Brooke
Unregistered User
(2/22/04 7:54 pm)

End of May Trip

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Hello Michelle! I've been studying your site all afternoon, its wonderful! I'm taking my mom over on the last week of May. Going on a schoolteacher's budget we only get one week of self-drive. And of course we want to stay in B&B's, but I would like to have one night in a castle. (perhaps Ashford or Dromoland, are they worth it?) Mom was there once long ago, but I have never been. She thinks we should concentrate on choice sights in the southwest from Connemara down. Considering this is probably my one shot at seeing Ireland, and that we only have a week there, would you agree this is the best choice? Thanks for any help!
Brooke

Michele Erdvig
ezOP
Posts: 2172
(2/23/04 1:34 am)

Re: End of May Trip

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Hi Brooke,

I'm glad to hear you are enjoying all the tips on my web site and forum. Your mother is absolutely correct. Given the time limit you have in Ireland concentrating on the west and southwest make sense and include some of Ireland's best scenery and sightseeing attractions.

As for staying in a castle, I have never thought paying 300 euro and up for a night's stay was worth it. Others have different opinions. On a school teacher's budget I would recommend sticking with B&Bs. You can always visit places like Adare Manor or Dromoland Castle and have a meal or a drink in the bar. That will cost much less and give you a taste of luxury.

Michele

wojazz3
Registered User
Posts: 375
(2/25/04 2:09 pm)

Re: End of May Trip

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Brooke:

I agree with Michele on the cost of staying at a castle. Quite frankly, they feel like very posh hotels as opposed to castles. Again, just an opinion. Some people swear they are the greatest. On a budget, I wouldn't even consider it.

Bill

Brooke
Unregistered User
(2/25/04 7:29 pm)

Re: Advice

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Thank you Michele and Bill. We will definitely stick to the B&B's now! I'm sure I will get loads of advice from your book when it arrives, but are there any clues of "must sees" or "must avoids" that you can name for now? Also, can we use a Visa Debit Card as cash there like we do here? I had heard we could and that it would help save us a bit in the exchange rate somehow.
Thanks again,
Brooke

Michele Erdvig
ezOP
Posts: 2185
(2/26/04 2:52 am)

Re: Advice

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Hi Brooke,

Your Visa debit card should work. See if it is compatible with Plus & Cirrus. Must sees for me are Dingle, Killarney area (you could stay in my favorite small town Kenmare and still see Killarney), Kenmare - what a great town, Ring of Kerry & Beara Peninsula. And did I mention Kenmare?

Michele

garyvol
Unregistered User
(2/26/04 6:36 am)

more advice

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Additionally, it would be wise to bring another type of funding assistance in case your debit card might get either eaten/messed up while in the machine. Just never know.
-gary

gillespie
Unregistered User
(2/26/04 7:25 am)

CASTLES

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Brooke, I am planning a trip first part of May. I hear what you are staying.....A cstle stay was a MUST in my plans. However, I also am on a budget. I wanted to stay in a castle but didn't want a castle that was all made up into a hotel. I wanted to stay in an older style more authentic castle. So we are staying in Cregg Castle near Connemara area, which is actually a 17th century B&B built on the site of a 12th century castle, reasonable rates. We are also staying at Charleville Forest Castle in Tullamore, also VERY reasonable. This castle is actually under renovation, but looks like it has character plus plus!!! Just saying there are castles out there that aren't outrageous prices, but you don't get the luxury accomodations that's all!

wojazz3
Registered User
Posts: 376
(2/26/04 11:20 am)

Re: CASTLES

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I'll second Cregg Castle, though I will say it has special appeal to my wife and I because we got to sit in with the owners and play some sessions tunes with them. Addionally, I got a 15 minute bodhran lesson from Anne Marie which turned me into an energetic and perhaps semi-competent Irish drummer. These were evenings we won't forget.

Bill

Mbarnes
Unregistered User
(2/26/04 12:48 pm)

Castle

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We have reservations for Ballyseede Castle which is in Tralee. As far as prices go for a family of 4 I thought that it wasn't too extreme. It was a must on our list.

However, I have never styed there before or have heard any comments reguarding it, but the owners were very nice to deal with.

FYI: 123 Ireland can also book it for you. Its listed on there web page. I believe Michele has a link.

Michele Erdvig
ezOP
Posts: 2189
(2/26/04 7:24 pm)

1 2 Travel

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Hi MBarnes,

Yes, there is a link to 1 2 Travel on my "Home Page" at the bottom of the page. They can book anything you need. I also get a few pennies from each booking but you pay no extra.

I have topped a post about castle hotels for everyone's convenience.

