Where to go on holidays in Ireland

colombes

Hello, I live in Ireland bit I am not Irish so usually the few holidays I have I go back to see my parents so they can see their grandchildren.

Anyway, this Summer due to covid we finally have the time to visit Ireland.

We have 2 young kids (3 and 6) so we are looking for family friendly place close to beach, with places to visit, not crowded and not too expensive (at least good value for money), yes all that !

Any recommendations?
I know I can check on trip advisor & co.
But I am looking for real advice and recommendations.
If there would be only one to recommend what would it be?

Thanks a lot.

beggars_bush

colombes wrote: »

Hello, I live in Ireland bit I am not Irish so usually the few holidays I have I go back to see my parents so they can see their grandchildren.

Anyway, this Summer due to covid we finally have the time to visit Ireland.

We have 2 young kids (3 and 6) so we are looking for family friendly place close to beach, with places to visit, not crowded and not too expensive (at least good value for money), yes all that !

Any recommendations?
I know I can check on trip advisor & co.
But I am looking for real advice and recommendations.
If there would be only one to recommend what would it be?

Thanks a lot.

Aran islands after August 10th (when they open up - it might be eaelier)
Inis Oirr if you can get somewhere to stay self catering for a week
Beautiful safe beach
Easy to cycle around (Bike hire)
Hopefully pubs open that serve food
It'll feel like a proper holiday as you have to get ferry

Failing that, go for somewhere quieter like Sligo.
Beaches, golf, mountains, walks, cycles, plenty of places to see

beggars_bush

Just booked a week in Glenties, Donegal

biko

https://www.inchydoneyisland.com/

Caranica

biko wrote: »

https://www.inchydoneyisland.com/

Totally overpriced and over rated in my experience

Slim Charles

People will lambast it but, Bray.

joe40

colombes wrote: »

Hello, I live in Ireland bit I am not Irish so usually the few holidays I have I go back to see my parents so they can see their grandchildren.

Anyway, this Summer due to covid we finally have the time to visit Ireland.

We have 2 young kids (3 and 6) so we are looking for family friendly place close to beach, with places to visit, not crowded and not too expensive (at least good value for money), yes all that !

Any recommendations?
I know I can check on trip advisor & co.
But I am looking for real advice and recommendations.
If there would be only one to recommend what would it be?

Thanks a lot.

I would recommend Dunfanaghy in Donegal, (from Donegal so might be biased) easy access to lovely beaches, lovely village for food or a pint. Easy driving distance of glenveagh national park, also errigal mountain or muckish if you fancy a bit of hillwalking.

Also only 30 mins from letterkenny for cinema, shopping or swimming pool, if outdoor activities get too much.

a148pro

OP Ireland can be expensive in August, but if you were willing to take your 6 year old out of school you would get it cheaper in September, and the weather is often nicer

Wexford, Waterford, Kerry, Clare, Galway, Mayo all have what you are looking for

Armada Hotel in Clare is very nice, right on a beach and has lots of things to do in the area, caves, the Burren, surfing etc

I'm sure other people can suggest similar?

colombes

Thank you so much for all the tips. Really appreciate.ðŸ‘

km79

biko wrote: »

https://www.inchydoneyisland.com/

Wow
I thought the hotel prices in Westport were dear !!!
Looks like we will be “staycationing” in our house if they don’t wise up a little ..........

moonstruck

connemara of course

joe40

km79 wrote: »

Wow
I thought the hotel prices in Westport were dear !!!
Looks like we will be “staycationing” in our house if they don’t wise up a little ..........

The big touristy spots like Killarney, and Westport are extremely expensive.
One year my self wife and 2 kids took a wee trip around Ireland staying in hostels they were brilliant.
You can get family rooms with showers at a fraction of the cost of a hotel. You generally have access to cooking area.

Obviously research them but some are great. You don't have to stay in dormitories.

zerosugarbuzz

a148pro wrote: »

OP Ireland can be expensive in August, but if you were willing to take your 6 year old out of school you would get it cheaper in September, and the weather is often nicer

Wexford, Waterford, Kerry, Clare, Galway, Mayo all have what you are looking for

Armada Hotel in Clare is very nice, right on a beach and has lots of things to do in the area, caves, the Burren, surfing etc

I'm sure other people can suggest similar?

Spanish Point where the Armada Hotel it is fab and very accessible by car to Cliffs of Mohar, Galway etc etc. Consider a holiday home or mobile home hire to save a lot of money.

u140acro3xs7dm

Slim Charles wrote: »

People will lambast it but, Bray.

Head out there for a day trip, but on holidays - people stopped doing that 50 years ago. The OP wants a beach, not too crowded and not too expensive. Even Bray people go elsewhere for a beach as its a stoney beach in Bray, the seafront is jammed with people and overpriced. What would do for a week in Bray?

Would be better to stay in rural Wicklow near the coast, and spend a day in Bray - ideally on a sunny day. Although I would imagine Brittas etc. will be packed.

I think everywhere will be expensive this year. If you want to avoid the crowd, you'll need to get as far away from Dublin as possible. Try the islands off Cork or Donegal.

