Ireland
Paul J. Barrett
Anyone have any advice on setting up a self-contained trip to Ireland in
the spring? My wife and I would like to go for about 3 weeks in May.
We plan on renting a car, driving, and making it up as we go along.
I've had terrible luck with travel agents. Most apparently feel that
returnign phone calls in optional.
Has anyone dealt with hotel vouchers? Are most hotels involved
available or will I be stuck with a bunch of useless vouchers I have to
return when I'm done.
Also, any recommendations for hotels in Dublin? I'm looking for
something in the Temple Bar or City Centre area so I don't have to drive
while I'm there. Nothing fancy, they all look alike when your eyes are
closed, but clean, safe, and cheap.
Thanks
Seamrog
This is meant for "Barrett" who posted an inquiry about a
three week trip to Ireland in May. I lost the posting in
going to get this copy to email. Apologies to the newsgroup
if anyone is offended by my posting this.
Shamrock Services offers the traveler to Ireland custom
designed independent and escorted group arrangements as well
as the outstanding travel services and escorted tour
packages of Terry Flynn Tours.
Touring Ireland, whether independently or in a group, should
be exciting, rewarding and enjoyable. Allow us to customize
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you want to see. We're confident we can provide the
experience of Ireland you look forward to. Give us an
outline of your Irish holiday idea, we'll reply with a
sample itinerary and then refine it to meet your specific
interests, schedule, budget, etc.
All our group services include non-stop air transportation
on Aer Lingus, where Ireland begins. Aer Lingus gateways are
New York, Boston, and Chicago. We can include Aer Lingus
flights in independent packages.
We use Thrifty car rental company, the best in Ireland.
Thrifty provides only 1997 cars and their several locations
allow flexibility in your itinerary.
We can arrange and book any accommodations you wish, from
5-star castles to warm family Bed & Breakfast homes.
For independent day tours from Dublin we use both CIE/Bus
Eireann and Gray Line Ireland.
If you wish to see Ireland by train and bus, we can arrange
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Ring or Fax us at (914) 476-9385.
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E-mail at <sham...@cyburban.com>.
Your inquiry will receive an immediate and courteous reply.
If at all possible, we'll arrange to discuss your plans
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--
€ Shamrock Services provides Custom Designed Individual and
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Flynn Tours € Phone/Fax 914.476.9385 or Email to
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Mary Gosline
Last summer I stayed at Buswell's Hotel on Molesworth
Street in Dublin and really liked it. The staff was great and
you couldn't ask for a better location for walking to all
sights.
Mary "How sweet it is!"
Harlan Hague
Paul J. Barrett wrote:
>
> Anyone have any advice on setting up a self-contained trip to Ireland in
> the spring? My wife and I would like to go for about 3 weeks in May.
That sounds like a formula for B&Bing it. You'll have more fun, meet more people, and
you shouldn't have any problems finding B&Bs in May. Here are some sites to whet your
appetite:
http://www.touchtel.ie/first/
http://www.commerce.ie/towns_and_country/
http://www.iol.ie/~discover/
http://www.iol.ie/~avondoyl/avondoyl.htm
http://www.oconnor.ie/oconnor/
Each of these sites have lots of links.
Harlan
--
Soft Adventure tours, the way to go, at http://www.geocities.com/Athens/3671
Greece and the Isles; Tahiti and the South pacific; Tanzanian Safari.
Kathryn L. McCabe
In <32CF00...@cts.com> "Paul J. Barrett" <p...@cts.com> writes:
>
>Anyone have any advice on setting up a self-contained trip to Ireland
in
>the spring? My wife and I would like to go for about 3 weeks in May.
>I've had terrible luck with travel agents. Most apparently feel that
>returnign phone calls in optional.
>
>Has anyone dealt with hotel vouchers? Are most hotels involved
>available or will I be stuck with a bunch of useless vouchers I have
to
>return when I'm done.
>
>Also, any recommendations for hotels in Dublin? I'm looking for
>something in the Temple Bar or City Centre area so I don't have to
drive
>while I'm there. Nothing fancy, they all look alike when your eyes
are
>closed, but clean, safe, and cheap.
>
>Thanks
The Grafton House (01-6792041)on South Great George's Street is a
fairly inexpensive and clean place to stay while in Dublin. It's also
only 2 blocks away from Temple Bar. It is run by Briget Collins, and
the only thing that I could find fault with was the fact that after
9:00pm, there are no phone calls (incoming).
