Last night near Shannon -- Nice place to stay?

chaika · Veteran Member

Last night near Shannon -- Nice place to stay?

EngagingKate · Senior Member

Dave,

Michele has a few very nice places listed on her "Lodgings" page: http://www.irelandyes.com/lodgings.html

We have also stayed at a place called Bunratty Meadows B&B, which is a purpose-built B&B a few minutes from the airport right on the estuary. A very quiet and lovely place to spend your last night in Ireland: http://www.bunrattymeadows.com/. It looks like they're offering a special rate through May 31st of 30 Euro per person. They also have a special rate for booking B&B and the banquet at Bunratty Castle, but I'm not sure that's something you'd like to do on the night before you head home. blankstare

We stayed in the room pictured on the first page of the website. I have posted a photo of the view from our window... Dariena and Kieran (the owners) are lovely hosts and were very accommodating. They even have a place where you can print your boarding passes for your flight home the next day. smile

Michele Erdvig · Host

Dave,

You don't want to stay in Bunratty? If you want to be even closer try Shannon. You might look at the Oakwood Arms Hotel. I have inspected it and it looks nice.

Or do you want to be farther away? I'm a bit confused. Why not Bunratty?

Michele

Roy · Guru

I have stayed at the Oakwood Arms Hotel and would do so again.

tony2phones · Guru

You have lots of options within an hour of Shannon from Adare to the south almost to Galway to the north. Personally I like Ennis and at E40 each there's not many places outside your budget. How about the Woodstock with a current offer of Dinner Bed and Breakfast for E49pp until the end of June.

http://www.avvio.com/hotels/Woodstock_Hotel/bookings/client.php?formname=searchspecials&mode=group&group=Special+Offers#ipulsestart

murphy · Guru

We just checked out of the "Bunratty Lodge" B&B located about a mile from the castle. It was an easy 15 minute drive to the SNN airport. Mary was a gracious hostess and you could not ask for a nicer B&B facility & delicious breakfast. It was just a 2 minute drive to Durty Nelly's for a cup of chowder & pint for our last night in Ireland. Cost was 70 euros for 2. We had a hot breakfast at 7:30 on the road by 8:15 and had plenty of time for our 11:05 flight. Dan

-- Edited by murphy on Sunday 10th of April 2011 12:58:49 PM

-- Edited by murphy on Sunday 10th of April 2011 05:38:09 PM

Roy · Guru

The first time I went to Durty nelly's I was expecting a tourist trap, but was pleasantly surprised by the food.

tony2phones · Guru

That would have been a while ago then would it Roy? Was a very good pub, then a good pub, now only open because of the tourist trade?

Roy · Guru

Yes, Tony- that was indeed a while ago. Two years ago I stayed in Bunratty on our last night, did not go there. There seemed to be a greatly diminished touist presence in Bunratty.

Michele Erdvig · Host

Roy,

For the last few years Bunratty has been a ghost town. So many airlines and flights have pulled out of Shannon and are going to Dublin instead. Dublin is reaping the benefits. Bunratty is dispensable in the big scheme of things.

I believe Tony said previously that Dublin has to pay for its new terminal. They want the "lion's share" of the business even if it means killing Shannon Airport and Bunratty in the process. What a pity.

Michele

chaika · Veteran Member

Thanks, everyone. We have booked into Bunratty Meadows B&B at 60 euro for two.

Michele, the reason I wanted to avoid Bunratty is that I thought it was a tourist trap, with all that that entails!

-- Edited by chaika on Wednesday 20th of April 2011 07:06:25 PM

Roy · Guru

It is a pity Michele- I really like flying into Shannon.

Michele Erdvig · Host

Dave,

Who told you Bunratty was a "tourist trap"? Could the initials be "R.S."? I consider a tourist trap to be a place that is not worth the price of admission. Bunratty is basically a very small village clustered around Bunratty Castle and Folk Park. There are B&Bs, a couple of hotels, shopping and some restaurants. All perfect for your last night's stay near Shannon, which is about 10 - 15 minutes away.

If you want to see a very good restored castle with period antiques, Bunratty Castle fits the bill. If you want to see houses, cottages, churches, etc. from the past and see how the Irish people lived long ago, then Bunratty Folk Park will show you that. It contains genuine cottages and buildings that have been moved to the park to preserve them for the future. Do you consider Colonial Williamsburg a tourist trap? If so, then Bunratty is a tourist trap.

Michele

Roy · Guru

Good points Michele. While Bunratty has been a place where there are many tourists, I have never felt gouged there. Same high prices as the rest of Ireland perhaps- but not otherwise inflated.

tony2phones · Guru

Bunratty is actually two Townlands and a Castle with grounds including the Folk park. The tourist trap bit might be the Banquet and the Castle. Very few even consider the Folk park which is the main attraction for me, prices are not over exaggerated because the Village" attracts native visitors whilst the pubs do rely on some degree of "local" trade and us country folk aint quite as green as we're cabbage looking. Isn't R S an acronym for "Reight Soft" or is that just my Yorkshire accent taking over?

Not just me winging about Shannon being milked to justify Terminal 2 our lord O'Leary has kicked off as well, but still not put back some of the routes. It is a pain having to drive 2 hours each way to Knock so Christina can get a flight to Liverpool on the best day at the best price.

