last minute changes, PLEASE HELP....galway hotel questions

guinness · Veteran Member

last minute changes, PLEASE HELP....galway hotel questions

Michele Erdvig · Host

guinness,

I assume that you will not be taking the coast of Clare route from Dingle to Galway but the main roads instead. You might as well spend two nights in Galway. Many of the hotels have special offers if you spend 2 nights or more. I have not inspected the ones you mentioned. However, I do like the Park House Hotel and Great Southern. Take a look and see what they offer.

Ballyvaughan to Galway: 45-60 minutes

Galway to cliffs: 1 1/2 hours

Cliffs to Ennis: 1 hour.

Michele

kathy · Veteran Member

i have never stayed at those hotels but i can discuss their locations.

but i think it is also worthwhile to think about overnight parking. i am unsure if these hotels provide it for free.

all but jury's and the courtyard are right in downtown.

the jury's is on the river and has lovely views of the corib river emptying into galway bay. there seems to be a wedding there every weekend and it is the hub of lots of action.

the courtyard is more of a business hotel. it is not in the city center. you would need to take your car or a bus or cab into the downtown area. but it is fairly new, nice and clean.

michelle is right, the park house, the great southern and i would add the raddisson are the best in town.

since the aran islands are weather dependant, with the extra time in galway - you could decide in the morning that it looks good and drive to the ferry terminal yourself. don't rule it out - we really enjoy our days out there. or you could always pay a little bit more and fly on aer aran!

guinness · Veteran Member

michele,

thanks so much for all the information. park house hotel was on my list and i forgot to include it, so i went w/ your suggestion :) found a great site....www.avvio.com/hotels/park_house_hotel....great rate of 138 euro/night. the best i found everywhere else was 190 euro!

was wondering what you think the drive time is from dingle to galway.

guinness

guinness · Veteran Member

hey kathy,

thanks for the input :) it's nice to know that the aran islands are worth going to and close enough for us to decide from galway.

i did choose the park house hotel as you and michele suggested.

are there any must do's in the galway area? favorite sites or pubs?

thanks again,

debbie

Michele Erdvig · Host

guinness,

I always enjoy the pedestrian area of Galway City with all the shops, restaurants and pubs. It is fun just being there and feeling the "buzz" of the city. Eyre Square has just re-opened after a few years of construction. It doesn't look much different to me from the old square but it is a nice green area in the city center. It is very near the Park House Hotel so I'm sure you will be walking through it several times. There is a long promonade along Galway Bay in Salthill that is good for walking and people watching. But most people use Galway as a base for doing either the Aran Islands or a tour of Connemara. Let the weather be your guide.

Michele

Dude · Guru

We enjoyed shopping at Galway Crystal. The tour timing wasn't good for us, but we had done the Waterford tour so didn't feel like we missed too much. As opposed to Waterford, Galway Crytal sells seconds so has some good deals. And the clerks check the pieces over carefully to make sure they aren't chipped or have obvious damage before they wrap them up.

In Moycullen is the Connemara Marble Factory. Not much of a factory tour, but lots of neat marble gifts at good prices.

Then of course for shopping there's Standun in Spiddal.

kathy · Veteran Member

we have so many favorites here in galway, but you really can't go wrong.

the Quay's on Quay St always has music going - and the building is beautiful - it is an old cathedral or sanctuary or somehting like that.

our new favorite for lunch is a relatively new cafe called 'Quench'. they even have a netcafe upstairs. 2 doors down is a place called 'revive' that we like for great sandwiches and salads and desserts (of course).

if you are there on a saturday, we really REALLY like the farmer's market over by st.nicholas. there is a great falafel stand and my husband likes the crepe place (just wander around, you will see the line) - we each get our own lunch and meet in the grassy area of the church.

also, above sheridan's cheesemongers is a little wine cafe. it overlooks the hustle and bustle of the market square - you can get a glass or a bottle of great wines w/ a nice cheese and fruit plate to do some people watching.

very near your hotel is a pub called murty rabbitt's - next to the centra market... it is an old horse carriage house and has a really fun authentic feel. we start there on friday nights.

oh - quick coffee and a croissant at that centra in the morning. cheapest and best bet probably.

the tourist information bureau is right next door to your hotel as well... they can really help you.

when are you coming? if interested, we would love to buy you a pint!

guinness · Veteran Member

hey kathy,

what great suggestions! it sounds like you are in ireland, do you live there? can't wait to check out all these places :)

we will be there on a tues and wed in early june, so hopefully some of those places will be good during the week as well.

do you have a suggestions for day trips beside the aran islands? connemara? any must see's in galway? have you been to mcswiggan's? any opinions about it? we have a mcswiggin's in salem, near boston and it's our favorite restaurant/pub, and would like to see the original.