I would ditch the rental car when you get to Dublin. I have found that
they are more of an hinderance than a convenience. Car parks (lots)
are hard to find, and the traffic can be atrocious. Public transit is
available for all your daytime travels (DART and the city bus), and if
you are staying in the city centre, you can walk do a whole lot of
walking, even in the evenings/night. Public transportation is also a
great way to see the everyday people, and you get more out of any
vacation experience (particularly in Ireland) when you get out of
tourist mode and just meet the folks who inhabit the area.
You might also contact these other hotels in the Temple Bar area if
Grafton House is not to your liking.
Temple Bar Hotel 01-6773333
Ormond Hotel 01-8721811 (Ormond Quay)
Blooms Hotel 01-6715622
Tom and Evelyn Moore
"Paul J. Barrett" <p...@cts.com> wrote:
>Anyone have any advice on setting up a self-contained trip to Ireland in
>the spring?
Hello Paul,
Your plan for your vacation in Ireland is excellent, and it is quite
the normal type of holiday here.
Rent a car and stay as you please. You will find during May that it
will be very easy to get B&B accommodation, without having to book in
advance. Most professionally run B&Bs such ar our own accept travel
agents' vouchers, so if you want to use these, you should not
experience any difficulty.
Here are a few Web sites which should put you at your ease:
1 ........... http://www.iol.ie/~avondoyl/avondoyl.htm
is the Web site for our own B&B, and contains most of the information
you will need in planning your holiday:
- A description of the B&B system in Ireland
- Renting a car and driving in Ireland
- Climate month-by-month, and a link to hourly weather forecasts
- Summary descriptions of places of tourist interest in the .
Limerick and Shannon Region
- Golf courses within each reach - about 40 locations!
- Horse-riding facilities within easy reach
- And much more.
2 ........ http://www.commerce.ie/towns_and_country
is the Web site of the Town and Country Homes Association, of which we
are a member. This site gives a summary including a photograph of
every home (about 1000 throughout Ireland), and rates, and indicates
whether each home accepts travel agents vouchers.
3............ http://www.iol.ie/~discover/
is the Web site of Ireland Interactive and a summary of its contents
is posted to alt.travel and rec.travel.europe about twice a month
during the summer. It contains a broad range of useful information
including many contact addresses.
We hope that this reply has been helpful to you, and if you have any
further queries please feel free to contact us.
Best regards for your holiday in Ireland,,
Tom and Evelyn Moore,
Avondoyle Country Home B&B, Limerick,
avon...@iol.ie
Becky & Michael O'Connor
> Anyone have any advice on setting up a self-contained trip to Ireland in
> the spring? My wife and I would like to go for about 3 weeks in May.
> We plan on renting a car, driving, and making it up as we go along.
> I've had terrible luck with travel agents. Most apparently feel that
> returnign phone calls in optional.
>
> Has anyone dealt with hotel vouchers? Are most hotels involved
> available or will I be stuck with a bunch of useless vouchers I have to
> return when I'm done.
Hi Paul!
Motor touring in Ireland is really easy! There are B&Bs, farmhouses, and
guesthouses everywhere, and the people are very, very friendly.
You can contact the Irish Tourist Board at 345 Park Avenue, NY, NY 10154;
tel 212-418-0800; fax 212-371-9052. Ask them to send you information on
touring Ireland. Ask them also to send you these accommodation guides:
Friendly Homes, Town & Country Homes, Farmhouse Accommodation, and Be Our
Guest. There are photos and descriptions of literally hundreds of places
to stay around the country.
You can also preview the Friendly Homes Guide on line at:
http://www.tourismresources.ie/
A trip to your local bookstore will probably yield a number of guide books
on Ireland, including some that are on accommodation as well. (Two good
accommodation guides that come to mind are "Karen Brown's Irish Country
Inns" and "Bed & Breakfast Ireland" by Dillard and Causin, and a good
touring guide is the Cadogan Guide for Ireland.)
Many accommodation providers throughout Ireland accept vouchers. Others do
not. Vouchers are not necessary, and sometimes can present problems for
you, especially in high season (July and August).