-- Edited by tony2phones on Thursday 21st of April 2011 05:46:54 AM

Michele Erdvig · Host

Tony,

It must be your Yorkshire accent! R.S. stands for the highly esteemed Rick Steves who is yet another American writing about Ireland. This is his take on Bunratty:

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"Skip the Bunratty Castle and Folk Museum. I'd leave this most commercial and least lively of all European open-air folk museums to the jet-lagged, big-bus American tour groups (located just a potty stop from the Shannon Airport, past Limerick on the road to Ennis)."

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That is his opinion and he is entitled to it. His word is law to many R.S. toting Americans.

Michele

P.S. He hates Killarney (and steers his readers away) and adores Dingle.

tony2phones · Guru

Not very good at geography if he goes past Limerick to get there but we make excuses for the the "Soft" over here, not their fault god withheld a bit of the old grey matter. Thought all the Big bus American tour groups went straight to Adare on route to Dingle? I do blame him for some of the lemming instinct when it comes to the spur on Shannons southern bank, still its a good guide book if you run out of turf for the fire.

egnolive · Veteran Member

Everyone is entitled to his/her opinion.

I like Rick Steves books. We've used them for Ireland and other countries and I have to say I agree with some of his observations. But, as with any guidebook that offers opinions, there are some I disagree with. I do wish he covered more of Ireland, as I wish Michele would as well. There is just so much to see.

I think Bunratty is a good place to catch an early trip to Shannon, but otherwise I would skip it. I, too, think it touristy, perhaps maybe not a trap. We tend to prefer places where there are fewer American tourists and tour buses.

To each her own. That's what makes the world go around!

Michele Erdvig · Host

I agree that everyone has their own opinion and is certainly entitled to it. No one book will cover it all. That is why I always suggest that people should go to the library and check out lots of books and buy at least two current books (or more) out of the bunch that they like.

I think that some of the Steves books are better than others. It depends on the country covered. The Ireland book of his that I have is co-authored by someone else. Perhaps that is his opinion.

Visiting Ireland can be a Catch-22. Everyone wants to see the highlights, they are tourists, but they don't want to go to places where there are many tourists. That is especially difficult to work around during high season. There are not as many tourists - American or otherwise - in the shoulder season or off-season. So that is when the non-touristy tourists should visit.

There are other folk parks in Ireland such as Ulster American Folk Park, Irish National Heritage Park, Craggaunowen, Ulster Folk and Transport Museum. Each has its pros and cons...and its tourists.

Michele

P.S. I think perhaps that the term non-touristy tourist might be an oxymoron!

Michele Erdvig · Host

I think everyone will enjoy the IrishFireside article about Sticking to Ireland's Tourist Trail. It points out the joys and problems with the subject.

Michele

Roy · Guru

I agree that Bunratty has pros and cons- thanks to Michele we are staying in Killaloe our last two nights.

Michele Erdvig · Host

Roy,

There are always options. But the earlier the flight the closer to the airport people should be. It also depends on day of departure. On weekdays if staying farther away from the airport you might have to fight some traffic. On weekends there is no rush hour. Each decision is tailored to the individual.

Michele

tony2phones · Guru

Early morning heading to Shannon I can make it over the back road by the Lough and across from Scarriff and Tulla onto the M18 in (don't tell the Guardia) an hour. Killaloe to Shannon would be half that via Sixmile Bridge on the R463 and R471 (Tractors permitting) but for the non local allow just under the hour.

I recommend the Oakwood in Shannon or even the Park Inn at the airport for very early departures especially if a rental car needs dropping off. Better to drop off the night before and argue about a scratch than to drop the keys in the box on the desk and have your card charged for something you didn't do.

Irish fireside is a regular read of mine, in my bookmarks and on the Facebook page. Unfortunately there are some writers who are less than well respected by the native Irish who can be a bit touchy about things and very patriotic. Checking out a couple of good guide books and decent travel forums is always a good start.

Wellsley · Guru

Since we are going to Bunratty and leaving from Shannon I've been following this thread. Michele and Tony your posts are full of great advice you two always get me thinking. (good thing) Regardless of what some say about Bunratty we chose to go there and hope our last day and night in Ireland is a memorable one. I think if you go in with a positive attitude your more likely to come out with a good experience.

Frank

murphy · Guru

I think part of the problem, is that the last full day in Ireland is such a downer, at least for me, as it will have once again been the fastest 2 weeks of the year, and I hate to see it come to an end. That being said, I try to find a place to stay that final night that meets the needs of the airport departure the next day, but is also a great spot for your final tourist activities. We have done Swords, Ennis, and Bunratty, for final nights in Ireland, and I think Ennis was the most enjoyable....wanted more than just one night in that town!

It is good to know when all the various agents for airlines, customs, security etc open up in the morning. One time we arrived with our 3 hour window, only to find out that the gate agent at Delta didn't open for another 1/2 hour, so we stood in line waiting for her for 30 minutes.

Another pet peve....no bar on the other side of security once you are thru all the hoops, it would be nice to have one send-off pint of Guinness for the road (in the sky)! Not too early in the day for a beer....it's 5:00 somewhere! Dan

-- Edited by murphy on Friday 22nd of April 2011 10:42:46 PM

Michele Erdvig · Host

Dan,

It's always Guinness time! Yeah, I've spent time waiting for the Delta employees to arrive too. But at least you are the first one in line.

Next time you fly out of Dublin try staying in Malahide. Nice village.

Frank,

I like your attitude. That is half the battle.

Michele

Roy · Guru

I remember Shannon having a pub "on the other side".