mcglymar
Registered User
Posts: 1
(8/1/05 4:15 pm)

October Trip Questions

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My wife and I are making our first trip to Ireland in mid-October for our 25th anniversary. We'll be there for 9 nights, the first two of which will be spent w/ relatives. We will be travelling the West/Souhwest coastal areas and want to know:

1) At this time of year will we have trouble finding B&B accommodations on a night-to-night basis vs. making advance reservations?

2) Any suggestions for a romantic place to spend our wedding anniversary night, both sleeping rooms and restaurant? We were considering Dromoland.

Thank you.

stannseniors
Registered User
Posts: 159
(8/1/05 9:29 pm)

october

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I have limited experience having only been to Ireland Once but we went in October and i thought it was GREAT. No crowds (had pictures with no one but us), always a B&B to stay in (the B&B owner would make reservation for us in the town ahead), and the weather was cool and crisp and beautiful.
I found most of the B&Bs along the coastline romantic....but I'm sure Michele or some others could suggest some great places...

Michele Erdvig
Administrator
Posts: 3289
(8/2/05 1:31 am)

Re: October Trip Questions

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mcglymar,

Congratulations on your 25th anniversary in October. Generally, you should have no problems "winging it" except for the very end of the month, which is a Bank Holiday. On Oct. 28, 29 & 30 if you are planning to stay in a popular area you should consider reservations. You didn't mention Dublin, where you always need reservations. And, of course, on your last night you will know where you want to stay so you might as well reserve that.

Do you know where you will be on your anniversary? That would help me to suggest a great place to stay. Dromoland Castle is lovely as are many of the others in Ireland. You can get a full listing by going to the bottom of this page and under the Index click on Castle Hotels.

Let me know if I can help in any other way.

Michele

mcglymar
Registered User
Posts: 2
(8/3/05 10:01 am)

Re: october

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Thank you for your response and reinforcing our decision to go in October.

mcglymar
Registered User
Posts: 3
(8/3/05 10:08 am)

Re: October Trip Questions

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Michele, appreciate your response and your guide! We are going mid-October to coincide with our anniversary and to avoid the month-end bank holiday. We are staying with relatives in Loughrea Sat & Sun then planning to head down the coast from there on Monday AM. Our anniversary day is Tuesday and I would expect we'd be somewhere between Cliffs of Moher and Dingle Peninsula. We could be flexible to stay in a romantic location with a nice dinner on Tuesday PM. Thanks!

Michele Erdvig
Administrator
Posts: 3298
(8/4/05 1:09 am)

Re: October Trip Questions

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mcglymar,

Dromoland Castle or Glin Castle would fit nicely into your plans. Why don't you see if either has availability for your anniversary? They do book up even in off-season, so take a look.

Michele

mcglymar
Registered User
Posts: 4
(8/4/05 8:34 am)

Re: October Trip Questions

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Michele, have read alot of good things about Glin Castle. Any personal experience on your part or any other readers you can share? Thanks so much, this forum and your book are great tools!

Michele Erdvig
Administrator
Posts: 3300
(8/4/05 4:41 pm)

Re: October Trip Questions

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mcglymar,

I have visited Dromoland (can't afford to stay there) and it was very nice, posh and elegant. I haven't visited Glin, however I have heard very good feedback on it. Perhaps someone who has stayed there will offer their opinion.

Michele

mcglymar
Registered User
Posts: 5
(8/5/05 8:46 am)

Re: October Trip Questions

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Sanity check on our itinerary for mid-October (14-24th) please. Are we trying to do too much?

Must sees are:

* Doolin, Cliffs of Moher, Dromoland, ROK, KIllarney, Cobh, Blarney Castle, Waterford Factory/Castle, Nicholas Mosse Pottery, Cashel, Bunratty.

Sat Am - arrive Shannon Airport; drive to relatives in Loughrea (PM @ relative's house)

Sun - w/ relatives in Loughrea (PM @ relative's house)

Mon - Doolin/Cliffs of Moher (PM @ Drumcreehy Country House)

Tue - finish Doolin/Cliffs of Moher if needed, drive to Dromoland Castle (PM @ Dromoland Castle)

Wed - Dingle Peninsula/ROK (PM @ B&B TBD)

Thur - ROK/Killarney (PM @ Killarney B&B)

Thur - Cork/Cobh/Blarney (PM @ Cork B&B)

Fri - Waterford (PM @ B&B in Kilkenny)

Sat - Kilkenny/Nicholas Mosse Pottery (PM @ B&B in Kilkenny)

Sun - Cashel/Tipperary/Bunratty Medieval Banquet (PM @ Bunratty B&B)

Mon - Shannon flight home or collapse!

Thanks so much for your great insights!

Michele Erdvig
Administrator
Posts: 3308
(8/6/05 1:07 am)

Re: October Trip Questions

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mcglymar,

It looks pretty good. However you are packing a lot in. Remember that in October the days are getting shorter and lots of long drives can get tiresome. For instance, give yourselves the option of either doing the ROK or doing local things in Killarney. That way if you don't feel like another long driving day you can rest up a bit.

It might make sense to spend a night in Cobh instead of Cork, since then you won't be backtracking and will be better placed for continuing on to Waterford the next day (no Cork traffic to contend with).

You should have reservations for Kilkenny because it is a busy place on weekends. Also make your banquet reservations as far in advance as possible. You can go to my "Dining" page to make reservations.

It sounds like a fun trip! Please let us know all about it when you return.

Michele

Robin
Unregistered User
(8/9/05 4:21 pm)

driving..

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Michele is right....it is very deceiving when looking at the map. At first, the size of the map you have to look at looks like it is the size of the whole US so you figure it will take days to get across. Then you find out it is only hours across the whole Island (or it would be if it were US HIGHWAYS!) It wouldn't take long "as the crow flys" but there roads are very different then ours and good signage is a luxury only for main roads. When you get there it is a whole 'nuther thing. Plan on LOTS of driving if you are moving around a lot and taking WAY more time then you can imagine. Even meals take on a new dimension. It is as if...time...slows down....I am looking forward to the slow down!