We're researching a family trip to Ireland of 2 (maybe 3) weeks. Is there anyone from Slow Travelers with advice on this topic? We'd prefer to rent for a week in the southwest, northwest and perhaps the east. My husband's family are from Belfast and would like to visit family there. I wish I could find a site on Ireland that is as wonderful as the Slow Travelers Italy site!
Posts: 107 | Location: Bergenfield, New Jersey | Registered: 14 March 2002
Thanks for the info. That should keep me busy. My biggest question concerns costs for utilities. The rentals are extremely low, but utilities are always extra.
Posts: 107 | Location: Bergenfield, New Jersey | Registered: 14 March 2002
Gail - I've been to Ireland a couple of times and have done some planning for others as well. I did only one vacation rental there outside of Headford (Co. Galway). We rented the whole house which sleeps 20, but they also have two 2 BR mews apartments.
Lisdonagh house is a wonderful place in a beautiful setting with horses, a lake, and fairies, of course! How many are in your group?
Look at Elegant Ireland's site for other choices. In my experience, Ireland tends to be a little more expensive than Italy . I don't remember if the utilities seemed pricy. The good news is elecric blankets are common and appreciated. We did this rental in March and it was cold. Look for a place with a fireplace if you go any month but August! And even then......!
What towns or sites are you interested in seeing? Do you ride horses? If so, Ireland is the place to do so. Tell me more and I'll try to help as you get more specific. This was just a start.
Post info as you find it and maybe we can get a little section on Ireland going here.
Karen
Posts: 422 | Location: Santarcangelo di Romagna, Italy | Registered: 08 July 2001
Suzanne Cohen ( www.villaeurope.com ) is a US rep for some Ireland vacation rental agencies. We spent a week in a cottage in the Connamara region (west coast near Galway) in 1992. I remember the cottage was not that expensive - I don't remember about utilities. Ask the agency or the person you are booking with.
The west coast where we stayed was beautiful, but I have heard the south west around the Dingle penninsula is great. Also the southeast around Cork.
Car rental was expensive and the driving is difficult. It is hard to believe, but the roads are even more narrow than England.
We have traveled to Ireland and loved it! Any place you stay on the coast that is on the "Ring of Kerry" will blow your socks off! It has to one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen. We rented a car and drove all around to every little village. The only driving tip I would tell you is make sure you request a car with seat belts. We were shocked to when we picked up our car and there were no seat belts! We had to wait a bit for one to get back with belts. Go figure!The people in Ireland have to be the nicest I have ever met in any other country!
Posts: 838 | Location: Nashville, TN USA | Registered: 11 September 2002
I hope you will include Belfast in your itinerary. It is unlike anyplace else you will ever see. It is not a pleasant place to be, but it is very worthwhile. There is an excellent van tour offered from the youth hostel in Belfast. An education!
My husband had distant relatives in Ballymoney in Northern Ireland, so we stayed there for a few days. Our distant cousins made the visit perfect for us -- such very nice people. We stayed in a nice self-catering cottage near Ballymoney; let me know if you'd like a link to it. It was hard to find a place to stay in Belfast -- I couldn't recommend the hotel we used there.
In Kerry we found an interesting place called "Killarney Country Club" which is a collection of nicely renovated townhouse apartments, available by the week at pretty low prices. We enjoyed staying there. The name is misleading, however, as there's no golf course near this property. But it's well located for touring Ring of Kerry, Dingle, Killarney, etc. It's a beautiful area.
Ireland is grand, as they say, and the people are lovely. I'm sure you'll enjoy it!
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