B&B prices start at about IR£14 per person sharing a room, depending on
the location and amenities offered. Guesthouses cost more. (A B&B has six
or fewer bedrooms; a guesthouse has more than 6 bedrooms.) It's generally
not necessary to stay in a hotel (usually at a much higher rate) unless
you really want to.
Enjoy your holiday planning!
All the best,
Becky O'Connor
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
e-mail: innk...@oconnor.ie
Internet: http://www.oconnor.ie/oconnor/
The Old Stone House B&B * Dingle * Ireland
- Celtic Nature Expeditions -
Walking & Sailing Adventures In Ireland
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jonathan G. Campbell
Paul J. Barrett wrote:
>
> Anyone have any advice on setting up a self-contained trip to Ireland in
> the spring? My wife and I would like to go for about 3 weeks in May.
> We plan on renting a car, driving, and making it up as we go along.
> I've had terrible luck with travel agents. Most apparently feel that
> returnign phone calls in optional.
>
> Has anyone dealt with hotel vouchers? Are most hotels involved
> available or will I be stuck with a bunch of useless vouchers I have to
> return when I'm done.
>
> something in the Temple Bar or City Centre area so I don't have to drive
> while I'm there. Nothing fancy, they all look alike when your eyes are
> closed, but clean, safe, and cheap.
I don't know what your budget is, so cannot offer specific advice about
hotels in Dublin. If you want to e-mail me privately, I'll be more
specific, e.g. when I visit Dublin, I stay in a B&B in the Sandymount
area for 13 pds per night, 25 pds double. Expect the larger city centre
hotels to be quite expensive (compared to other European cities that I
know; not much below 100 pds.
The thing that's in your favour travelling in Ireland in the spring,
e.g. May, is that there will be few other tourists around. Hence most
hotels and B&Bs will be empty, and 'making it up as you go along' as you
say, will be very easy. Dublin is the only place that you would probably
have to pre-book -- especially if you were arriving/leaving via Dublin
airport.
Ireland is nice in the spring, and is probably the time with least
rainfall; and long daylight hours. Temperatures lowish, though, average
daily max. probably about 15 degrees C.
Slight cautionary note. If you have your hire-car while in Dublin, leave
it in the hotel car park; the city centre is grid-lock for the daytime
hours. And, car-crime is common; park it nowhere with any valuables in
it, and never your luggage; that goes for many tourist spots too, e.g.
Glendalough.
I can imagine you having difficulty with travel agents (I assume Irish),
I doubt if they would have any sort of 'package' to sell you. But surely
some of the airlines have fly-drive packages?
Best regards,
Jon Campbell
--
Jonathan G. Campbell, ISC/ISE, University of Ulster, Magee College,
Derry, BT48 7JL, Northern Ireland. tel +44 1504 375367, fax 370040.
JG.Ca...@ulst.ac.uk http://www.iscm.ulst.ac.uk/~jon/
rri...@ibm.net
In article <5arugc$9...@dfw-ixnews4.ix.netcom.com>,
kat...@ix.netcom.com(Kathryn L. McCabe) wrote:
>
> In <32CF00...@cts.com> "Paul J. Barrett" <p...@cts.com> writes:
> >
> in
> >the spring? My wife and I would like to go for about 3 weeks in May.
Try Jurys Inns.
They're on the Internet through
The group used to be a 4 and 5 star specialist but now they have a range 3* Inns
which are cheaper. There are two Inns in Dublin, at Custom House on the North
Shore of the River Liffey. Their Christchurch Inn is straight opposite
ChrisctChurch Cathedral with rooms overlooking. Theyre both full facilitied.
These are 3 star hotels, but the big plus is that they charge by the room rather
than by head (unusual in Ireland).
I've never stayed in the Dublin ones, but we always use them in Galway and Cork.
By May, there will be others open in Limerick and Belfast.
Room rates vary. Galway is around £39/room per night, but I think Dublin is
around £50. Breakfast is extra.
Rgds
Karl Waldron
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rri...@ibm.net
In article <32D91D15...@ulst.ac.uk>,
"Jonathan G. Campbell" <jg.ca...@ulst.ac.uk> wrote:
> Expect the larger city centre
> hotels to be quite expensive (compared to other European cities that I
> know; not much below 100 pds.
>
Dublin and others in Cork, Galway and shortly in Limerick and Belfast.
