Late May 2011 trip - I'm bringing a newbie to Ireland! West and northwest.

Michele Erdvig · Host

RE: Late May 2011 trip - I'm bringing a newbie to Ireland! West and northwest.

Green Dragon · Guru

I will double check, thanks for that. Though when I called, they said that Northern Ireland was considered UK - I'll get that in writing :)

Green Dragon · Guru

I'm still cloud-computing for B&Bs at our stops. Definitely doing Man of Aran for Inis Mor, thanks to Bit's recommendations... but the other places we're staying are still up in the air.

What we are looking for: charming B&Bs (rustic is fine, we like old stuff), in a village or town, not a city. Walking distance to pub, necessary. If close to a restaurant as well, even better. Cheap - we prefer not to pay more than E40 pp a night, we are sharing a double or twin. En suite greatly preferred. I hate to say, but we are cheaper than many of Michele's lovely recommendations :( (however, some of hers are indeed on my list!)

We are staying at:

Cushendall (negotiable)
Ardara or Donegal (prefer Ardara as per Bit's recommendation)
Westport (negotiable)
Inis Mor (Man of Aran Cottage already decided on)
Ballyvaughn
Dingle
Kenmare

Thanks for any personal recommendations!

Michele Erdvig · Host

Christy,

Cushendall (negotiable): The Meadows
Ardara or Donegal (prefer Ardara as per Bit's recommendation): Gort na Mona
Westport (negotiable): Cilcomman Lodge, Glenderan, The Boulevard
Inis Mor (Man of Aran Cottage already decided on)
Ballyvaughn: Burren View, Cappabhaile House (both slightly out of town)
Dingle: Tower View, Dunlavin House, Emlagh Lodge
Kenmare: Arthur's Lodge Wood (see "Hot Offers" for a discount), O'Donnabhain's, Willow Lodge, The Lodge

Michele

Green Dragon · Guru

O'Donnabhain's, Emlagh Lodge, and Gort na Mona were already on my short list. Thanks, I'll look into the others!

murphy · Guru

Christy,

We liked Abbey Court B&B in Westport. Ask for the room with the "king bed"! Clean, roomy, great breakfast, and a great hostess (my wife had a medical emergency and Kay was very helpful). Best of all it is easy walking distance (3-4 blocks) to downtown Westport for pubs and restaurants. Westport can be traffic congested for driving around, and a difficult town to find a parking spot. Dan

EngagingKate · Senior Member

Christy,

It looks like you've got one heck of a trip planned there! I think we could travel well together... seems like we have similar tastes in travel and sightseeing. wink

Thanks to your post and the great responses you've gotten, I've gleaned some nice tidbits and suggestions for our June trip to Donegal/Northern Ireland.

One of the things I really, REALLY want to do is to overnight on the Aran Islands (not on our June trip though), so I totally understand you not wanting to cut that out! I want to spend a night on Inis Mór and a night on Inis Oírr. I want to be there when the tourists go back on the ferry and the sun is going down. Ahhhh... Just the sound of the ocean and the wind.

A note about the car hire CDW: Our card covered the CDW when we rented in England and Wales, but it will not cover the car we are renting in Northern Ireland...

Isn't trip planning a blast? And, it's great to get the energy of taking someone who's not been to Ireland before. I love getting caught up in their excitement! Happy planning!!

Slan,

Kathy

Green Dragon · Guru

You are all right, renting in Northern Ireland seems to be the same as renting in Ireland. However, the drop off costs BFS to SNN on Dan Dooley are much less than the other way around, and UK departure tax still applies, so we're keeping it that way. Thanks for making me check :) The CDW still only comes to $100, which is doable.

ALSO! Vicki can get a couple extra days off before and after, as long as she checks her email while there. That means WiFi is important at our B&Bs or internet cafes, and her boss is lending her iPad so she can check regularly. It also means we can fly out Thursday 12th, arrive the 13th, and leave Monday the 30th - which means two extra days! Adding to Cushendall and Inis Mor.

I'm so glad this is helping you, Kathy! Ireland is so magical :)

We have narrowed down our B&Bs.

