Itinerary Help

PG · Member

Itinerary Help

Itallian Chauffeur · Moderator

Welcome to Michele's Forum! biggrin Tony has been a valuable member here ( and, seemingly, Everywhere there is an Ireland Forum!) for some time. I owe him a pint or two, myself! aww

With the afternoon arrival, my only concern would be in how you handle jet lag. Have you flown overseas / overnight before? Remember that you will be setting out, in an unfamiliar car, on unfamiliar roads, driving on the opposite side of the road -- after little, or no, sleep.

Personally, I've not stayed in the immediate vicinity of Kilbeggan, although my wife and I enjoyed a delightful meal in Tyrrellspass Castle Restaurant, in 2016. https://www.discoverireland.ie/Food-And-Drink/tyrrellspass-castle-restaurant/45764

The nearest places I can comment on with any certainty would be Mullingar, or Athlone. This is probably the closest B&B to the Distillery, but I have NO personal knowledge of it: http://www.seberhouse.com/

For the rest of your destinations, be sure to check out: http://www.irelandyes.com/lodgings.html

I have never been disappointed with our stay in any B&B that Michele recommends.

PG · Member

Hello Bob, Thank you for the feedback. Yes we have traveled overseas many times, but for some reason have never made it to Ireland. It looks like Kilbeggan is no more than a 90 minute drive from the airport, so I think I'm comfortable with that amount of time after a long day of travel. Thanks for the recommendation for Tyrrellspass Castle Restaurant. It looks interesting and certainly is on the way to Kilbeggan, so it may work out. I've looked at Seber House and it may end up being our default choice.

Thanks again,

Paul

murphy · Guru

Hi!
We visited Killbegan and Tullamore Dew distilleries in the fall of 2016. We stayed in Tullamore at Brookville guesthouse. They are on bookinging.com for 80 Euros double including breakfast for the first part of May. They rank 8.7 on a scale of 10. It was decent for small town lodging, handy parking, and easy walk to pubs and restaurants. We did one distillery tour late afternoon, and the other one first thing the following morning. They are only about 6 miles (10k from each other) Both are interesting tours with lots of history! You may want to check their openg/closing schedules on line to see if you could fit them both in!
Regards
Dan

-- Edited by murphy on Sunday 10th of December 2017 08:51:01 AM

PG · Member

Thanks Dan. I had debated whether to try and get to both Kilbeggan and Tullamore especially with my now later arrival. I like your suggestion of getting to one on our first day and visiting the other before we start out to Galway. Brookville Guesthouse looks like a good suggestion for both location and price, so it is now in our #1 position for our first night in Ireland.

Cheers!

Paul

murphy · Guru

Your welcome, Paul! You can read all about our experience in visiting those two distilleries and the stay in Tullamore in my "Bucket Lists" trip report on the "trip report" portion of this forum. I think it was around day 10-11 of that trip.
Regards
Dan

Itallian Chauffeur · Moderator

Paul --

Here's a link to Dan's report: http://ireland.activeboard.com/t62887472/bucket-lists-ireland-trip/

PG · Member

Bob, Thanks for the link. Dan, This is very good information for me in addition to the reviews on Tullamore and Kilbeggan. Looks like your trip took you opposite of what we are planning, something I had considered. We are traveling on award tickets, which made flying into Dublin our best route from Denver.

Itallian Chauffeur · Moderator

Since you seem to have an affinity for Distilleries (I'm NOT judging! I actually find them quite fascinating, as well. biggrin biggrin )-- you MIGHT be interested in this:

http://www.irelandwhiskeytrail.com/the_whiskey_trail.phps

PG · Member

Apparently my interests have been thinly veiled. I figured that distilleries were as good a waypoint as anything (maybe even better) and we can fill in between stops/tastings.

tony2phones · Guru

Hi Paul, glad you made it over here. bit friendlier than most other forums. Give me a shout when you are headed to Ennis and we can have a pint if I'm about confuse most folk on here know I can be a bit elusive but right now early May looks free.

