Almost a year has past

squigoh · Veteran Member

Almost a year has past

Itallian Chauffeur · Moderator

Every trip is, of course, a very personal experience -- but they also provide very useful information for others.

A very nice report. Thank you for sharing. From your pix it appears that you visited Clonmacnoise on the way to Dublin?, although I didn't see mention of it.

Eight, sixteen -- or 30 days -- It is NEVER enough! biggrin

So, when will you be RETURNING? biggrin biggrin

Bob

Michele Erdvig · Host

Thanks for the lovely trip report. Where did you stay in Dublin? Would you recommend the White Cottage in Skerries and was the bathroom as small as the room? Were you downstairs or up?

I see you stayed at some of my favorite B&Bs. Glad you liked them. biggrin

Bob, You must have missed the part about Clonmacnoise: http://ireland-holiday.blogspot.com/2012_09_23_archive.html On this page.

Itallian Chauffeur · Moderator

Michele -- You're right -- as usual. biggrin

MY Bad! The reason that I asked is that it is a site that is often over-looked -- which is a shame.

FYI -- I recognized it by the Round Tower . . . aww

Bob

squigoh · Veteran Member

Michele Erdvig wrote:
Thanks for the lovely trip report. Where did you stay in Dublin? Would you recommend the White Cottage in Skerries and was the bathroom as small as the room? Were you downstairs or up?

I would not recommend The white Cottages. The views were lovely but beyond that it was average.

Our room, which was downstairs, was the smallest of the eight B&Bs we stayed at. The bathroom was a decent size but the water pressure was poor and the hot water ran out almost immediately. When I mentioned this to the owner he blamed "the Swedish girls" for taking long showers. Evidently they showered at all hours because we never had hot water despite my husband being a morning bather and I an evening one.

I got the impression he just didn't care too much. As we were leaving, I informed him that the TV remote was missing (which made the TV inoperable) and he commented that it had been gone for a while.

After all the lovely places we stayed at and all the wonderful owners, the White Cottages was a disappointment. It was also the most expensive.

In Dublin we stayed at The Tinode House. Our room was comfortable and clean though a bit smaller than some. Although on a busy street, our room was very quiet. We were located at the back of the house so this may not be true of the front rooms. Breakfast was more than adequate with the usual wide variety of choices we'd come to expect in Irish B&Bs. The price was quite reasonable.

Michele Erdvig · Host

Bob, My husband HATES it when I'm right. Once in Ireland we were going out to dinner. The restaurant was a 5 minute drive away. He took a wrong turn. I told him he was going the wrong way but he insisted it was correct. A few miles later I told him to turn around. He told me to "shut up", he knew it was the right way. So I shut up as he drove and drove and drove. Halfway to nowhere he said "I sure hope you are wrong!" I said nothing. Finally we reached the Irish Sea and he had a look of shock on his face. He looked at me sheepishly and said "Oh, no. You were right." It must be a guy thing not wanting directions.

Michele Erdvig · Host

I appreciate the feedback on The White Cottages. As I often say, the hosts can make or break a B&B. Sounds like they have a lackadaisical attitude.

It's funny that it has such glowing reviews on Trip Advisor (except for yours - I read it! - and one other that mentioned the remote too). But then TA is not always what you think.

I once stayed at a B&B I hated, was dirty, uncomfortable and had an inedible breakfast - that gets glowing reviews to this day on TA. I even saw it highlighted on a Rick Steves video on You Tube. It's a place that I would never, ever stay again even if it were free.

I suppose these things are subjective...but hot water is a necessity. I've pulled B&Bs from my book for that.

squigoh · Veteran Member

Michele Erdvig wrote:
I appreciate the feedback on The White Cottages. As I often say, the hosts can make or break a B&B. Sounds like they have a lackadaisical attitude.

It's funny that it has such glowing reviews on Trip Advisor (except for yours - I read it! - and one other that mentioned the remote too). But then TA is not always what you think.

I once stayed at a B&B I hated, was dirty, uncomfortable and had an inedible breakfast - that gets glowing reviews to this day on TA. I even saw it highlighted on a Rick Steves video on You Tube. It's a place that I would never, ever stay again even if it were free.

I suppose these things are subjective...but hot water is a necessity. I've pulled B&Bs from my book for that.

I am also flummoxed by the reviews on Trip Advisor. I usually ignore the reviewers who only have a handful of reviews, but they have several very positive comments from those with lots of reviews.

On the other hand, I am more of a people person. I can put up with a fair amount if I feel someone is trying; if I think they don't care I get pickier.

As you noticed, we stayed mostly at places from your book. Thank you. You made our preparations so much easier for us. In Kenmare every place you recommended was full so we ended up staying at Rockcrest. You might want to give this one a look at. It seemed like it would belong in your book. My only complaint (and it's really not even a complaint) was that the dining room was a bit small, so they didn't have anything buffet style.

squigoh · Veteran Member

Itallian Chauffeur wrote:
From your pix it appears that you visited Clonmacnoise on the way to Dublin?, although I didn't see mention of it.
Eight, sixteen -- or 30 days -- It is NEVER enough!
So, when will you be RETURNING?
Bob

Clonmacnoise was on the top couple of things to see from the get-go and it didn't disappoint.

As to when we will be returning: as soon as we can save up the money!

JessiG94 · Newbie

I recently returned home to Michigan from my Work and Travel Visa for a year, I honestly had the best experience I could of wished for, i think its primarily down to going through the USIT Work in Ireland program. I was terrified going over by myself but the program really offered a community of people which I actually made some of my best friends through while in Ireland. As part of the package I booked onto I got 5 nights stay in a hostel that really helped me hit the ground running once I got there because I didnt have to worry about where I would stay, They also offered stuff like a resource room which I could print off my Resumes, Resume advice didnt know Resumes are actually called CVs over there and have a completely different format, a really useful orientation at the start telling us how to get set up in Ireland note, you do not have to do your own taxes in Ireland, how amazing is that! They also held monthly socials like a trip to Belfast for an Ice Hockey Match which you could meet people from the US, Canada, Germany, France and more!
I managed to find accommodation in the first week of being there and then found a job 2 weeks after!
The Work in Ireland desk was based in Dublin which I stayed in for most of the year, but they told us we can live and travel anywhere in Ireland whilst living here. I found out in the orientation theres an Interrail Pass that you can travel through Europe with so the travel agent part of USIT booked the Interrail ticket for me and for the last 3 weeks I have an adventure to Amsterdam, Berlin, Krakow, Prague and Budapest! The perfect end to the perfect year! Can not recommend the USIT Work in Ireland program enough, dont think I would of coped without all the advice and close friends I met by being part of it!