2006 tour/comments welcome

tully · Member

2006 tour/comments welcome

Mark D · Senior Member

Sounds wonderful !!

May I suggest contacting the folks at Carrowmore before your tour.

Make sure they have a guide available for your visit. They don't always have one on site, especially during the off season. Our guide made all difference !! Lots of wonderful information was shared by a GREAT GUIDE !

Cheers !
Mark

mcval · Veteran Member

Sounds great! Take me along! Seriously tho... you've got a lot in there! A lot of driving! Places do take longer to get to than in the states. And if I know Michele, she'll warn you of the green blur tour. We pared down our trip and took our time. Wonderful! Last time we focused mainly on Country Clare and Galway. This trip, we concentrated on County Kerry with a day trip or two to revisit favorites in County Clare. We had one home base for most of it and did day trips. It was easier than repacking each morning and feeling like a gypsy.

Make sure you hit at least one beach somewhere! But that may be just me... Can't go to Ireland without feeling the salt on your face. Kilkee & Rossbeigh were our favorites.

You'll love the Bunratty banquet! We did that 7 years ago. This June we did the Bunratty Traditional Irish Dinner and that was wonderful too. Much more toe tapping and no one got thrown in the dungeon! Successful trip then. The Bunratty Folk park is great too. Try to schedule in a couple three hours to explore how they lived back then. Incredible.

And my best advice is tell your driver to take a wrong turn somewhere in the Burren area. That's the best way to see the countryside! The road less traveled...

Have fun!

Val

Michele Erdvig · Host

Tully,

You have received good advice already from Mark & Val. You are covering a lot of territory but having a driver will mean that you can sit back and relax while being chauffeured around. I would advise you to do the most important sightseeing first and then if you run out of time and don't get to the things lower down on your list, you won't be that disappointed.

I think I would opt for Bunratty Castle & Folk Park over Craggauowen. In Dingle Slea Head is one of the most beautiful drives in Ireland. The Blasket Island Center is very well done and shows you a lost way of island life. Depending on when you are going, you will want to check on opening times so you don't go out of your way only to find something closed.

As for your lodgings, I'm sure they were chosen to accommodate your large family group. The Old Railway Hotel is a very old place that has been updated but you should expect crookedy floors, thick walls and a generally antique feeling. It has been a while since I inspected the rooms there. Castle Murray House is fine but a bit remote. I have never seen the rooms at the Silver Tassie but I have eaten in the pub and restaurant and they do have very nice food there. Bunratty Castle Hotel is very nice. The others are ones that I have not inspected, although I have heard favorable feedback on the Captain's House in Dingle.

Hope you have a fine family trip to Ireland. We would enjoy hearing about it when you return.

Michele

tully · Member

thanks for the feedback!

yes, Slea Head and Blasket center great (did on last trip)but family members want to do activities...their loss.

the two donegal places were picked because they looked nice, scenic views, and had pubs/dining...so would't need to be in town...are taxis easy to get in these areas?

already run into a problem getting 5 rooms...now looking at Cullinan's in Doolin (Seaview booked), Doyle Townhouse in Dingle (Captain's House booked), and choosing between Bunratty Lodge-good reviews and Bunratty Woods-OK reviews/says within walking distance, is this true? (bunratty castle hotel booked)

Date: 6:32 AM, 10/10/05

Tully,

Cullinan's is very nice and has an excellent restaurant. The various places you stay will be able to recommend taxis. Depending on where you use them you may have to order a bit in advance. Your hosts will be able to advise you.

I highly recommend Bunratty Lodge but they only have five rooms and are 1 1/2 miles from the castle and village. You might opt to stay a bit closer. The Courtyard guesthouse is right in the village and you will be able to walk to everything. Check with them on availabilities. Also check on the Bunratty Manor Hotel. Go to my Lodgings page for options in Dingle. If you are up for a bit of a splurge Heatons and Emlagh House are tops.

Michele