3 nights - Cushendall: The Meadows B&B

3 nights - Ardara or Donegal (prefer Ardara as per Bit's recommendation):we're still undecided, and may keep looking. I prefer Gort na Mona, but want to be in walking distance to a pub, and that isn't :(

2 nights - Westport: The Boulevard (thanks to Michele's rec)

2 nights - Inis Mor: Man of Aran Cottage (was a bit concerned about some bad reviews on Trip Advisor, but Bit's recommendations outweighed them). It's not near a pub either, but biking from the pub is much less dangerous while intoxicated :) And it's light very late in the summer!

2 nights - Ballyvaughn: Oceanville B&B - RIGHT near Monk's Pub! :)

2 nights - Dingle: Wildflower Cottage (again, thanks to Bit's rec)

3 nights - Kenmare: O'Donnabhain's (we had pretty much liked this one best, but Michele's rec clinched it)

-- Edited by Green Dragon on Wednesday 12th of January 2011 06:25:50 PM

CowboyCraic · Guru

Looks like it is shaping up well, a chara!

Perhaps, in Ardara, you might consider Nesbitt Arms, a hotel but more like an inn, just down the block from Nancy's, the best pub in Ardara. Brae House B&B might be another to consider. I am not sure if Nora still has it open but it is on the main street just down from the Diamond. Here is her contact information: braehouse@eircom.net.

There is a small pub just up the hill toward Dun Aonghasa, which is in walking distance from Man of Aran. They shot the interior scenes for the movie Leap Year at that pub.

Slan agus Barrogs,

Bit

Michele Erdvig · Host

Christy,

I'm glad you checked on the car. Most B&Bs nowadays have WiFi or will let you "borrow" their computer to check. Also libraries and internet cafes provide access. Many hotels have it available in their lobbies.

Great news that you will get extra days in Ireland. You will have to let me know how The Meadows is. Although I have inspected it, I have not stayed there yet.

Michele

Green Dragon · Guru

Thanks for those, Bit! I'll check them out :) It's always better to get a personal rec than go blind. And the info about the pub, cool!

Michele, I'll always give detailed reviews :)

EngagingKate · Senior Member

I forgot to mention that, if you're out on the Ring of Beara and have time (and the weather's decent), drive out to Gleninchaquin (www.gleninchaquin.com) and take one of the walks if you can. This is a family-owned place, and it is a little drive off the main road, but it is really cool!

Their website says they've almost finished the Visitors Centre they were building when we visited in 2009. Since it's a family-owned attraction, they just build when they have the money... There's supposed to be a little tea room in there. The waterfall is absolutely fascinating. Gorgeous!

The only drawback that I would mention is that it seems like it cost us 10 Euro for the car (no matter how many people were in the car). I can't see on the current site where it says how much they charge though.

Check out their site!

Michele Erdvig · Host

Christy,

I love the Beara Peninsula. Be sure to go to Josie's Restaurant (near Derreen Gardens) even if only for tea. FYI, most McDonald's in Ireland have free WiFi too.

Michele

Green Dragon · Guru

Gleninchaquin and Derreen Gardens were both on my list :) McDonalds? Other than in Dublin, I don't think I ever saw a McDonalds. But then again, I never looked for it in Ireland :P

Michele Erdvig · Host

Christy,

Open your eyes!

http://www.mcdonalds.ie/about-us/restaurant-locator.aspx

I can't seem to fina a locator for NI but there are about 25 there. Derry, Belfast, Lisburn, etc.

Michele

Green Dragon · Guru

Ha! I had no idea there were McDonalds in Kilkenny, Ennis, Killarney - just to name a few towns I've been in. Well, I wasn't looking for them - I prefer to look for pubs and the like :P BUT great for free WiFi spots!

Michele Erdvig · Host

Christy,

Many times you have to go to the counter to get the code at McDonalds. I usually just purchase a coffee and then use the WiFi.

Michele

Green Dragon · Guru

No worries, we can do that :)

I'm still debating our Donegal accomodations. I widened my search again to see if I found one that suited our tastes/preferences.

