Ennis or Bunratty or Newmarket-on-Fergus or Quin? WHERE do you LOVE to stay near SHANNON AIRPORT?

Melissa5 · Guru

Ennis or Bunratty or Newmarket-on-Fergus or Quin? WHERE do you LOVE to stay near SHANNON AIRPORT?

tony2phones · Guru

You want a good easy to find accommodation close to food and beverage with a bit of entertainment. "Ennis".... either Grey Gables B&B. The temple Gate Hotel or the Old Ground Hotel. Forget about heading out into the countryside and potentially getting lost within a couple of hours of landing and Ennis has a lot more going for it than Bunratty.

Michele Erdvig · Host

Melissa,

I know you are looking for king beds (where possible) and quiet. In Ennis Old Ground has some superior rooms with a/c and king beds. They were newly renovated and very nice when I was there a couple of years ago. I liked the way the public areas were very traditional and the rooms were modern and up to date. This seemed more like a family-run hotel to me. After my tour I noticed that the manager was all over the place making sure everything was running like clockwork.

I liked Temple Gate too. Don't remember about a/c and king beds. Send an inquiry.

By the time you get your luggage and car it will probably be 5:30 or even 6. After such a long travel day I personally would not want any sort of a drive. It would be 10 minutes to Bunratty, check in, drop luggage, refresh myself, have dinner and crash. You will be in Ennis later in the trip when you will have the time and fortitude to enjoy it. Since you have already stayed at Bunratty Lodge try Headley Court. It is an excellent B&B and Kathleen is a sweetheart. Or if you want to go more upscale try Bunratty Castle Hotel. But I think all you will want is a comfy bed and quiet nights sleep.

I do agree with Tony that Ennis has a lot more going on and is a real town, but your circumstances are what should determine your first night in Ireland. You won't be going out on the town or on a pub crawl. Make this night easy on yourselves.

Michele

Wellsley · Guru

Melissa,

We stayed at the Bunratty Haven B&B. Lorraine was the best hostess we encounter in Ireland. (not that any of them were bad) It was also the best deal of any of the B&B's we stayed at.

Melissa5 · Guru

tony2phones: Yes I don't want to get lost as soon as we land in Ireland! I will pick somewhere easy to find for that 1st night, since our flight gets in so late. Good plan.

Wellesley: Thanks for your reply. I enjoy hearing about people's experiences at various b&bs and hotels. I haven't heard of Bunratty Haven but I'm always curious so I will look it up.

One of the reasons I enjoy spending a lot of time choosing accommodations is that it helps familiarize me with different villages and towns. It helps me to get to know different regions before I even arrive. I also think this type of question can help other travellers as well.

Melissa5 · Guru

Michele: Thanks for your experienced and always wise advice. I think you might have just helped me choose the right accomodation for our 1st night in Ireland, and also for our 1 night in Ennis later in the trip (enroute from Kenmare to Clifden).

Everybody has been helpful and I feel like I have gotten to know Ennis and other spots much better already.

So...I'm leaning towards Headley Court for our 1st night in Ireland...but I'm also going to have a look at Bunratty Castle hotel as you suggested. (I cannot leave any Irish stones unturned...I'm peering into every nook and cranny already! ) biggrin

Then...later in the trip when we don't have jet lag any more...and we want 1 night enroute between Kenmare and Clifden...I think Old Ground Hotel sounds good...I'm glad to hear you inspected it and found some renovated superior rooms with King beds and A/C. A/C can actually help block out noise in hotels. By then we will be rested enough for a pub crawl!

Our first trip to Ireland in 2006 was somewhat similar in that we flew into Shannon...although we may have arrived earlier. We were so tired, I don't even know how we spent our time! Certainly NOT in a pub crawl that first night. I remember driving to a little village to eat dinner with the locals...and falling into Mary Browne's very very clean beds in her b&b Bunratty Lodge. Yep that's what I remember! For this trip in September we arrive even later, after 4:00. Yep you are right. We may have seen a little of Bunratty castle and folk park in 2006 but I was so jet-lagged I cannot even remember it at all!

Thanks Michele for helping me iron out all the wrinkles! aww

CowboyCraic · Guru

Melissa,

If that little village was east of Bunratty, it might have been Sixmilebridge. They have some great restaurants. I enjoyed a great supper at McGregor's but I have heard that it is up for sale. cry There is a new place there called The Miller's Loft. I have heard good things about it, as well.

Before Michele introduced me to Bunratty Lodge, I enjoyed my stays at Ashgrove. The Tiernans are lovely people, very open and friendly.

Slan Beo,

Bit

Michele Erdvig · Host

Melissa,

Happy to help. Headley Court has some queen beds but unless they have recently changed something I don't think they have kings. However, they might have a room with a queen and a twin. Email Kathleen for info.

Michele

Melissa5 · Guru

I have narrowed my choices down to these 4 accommodations near Shannon airport area:

--Headley Court b&b

--Bunratty Castle Hotel

--Bunratty Lodge

--Ashgrove (recommended by CowboyCraic)

Yes even though we stayed at Bunratty Lodge on our first trip and we love to try new places, I have still added it back to my list! It does have the advantage of all the nice clean rooms being on the same ground floor. But on the other hand, if we stay upstairs at Headley Court b&b for example we can work off some of those breakfast calories.

But the other choices look great too! Does anybody want to share their experiences with these places? biggrin

What a lovely indecision I am caught up in... aww

CowboyCraic: Thanks for your reply! Yes I always think its sad in this economy when a lovely restaurant has to go out of business. Ashgrove b&b looks good too by the way.