debbie

kathy · Veteran Member

mmmmm, mcswiggan's.... we do go there for dinner every now and again. no one has complained yet. it is a beautiful building too. the atmosphere is of a classic 'old man pub' with nice furnishings. there is also a 'black rose' just like in boston - but here it is called 'the roisin dubh' - a bit of a younger crowd for our pleasure (i see we are the same age)

the pub side is great but there has been an evil trend in galway that pub/restaurants stop the bar menu at 6pm to force you into their higher priced dining room. it is unfortunate on a budget but if you are not ready for dinner at 4:30, you are just out of luck.

we are here for 2 years (at least) on a work contract. loving every minute of the experience, but there isn't a day that goes by that i am not thankful to be an american. as americans, we have such a very high standard of living that we take for granted. it really make us appreciate what we have.

gosh, michelle is the excursion expert. we have never had a dull moment though.

if you are in town june 6th or 7th, we will be in the city center both nights with my in-laws.

again, the offer is there. in galway, there is NO place that messes up a guiness.

guinness · Veteran Member

kathy,

we'll be there the 13th and 14th. what a great opportunity! i hope we get a chance to meet up for a drink, it would be great to about it.

"the tourist information bureau is right next door to your hotel as well... they can really help you" that's a big help to know, very cool they are so close by :)

have a great day,

debbie

kathy · Veteran Member

darn, darn, DARN.... i just booked london w/my in-laws that mon-thurs.

i am very disappointed. i was looking forward to speaking with someone w/out an accent!

anyway, i will poll my husband and his staff for any other 'must do's' here in town.

one place i can throw out right now is a little hole in the wall for late-nite dining. the "Charcoal Grill" have the best falafels, gyros, fries (w/curry sauce) after everything else is closed. i will get the exact address for you. but it is right around the corner from 'the quays'

do not, repeat DO NOT go to abakabara on the square. no need to explain, just trust me.

guinness · Veteran Member

london, wow. isn't it nice how you can just hop around in europe :) too bad for us, but nice for you!

looking forward to the "must do's"

talk soon

Mark D · Senior Member

Hello Guiness,

If the weather is nice, I would recommend a boat tour of the Corrib on the Corrib Princess. It's a 1.5 hr tour that leaves Woodquay. It gives you a great view of Menio Castle. Our group took this tour in 2004, and just loved it ! Fish and Chips at McDonagh's, and downtown shopping made for a great afternoon !

Photo's can be seen here:

http://www.galway.net/galwayguide/gallery/2003/corrib20030807/

My favorite pubs were Quay's bar and the Skef !

Cheers!
Mark D.

guinness · Veteran Member

mark,

looks really nice, great idea :) going to check that out right now.

anything else that comes to mind.....

debbie

kathy · Veteran Member

McDonagh's still has the reputation of the best fish-n-chips place w/ the locals.

we have tried to get there on numerous occasions but something always got in the way.

also, everyone RAVES about the boat ride up the Corib. we have not done it yet - we are waiting til june 5th w/my in-laws. i understand that there is a place in oughterard where you can switch boats and go on up to ashford castle and cong - all by pretty riverboat cruise...

Gale force winds today - i haven't seen anything like this before coming from California. whew...

guinness · Veteran Member

hey kathy and mark,

so these are the two sites i came up w/ the 1st one that seems to combine both ideas and 2nd only the corrib. have you guys heard of either company? mark which one did you go on?

http://www.corribcruises.com/html/Day_Sailings.htm

http://www.corribprincess.ie/

sounds like McDonagh's is a done deal! " best fish-n-chips place w/ the locals," seems great to us! i'll have to find out exactly where that is and plan on it.

i hope that we get a great weather day, so all this can be set in motion (although i suppose reservations ahead would be smart).

debbie

Mark D · Senior Member

Hello Debbie,

We went on the Carrib Princess...It was a added suprise to our trip. Our rooms were not ready at the Imperial Hotel, so our tour guide made it so we could take the tour !!

We especially like shopping in McCambridge's, a gourmet food market on Shop street, and Fallers jewelry on Williamsgate Street.

Another travel tip.......My wife and I went to the SuperValu near Eyre Square and bought lots of great food items at great prices ! Also they sell these great heavy shopping bags with handles for a few Euro. Instant carry on's for all our goodies ! We found Galway to be our favorite city in Ireland, with Westport a close second.

Cheers!
Mark D.

PS MacDonaghs is on Quay St.....Right across from Quay's bar and Kings Head pubs...easy walk from just about anywhere in Galway.

If you would like to see some photos of our trip, email me your email address to mcdobson@adelphia.net, and I will send you , or anyone a invite to my snapfish page.

-- Edited by Mark D at 18:32, 2006-05-17