Slim Charles

Makenna Tinkling Oaf wrote: »

Head out there for a day trip, but on holidays - people stopped doing that 50 years ago. The OP wants a beach, not too crowded and not too expensive. Even Bray people go elsewhere for a beach as its a stoney beach in Bray, the seafront is jammed with people and overpriced. What would do for a week in Bray?

Would be better to stay in rural Wicklow near the coast, and spend a day in Bray - ideally on a sunny day. Although I would imagine Brittas etc. will be packed.

I think everywhere will be expensive this year. If you want to avoid the crowd, you'll need to get as far away from Dublin as possible. Try the islands off Cork or Donegal.

I'll be honest I didn't really read it, we don't have kids so Bray is ideal for us and it's the first place we went together so holds some decent memories. Already planning a trip this year for a few days as soon as the announcement was made yesterday.

greenttc

west cork, you could tour around there and visit several nice beaches and town and villages. i love inchydoney beach (you don't have to stay in the resort at all) baltimore for whale watching, visit schull, a lovely town, out to barley cove beach, over to bantry then to glengarriff and out to garinish island, head down around the beara peninsula back up and around to kenmare (kerry i know). the place is huge, so much to cover, and if the weather is nice its better than spain.

im sure there will be loads of holiday homes for rent, they are usually rented out to tourists from outside ireland so will be available for the domestic market this year

charlie14

beggars_bush wrote: »

Aran islands after August 10th (when they open up - it might be eaelier)
Inis Oirr if you can get somewhere to stay self catering for a week
Beautiful safe beach
Easy to cycle around (Bike hire)
Hopefully pubs open that serve food
It'll feel like a proper holiday as you have to get ferry

Failing that, go for somewhere quieter like Sligo.
Beaches, golf, mountains, walks, cycles, plenty of places to see

I know Inis Oirr well and unless this epidemic makes a massive difference on numbers from the past few years it will possibly still be crowded. Inis Oirr is the smallest of the three Aran Islands and visitors congregate around the small area of the beach, pier, bars and shop.
The last few years the island has been completely jammed during the season. Particular in July and August.


This year, if or when it does open for tourists, perhaps the new social distancing rules will reduce the numbers allowed on the ferries. As there have been larger and faster ferries introduced in the past few year cutting down the journey time from Doolin, and with Inis Oirr being the closest of the islands to Doolin I would not be too sure on that.


How welcoming the majority of the islanders would be is another matter. They have made a huge effort and have basically isolated themselves to keep Inis Oirr free of Covid-19 to date. Many who I know involved in the tourist trade on the island have said they would be happy to forget about this season as they have elderly or vulnerable relations.

beggars_bush

charlie14 wrote: »

I know Inis Oirr well and unless this epidemic makes a massive difference on numbers from the past few years it will possibly still be crowded. Inis Oirr is the smallest of the three Aran Islands and visitors congregate around the small area of the beach, pier, bars and shop.
The last few years the island has been completely jammed during the season. Particular in July and August.


This year, if or when it does open for tourists, perhaps the new social distancing rules will reduce the numbers allowed on the ferries. As there have been larger and faster ferries introduced in the past few year cutting down the journey time from Doolin, and with Inis Oirr being the closest of the islands to Doolin I would not be too sure on that.


How welcoming the majority of the islanders would be is another matter. They have made a huge effort and have basically isolated themselves to keep Inis Oirr free of Covid-19 to date. Many who I know involved in the tourist trade on the island have said they would be happy to forget about this season as they have elderly or vulnerable relations.

I agree
Most of their day trip visitors would be foreign tourists though

charlie14

beggars_bush wrote: »

I agree
Most of their day trip visitors would be foreign tourists though

During the months of July August many have been Irish. Especially at weekend and would make up the vast majority of those in the two pubs and hotel at night.There are quite who rent houses during those months as well and they would be all Irish.
I actually believe from talking to many I know that they are not that overly disappointed with no tourist so far this year as in the last few years the island has been packed with people. One actually said to me that it was no great difference being told to stay home as for the past few years with the numbers, especially on bike, you were risking your life going out the door anyway.

joe40

charlie14 wrote: »

During the months of July August many have been Irish. Especially at weekend and would make up the vast majority of those in the two pubs and hotel at night.There are quite who rent houses during those months as well and they would be all Irish.
I actually believe from talking to many I know that they are not that overly disappointed with no tourist so far this year as in the last few years the island has been packed with people. One actually said to me that it was no great difference being told to stay home as for the past few years with the numbers, especially on bike, you were risking your life going out the door anyway.

I agree I was out at the aran islands a few years ago and I'm not sure it was worth the expense. Approx 100 euro for family in the ferry and then bike hire. The island was pretty and cliffs were brilliant in fairness, but the crowds were very large. I can imagine how locals are getting fed up, the crowds were massive.

I think there are better less expensive Island experiences. Arranmore for example.

tayto lover

biko wrote: »

https://www.inchydoneyisland.com/

That’s a very expensive place to stay. €269 a night. Not many could afford that.
You’d get a week in the sun in Portugal cheaper.

charlie14

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058084053/where-to-go-on-holidays-in-ireland