We are leaving next week for a 2 week self drive tour of ireland. We will be staying at B&B's throughout Ireland. I see in the voucher pack it is expected that you arrive before 5pm. That kind of cuts the days pretty short. Is it customary to just check into before 5pm and then go out and about? What time are you expected to be back in? Since we are guests in someone's home, we don't want to be rude, but would like to go out and experience some of the pubs and music of ireland, which I understand can run late into the evening. Any tips?
Also, what time is breakfast typically served in the B&Bs?
Once you check in, you get your room key as well as a key to the house and you can come and go as you please. The only thing to keep in mind is to be quiet if you come in late so as not to disturb others in the house.
It's a courtesy to check in by 5 or 6 and to call if you will be arriving later. It allows your host to be properly prepared for your arrival and lets them spend their evening with their family. They are used to late arrivals, especially in high season, but they will really appreciate your early arrival and enjoy the fact that they can help make some suggestions for your evening siteseeing.
With nightfall setting in after 11pm in the summer, those extra evening hours can be very valuable, so check-in, get the lay of the land, make your breakfast arrangements, ask your host for evening dinner and siteseeing suggestions and head out for a few more hours. This time of year, it'll be getting dark very early...which is a perfect time to catch a pint or two at a nearby pub.
i don't know what we would have done without this site when we took out trip. We were cluless and these people along with Michele got us confident enough to rent a car and take off on our own. We only had the first and last night booked but at each B&B we had the owner call ahead to a place they endorsed and let then make the arrangements. We let them know what we had planned and they were almost like a little travel agent in calculating when we would arrive at the next B&B. Everything worked out so well. And everyone is very accomidating. One B&B even said what room they had us in and they would leave the key under the mat and we let ourselves in....i guess the B&B owners know eachother well enough that they trust their judgements of us Yanks. lol
B & B's I've visited usually don't do breakfast before 8:30. They're just not used to early hours. They will often be happy to leave cereal or something out for you if you want an earlier start, but 8:30-9:00 is the normal time for the full breakfast.
Since action in the pubs doesn't get going before 9:30-10:00, you;ll be up late if you enjoy the pubs and music, etc.