The longer shortlist is now:

Abbey Lodge. 2 minutes from Ardara town centre. King size beds, en suite, Jacuzzi baths. 16 positive reviews on Tripadvisor. WiFi. E40pp. http://www.abbeylodgeardara.com/
Pros: beds, baths, en suite/wifi
Cons: most expensive

Bayview Country House. Attractive, 4 positive reviews on Tripadvisor. En suite, WiFi, bay views. 1km from town. E33. http://www.bayviewcountryhouse.com/
Pros: en suite, wifi, views, pretty
Cons: outside town

Brae House B&B. En Suite, in town centre. WiFi. Recommended by Bit, can't find prices (emailed). http://www.goireland.com/donegal/brae-house-accommodation-bed-and-breakfast-id31498.htm
Pros: recommended, en suite, in town
Cons: couldn't find their own website, no reviews on Tripadvisor, no prices

Gort na Mona B&B. 2 km from Ardara Town. Recommended by Michele 3 great reviews on TripAdvisor. WiFi. E37pp.
http://www.gortnamonabandb.com/index.htm
Pros: Gorgeous, recommended
Cons: outside of town

Michele Erdvig · Host

Christy,

Tough decision. Gort na Mona is about a mile from town but up a hill. I've not inspected the others so can't comment. Although Abbey Lodge looks like it meets all your requirements. Perhaps another thing to keep in mind is that you could always walk into town and take a taxi back. Not that pricey if only going a mile or two.

Michele

Green Dragon · Guru

True - I think we may have decided on Bayview as not too far away, 1km - staggering distance :) It is now between Abbey and Bayview. Though the Jacuzzi baths sound luxurious, I don't know if they are in all the rooms, probably not.

gabbaroo · Veteran Member

Here is the link for locating McDonalds in the UK - including northern Ireland.

http://www.mcdonalds.co.uk/restaurants/restaurant-locator.shtml

Michele Erdvig · Host

Jackie,

Thanks for finding that link for me: http://www.mcdonalds.co.uk/restaurants/restaurant-locator.shtml smile

Michele

Green Dragon · Guru

And, because nothing is ever set in stone, we may have a third traveler, my friend Annalisa! Another newbie to Ireland, but she's been on countless cruises around the Caribbean and Alaska. She's a joyful, bubbly person, and we both like her. Gonna look at the B&Bs and see prices on family rooms vs. single supplements and availability of both.

Looks like each B&B has family rooms available according to their website, except Man of Aran - I can't tell. Cathy, can you enlighten me? Can it accomodate three people in one room? A double and a twin is fine, we can share :)

-- Edited by Green Dragon on Friday 14th of January 2011 11:55:27 AM

Itallian Chauffeur · Moderator

I think SuperMac's offer free wi-fi too, but in any case, check out:

http://free-hotspot.groopli.com/index.php?address=Ireland&option=com_google_maps&view=world&lang=en&Itemid=16793

Bob

Michele Erdvig · Host

Christy,

The more the merrier. Your trip is growing every day.

Bob,

That's good to know.

Michele

Roy · Guru

Bit,

We stay in Westport Quay for that reason too- it's easy to leave from the harbour area without going into Westport and it's a great walk into town. I agree that driving in town is unpleasant.

Green Dragon · Guru

Oh, it may now be four! Definitely merry. Kim won't know if she can come or not until February, when vacations get approved. Kim and Annalisa MAY have to join us a couple days in, say in Donegal - no problem there, they can hop a cheap flight over, and we'll pick them up. Kim was my travel partner to Ireland in 2006 and to Scotland in 2008 - she's old hat at this. She's also my best friend since we were 14. It's gonna be a PARTY!

So, I'm leaving reservations until we are sure who is coming, and when. We will have to have more than an economy sized car, too - a standard should do it, though.

She is flying in from San Francisco, Annalisa from New Orleans, and Vicki is coming up from Florida to Pittsburgh to travel over with me. This will take some magic - I'm going to try to get us all on the same flight from Newark over to Belfast, if we travel at the same time. Wish me luck!

Oh, and meeting with Grandpa is out - he can't make it over at that time, so we'll have to do it another trip.

-- Edited by Green Dragon on Monday 17th of January 2011 11:09:42 AM

Michele Erdvig · Host

Christy,

Your trip is snowballing. Be careful or it will start to get complicated.

Michele

Green Dragon · Guru

We just simplified it by cutting Grandpa out :) It will never be as complicated as my Scotland trip with Kim, our friend Carla, my husband and my parents. NEVER ever ever will I mix husband, friends and family again!

Roy · Guru

Our best trips are my wife and I and nobody else. I don't mind dropping in on family while in Ireland. Even though my wife said this trip will be strictly holiday since she is spending two weeks with her family in August, I told her I don't mind if we see some of them along the way.