Michele

Brooke
Unregistered User
(2/26/04 7:51 pm)

Castles and B&B's

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Thank you all. I must say when I thought of staying in a castle I imagined it much less like a hotel than they seem to be, but Cregg Castle sounds more informal from what you've said. Can you recommend any equally pleasant and friendly B&B's? It seems my idea of them is wrong as well, since I picture them all being thatched roof cottages!

Michele Erdvig
ezOP
Posts: 2193
(2/27/04 12:30 am)

B&Bs

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Hi Brooke,

Thatched B&Bs are few and far between. Go to my "Lodgings" page for photos and links to some of my favorite B&Bs.

Michele

Brooke
Unregistered User
(3/1/04 7:59 pm)

Tentative Itinerary

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Hi again Michele!
My itinerary is a work in progress, but I did want to get some input before I went any further. I welcome any thoughts!

Days 1 and 2: Arrive in Shannon 7:00 am; Drive to Cliften for 2 night stay seeing Connemara, Kylemore Abby, Cong and Ashford Castle.

Day 3: Galway City, Lough Corrib, staying at Cregg Castle.

Days 4 and 5: Cliffs of Mohr and down to Dingle Peninsula and Ring of Kerry. (Stay somewhere between Dingle and Ring of Kerry?)

Day 6: Kenmare and Killarney

Day 7: Blarney Castle and Adare (Stay in/near Adare?)

Day 8: Bunratty

Day 9: Depart Shannon 1:00 pm

Is this fairly reasonable or do I need some tweaking? Thanks again for any help.
Best,
Brooke

Michele Erdvig
ezOP
Posts: 2211
(3/2/04 5:25 pm)

Re: Tentative Itinerary

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Hi Brooke,

Clifden is a bit farther than I would want to drive on my first day in Ireland. Why don't you stay at Cregg Castle on your first day and then spend two days in Clifden? That would solve that problem.

Days 1 and 2: Arrive in Shannon 7:00 am; Drive to Cliften for 2 night stay seeing Connemara, Kylemore Abby, Cong and Ashford Castle. Michele's Answer: * See comments above.

Day 3: Galway City, Lough Corrib, staying at Cregg Castle.  Michele's Answer:* See comments above.

Days 4 and 5: Cliffs of Mohr and down to Dingle Peninsula and Ring of Kerry. (Stay somewhere between Dingle and Ring of Kerry?) Michele's Answer: * You could base out of Killarney for a couple of days and do day trips to Dingle and Ring of Kerry. Alternatively, you could spend a couple of nights in Dingle.

Day 6: Kenmare and Killarney. Michele's Answer: * Fine. I assume an overnight in Kenmare? Or you could see Kenmare when you do the RoK and spend the night in Killarney.

Day 7: Blarney Castle and Adare (Stay in/near Adare?)  Michele's Answer: * Blarney Castle is very touristy. However, many people can't go to Ireland without seeing and/or kissing the stone. Personally I think that Cahir Castle and the Rock of Cashel are much more worth seeing than Blarney.

Day 8: Bunratty. Michele's Answer: * Fine.

Michele

 

Brooke
Unregistered User
(3/7/04 1:56 pm)

Itinerary switch?

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Hello again Michele!
On your advice I'm looking at switching Blarney Castle for Caher and Cashel. In that case would it be best to go from the Cliffs of Mohr across to Cashel and then back to Kenmare, RoK, and Dingle, then up to Adare and Bunratty for the end? I didn't notice before that I couldn't go straight down the coast from the cliffs to Dingle and that I would have to go back through Shannon anyhow.
As for starting in Clifden, I have a rather linear personality that makes me want to start at the top and work my way down. Sometimes it's more effecient, oftentimes its not, it just helps me keep everything ordered. Its silly I know, but will the drive be too much longer up to Clifden?
And I've had the town of Westport in Co. Mayo recommended, do you know if its worth adding? Sounds like I could spend the whole time in just the West at this rate!
Thanks again!
Brooke

Michele Erdvig
ezOP
Posts: 2258
(3/7/04 4:52 pm)

Re: End of May Trip

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Hi Brooke,

You could actually start in Cashel/Cahir (an easy 1 1/2 to 2 hour drive from Shannon) and then make a big clockwise loop. BTW, you can take a ferry across the Shannon River (Tarbert/Killimer), which avoids going through Limerick and Shannon. Great if you are going to or from the Cliffs of Moher.

The drive from Shannon to Clifden on main roads (no detours) will take about 3 hours, depending on traffic, etc.

Westport is a nice town but don't spread yourself too thin.

Michele