Not much to add on the Distilleries front except that the prices have gone up a whole lot in recent years so perhaps be a bit selective..

PG · Member

Hello Tony, We will definitely try to catch up with you when we are in Ennis and enjoy a pint or two together. Any suggestions for B&B's in Ennis?

Thanks again for the guidance.

Paul

tony2phones · Guru

For the point of being in town Grey Gables. we have stayed there several times and will again.. But the place hasn't changed for years so could do with updating, The dining room is small so if you have a later breakfast you are relying on prior diners having breakfast and moving rather than sitting talking for ever. For me the downs are less than the positive location.

Sleepy Hollow is a good option and 2nd choice just on the southern outskirts at my walk both ways limit I have clients staying there about the same time in May. The accommodation is closed now until April but you can make bookings.

Glenomra House is just a little further out from town but definitely worth considering, Banner Girl, Ennis regular on TA forums has been recommending for years .

murphy · Guru

Have stayed at both Sleepy Hollow AND Grey Gables. You won't go wrong with either one.. GG is closer to pubs/downtown eateries but SH is easily walkable. We love Ennis and it is a no brainer for an easy drive to SNN AND a great last-night out in Ireland for a pint, food and music in a pub!
Dan

PG · Member

Tony, Thanks for the recommendations in Ennis. I am deciding between Sleepy Hollow and Glenomra. Since you already have people there for May, it apparently is not too early to book? I should have asked for suggestions in Galway and Dingle as well. Let me know if you have any recommendations at either.

Dan, Thank you for your reaffirming Tony's suggestions. It is very much appreciated.

tony2phones · Guru

My only recommendation for Dingle is to see the peninsula but avoid the town biggrin ## Just ignore that though because absolutely everybody else will be heading there.

For Galway I have started looking at Salthill, the accommodations I used to use in Galway have suddenly realised that they don't need to make too much effort but can charge practically what they want. Prauge House is just over the Salthill border or try either Atlantic View or Tara House lower Salthill.

PG · Member

Not a fan of Dingle? Will it really be that crowded in May? We were thinking Dingle peninsula instead of the ROK. Is that a mistake? Thanks for the recommendations in Galway/Salthill. Is Galway walkable from Salthill?

Again, many thanks for the input. I think those couple of pints are turning into a few drams or first one and than the other.

tony2phones · Guru

As far as Dingle goes, there are enough people who sing its praises even those who haven't been there. To me its a town on the water like so many more towns on the water. It is an easy option in that you don't have to look for anything, everything is laid on its Irelands shop front or used to be, was the feature of TV adverts and Fail(te) Ireland promotions for years around the turn of the century. Go and enjoy the place, everyone should do that. The peninsula is well worth seeing and exploring although there are more houses and barbed wire fences than I had to contend with in the early 80's. makes up for the lack of fishing boats, farmers and other local folk :)

Itallian Chauffeur · Moderator

Concerning ROK as opposed to Dingle -- Both will be crowded, as both are considered / touted as "Must See" destinations. I am of the opinion that there is NO place in Ireland that isn't worth a visit. I have had the good fortune to have enjoyed both -- multiple times -- and suggest / recommend both, with certain caveats: Available TIME and personal interest.

The abbreviated, 'Tour Bus' drive around the Ring takes the bus crowd about 6-7 hours, starting at 10 or 10:30 AM in Killarney and ending there, around 5 PM and it makes limited stops, whilst avoiding MUCH that makes the Ring so interesting -- Valentia Island, the Skellig Ring and numerous archeological and historic sites. A more inclusive, 'self-drive' can easily take 10-12 hours -- and, spending a few DAYS along the way is infinitely possible. Being smaller, the Dingle peninsula is somewhat more manageable -- but arguments can be made to justify additional days.