These charge on a per room rather than a per person basis with rooms suitable
for three adults or two adults and two children.
Fully facilitied and with 3* status, rates are from £51 per room per night in
Dublin and £39 in the country.
They're on the net at
and you can book online if you're interested.
Albert Molitor
Look for Rick Steves book on travel in Ireland. It contains a nice
itinerary and lots of tips for sight seeing. He lists cheap, cheap
places to stay if you on a tight budge. Air Lingus has a good b and b
and car package which we used. It comes with preselected B and B's. B
and B's are not all they are cracked up to be and frequently the owners
have no time to talk, having to work other jobs to make ends meet. We
liked small inns or guest houses best. I'd be glad to share other
experiences.
Albert Molitor
By the way, the only place we felt the dishonesty of the Irish was in
Killarney. The town and many of the people are lovely, the country side
is beautiful, but the pony cart drivers should be avoided at all cost.
They are aggressive, dishonest, etc. and etc. A wonderful guest house in
Dublin in the Ariel House
Nuevo MＫico
>Look for Rick Steves book on travel in Ireland. It contains a nice
>itinerary and lots of tips for sight seeing. He lists cheap, cheap
No one on a tight budget stays in a B&B ($25/person and up). If you're
travelling off-season, independent hostels are the way to go. No
memberships. $10 pp. If the private room is empty, you get it for the
price of the dorm. Or you make get a dorm bed to yourself.
>and car package which we used. It comes with preselected B and B's. B
>and B's are not all they are cracked up to be and frequently the owners
>have no time to talk, having to work other jobs to make ends meet. We
Most B&B's are in modern suburban homes of people who have day jobs,
although some are on farms. Most independent hostels are in older, historic
buildings.
>liked small inns or guest houses best. I'd be glad to share
>other experiences.
I found Baedekker's Ireland to have extensive and very good listings for
Ireland as far as places to visit.
--No es f cil. ¨No ve cu nto le cuesta a la gente estar callada?
Hablan de puro miedo. Les angustia el silencio, y escapan de el como
pueden. Temen a las almas en pena. Las llevan dentro y las
mantienen calladas a fuerza de parloteo. No comprenden que el miedo
es la angustia del hombre por no estar ya en su sitio. Son cuerpos
en pena. Pero si aprenden a regresar al bosque sin ¡nfulas, y a
mirar a los rboles, como si fueran sus mayores, porque lo son, a lo
mejor...¨Qui‚n sabe?
Pedro de Silva C. Jovellanos, _Con El Druida, Tal Vez_
en Jose Ma. Fern ndez D¡az-Forment¡, Gu¡a a los Bosques de Asturias
--It isn't easy. Don't you see how difficult it is for people to
shut up? They speak out of pure fear. Silence causes them anquish,
and they run away from it as best they can. They are afraid of these
souls in pain. They carry them inside and try to keep them quiet by
meaningless chattering. They don't understand that fear is the
anquish of a man not is his proper place. They are in pain. But is
they learn to return to the woods without feelings of superiority, and
to look at the trees as if they were their elders, because they are,
who knows, perhaps?
Pedro de Silva C. Jovellanos, _With a Druid, Perhaps_\
in Jose Ma. Fernandez Diaz-Formenti, Guide to the Forests of Asturias
Amy Battis
In article <5cgfmm$2k...@usenetp1.news.prodigy.com>, Albert Molitor
says...
<snipped previous post on poor quality B&Bs>
Sorry, but I couldn't disagree with you more on either count. I've stayed in
Irish Tourist Board approved B&Bs on 10 separate occasions all over the
country, and each and EVERY time, the hosts have gone out of their way to
set up tours, make sure we're set for dinner, show us around and check to
make sure we're doing ok. Once, the woman who ran the b&b took care of
three of us sick with the flu! Absolutely memorable, they are! Perhaps you just
didn't pick ITB approved ones?
Also, I had no problems with the cart drivers in Killarney, and I think making a
blanket statement like the only place in Ireland you found dishonesty was in
Killarney is a dangerous one to make. You could find people like that
ANYWHERE, you just happened upon one there.
Amy
jean orselli
We would like to exchange our house for summer .
OUr house: A villa in Saint Paul de Vence , Côte d'Azur, France.
5 bedromms + very big lounge+2 bathrooms and garden.
My email : aud...@iway.fr