should spend the most time at?
I ordered your book and can't wait to get my hands on it. Thank you..


IrelandExpert
(Community Owner)
03/13/01 7:33 PM

RE: Do I really need B&B reservations during the summer?


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Hi Lovesatq,

You won't regret having reservations. It will make your trip much easier and you'll enjoy it more. Good news--the 2001 edition of my book will be out in a week or so! If you are awaiting that edition you should have it soon.

As for your itinerary, what is the total amount of time you have in Ireland? Do you prefer cities or country? Killarney--3-4 days or more--lots to do there. Shannon--2-3 days. I like Kilkenny better than Waterford. I would choose Kinsale over Cork City. But then it all depends on the sightseeing you want to do in each area.

Michele

Lovesatq

03/14/01 5:11 PM

RE: Do I really need B&B reservations during the summer?

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Hello Michele,

I can't tell you how helpful your advise is but I have another question. We have 15 nights in Ireland and right now I'm planning 3 nights in Dublin, 2 nights Kilkenny, 2 nights Kinsale, 4 nights in Kilarney, 2 in Galway and 2 in Shannon. My questions is, we want to spend time in Dingle but looking at the map and hearing how long it takes to go from point A to point B, would we be better off using one of the nights from Kilarney and spending the night in Dingle? It sounds like such a lovely place to spend some extended time. I'm just afraid we would spend most of the day driving there and back in one day. Thank you again for this great service.

IrelandExpert
(Community Owner)
03/15/01 3:14 AM

RE: Do I really need B&B reservations during the summer?

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Hello again,

You're right Dingle is a day trip from Killarney and it will take the whole day to get there and back. It's also a divine place to stay so do take a day from Killarney and spend a night in Dingle. Then you can go from Dingle to Galway via the Killimer/Tarbert Ferry across the Shannon. The trip sounds great and is really shaping up!

Michele