THAT said, most visitors have a finite number of available days available and therefor must make concessions and omissions based upon those limits. For a tourist-town base, I MUCH prefer Killarney, for it's offerings AND it's central location to SO MANY sites and attractions -- particularly for an itinerary that only devotes two nights to Kerry. Dingle town sits about an hour or more from anything other than the peninsula, whereas Killarney has multiple interesting and scenic destinations in ALL directions -- and, SOME, within walking distance.

PG · Member

Hello Bob,

Happy New Year!

Thanks for the comparison input and comments on Killarney, it helps. We are still deciding on which way to go, but are thinking we need to get something definitive so we can start booking lodging. Unfortunately our schedule will only permit one or the other, so a minor dilemma, but I am certain there are worse problems to have. We will have a car so the bus tour does not hold much interest-aside from the fact that we would be on a tourist bus;) Please do not hesitate with any additional thoughts.

Paul

Roy · Guru

We have stayed in Glenomra House twice now and its a lovely place well within a short walk into Ennis town center.

PG · Member

Roy, Thanks for the recommendation in Ennis. I am close to making reservations for that part of our trip, so your timing is excellent.

Paul

Itallian Chauffeur · Moderator

Be sure to check out Michele's picks for Kerry, Cork and Kilkenny: http://www.irelandyes.com/lodgings.html She only recommends places she's actually stayed in and we have NEVER been disappointed at any of her picks. She's VERY discerning. biggrin biggrin

In addition:

I haven't stayed in a B&B in the Midelton area since one of my favorite's closed over ten years ago -- but, my wife has family in the vicinity that we often stay with.

Dan spent a couple of nights at Creedon's B&B, in the heart of Cork City. His report/review: http://ireland.activeboard.com/t62887472/bucket-lists-ireland-trip/

http://creedonsbnb.com/ He's also stayed at White House B&B in Blarney -- Report: http://ireland.activeboard.com/t59260202/14-days-of-high-adventure/?page=2&sort=newestFirst

http://thewhitehouseblarney.com/

I have spent a night or two at the Midelton Park Hotel and found it decent enough and also a night or two at the even nicer (and pricier!) , Radisson Blu on Little Island. We even spent one night (for a wedding) at Maryborough House, near Douglas.

https://www.midletonpark.com/

https://www.radissonblu.com/en/hotel-cork?facilitatorId=CSOSEO&csref=org_gmb_sk_en_sn_ho_ORKZR

https://www.maryborough.com/

Cobh might be a good base for B&B choices, as well.

PG · Member

Hello Bob,

Thank you for the links. There is a lot of good information for me in Dan's trip report. I was happy to see that Tower View is on Michele's list for Dingle, since that is the one I am strongly considering.

Again, I really appreciate all of the input.

Paul

Michele Erdvig · Host

If you want to see one of the SW peninsulas that is less crowded do Beara. The big tour buses don't go there and the scenery is every bit as beautiful as ROK and Dingle.

PG · Member

Hello Michele,

Thank you for the suggestion on the Beara peninsula. It had not been on my radar, but looking at it I think it is an excellent idea. Any recommendations for lodging?

Thanks again,

Paul

tony2phones · Guru

Beara see ireland.activeboard.com/t50006301/bunratty-to-beara/

Michele Erdvig · Host

The perfect place to stay for doing the Beara Peninsula is Kenmare. It is my favorite small town in Ireland. Below are a couple of blog articles I wrote about Beara:

Tea at Josie's

Gleninchiquin Park

Michele Erdvig · Host

In Kenmare I like Arthur's, Sallyport and Willow Lodge and all are walking distance to town. In town O'Donnabhain's is good.

chaika · Veteran Member

I agree with Michele. Josie's is a nice place to stop for lunch on your trip around Beara. Have been to Gleninchiquin Park several times. Nice Uragh stone circle there. We have stayed several times in Kenmare at WatersEdge B&B, which is over the Kenmare bridge as you leave town. 10 minute walk to downtown and the pubs. Great rooms and breakfast.