Dog Friendly Accommodation in Ireland for Summer 2022

boccy23

Hi, I am looking for any recommendations for hotels, B&Bs or Air BNBs that anyone has been in here in Ireland for a family of 4 plus a dog. We are looking at the last week in June / first week of July and then around the August Bank Holiday. We are probably like a lot of people now that we would far rather bring our pet with us than put her into a kennels and we accept that it limits the choice.

Plenty of hotels state they are dog friendly but in fact we have found when trying to book, the rooms are very limited. We had looked at Centre Parcs - nothing from June onwards. Same with The Twelve and Ardilaun in Galway. Advertise it but very restricted availability.

Thanks in advance for any recommendations.

messrs

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058241689/dog-friendly-accommodation-in-ireland-for-summer-2022

We stayed in the Ocean Sands Hotel in Sligo last October with our 2 dogs. Nice hotel and they have a block of 8 rooms with separate entrance to the hotel which seems to be the 'dog rooms' Rooms are quite big and spacious - there was 3 double beds in our room. Steps just at the back brings you straight on to the beach aswell. Dogs are allowed in the lobby of the main hotel also - so if you wanted to sit there and have your food or few drinks you can have the dogs with you.

Couple of years ago went to self catering place in Riverside in Sligo - old farm hours converted into living accommodation and all dog friendly - it was the Ardagh Suites and again lovely place to say - nice gardens and farm land where you can walk the dogs

would def recommend either of those

HazeDoll

I've stayed in a few Air BnBs with dogs, never had any difficulty. I'd be happier with self-catering in general so I can't tell you much about hotels that allow dogs.

We stayed a few years ago at Termon House in Donegal, which is a Landmark Trust property. Well worth giving their website a look.

https://www.irishlandmark.com/?gclid=Cj0KCQjwjN-SBhCkARIsACsrBz4eV0Os8DPCJHrwVVxf8AeSO5dwllCz70J_osWkBG8UDjejAklk8xYaAoznEALw_wcB

While I was trying to remember the Termon House's name I came across these. https://www.donegalcottageholidays.com/towns/holiday-cottage-dungloe.php . I'm sure similar options exist for other parts of the country.

I know boarding kennels are pleasant and well-run but I couldn't enjoy a holiday without the dogs. I usually restrict them to, say, the kitchen and living room, because it means I have less cleaning to do when we're leaving. I go a little overboard to prevent them shedding or leaving any sort of mess because I want the owners of the property to have a positive experience of renting to dog owners.

Is the UK out of the question for you, OP? I have found that they have a much less hysterical attitude to dogs there. I always send somebody in to ask if it's ok if we sit at tables outside pubs or cafes with the dogs when we stop somewhere. Here in Ireland they allow it, usually. In the UK I have had somebody come marching out and insist we sit inside where it's nice and warm, then bring a bowl of water for the dogs and enquire about their life stories... Then take our orders!

Things have definitely improved here in the last ten years or so, but bringing a dog on holiday is still much more pleasant in the UK.

boccy23

Thanks @HazeDoll. Not sure she would survive the trip on the ferry. Can they stay with you on the ferry or do dogs have to go to kennels?

HazeDoll

I used to leave them in the car and they were happy enough. On some crossings you might find a nice person who would bring you down to check on them but I really think that just confused them. I'd wear them out before getting on the ferry so they dozed off. When we get back to them they're glad to see us but not at all panicked. The times we did this was with two collies, both rescues, both very attached to me and both nervous. I wouldn't have done it more than once if it caused them proper stress.

We went from Rosslare to Fishguard each time and holidayed in Devon and Cornwall (Wales is beautiful but not as welcoming, I found.) The crossing is less than four hours. That sounds like a long time but mine always love travelling by car and van. They'll happily spend four ours stretched out on the floor in the kitchen as long as they're getting proper walks so a four hour nap in the car is no real hardship. From their point of view familiar surroundings mean that I'm definitely coming back, whereas kennels might mean they have been abandoned forever.

I know the rules have changed about travelling with dogs since I last did this so you need to look into that first if you're considering it. I highly recommend it if suits you.

anewme

Cabu by the lakes in Cavan. Self catering lodges in Killykeen forest park.

Friend in work recommended it for dogs, said its expensive but they enjoyed a short break there.

brodsy

Park Place Apartments in Killarney have some pet friendly apartments - lovely to deal with as well

emo72

Another plus for ocean sands Sligo. Best beach in enniscrone you or your dog will ever see. Bit of mackeral fishing off the harbour. Have a nice swim, then a few pints in the local bars. I've no idea if there's anything better. But yeah.... The weather can help.

muddypaws

Another recommendation for the Ocean Sands in Enniscrone. They've actually increased the number of dog friendly rooms recently. Hotel or self catering apartments available.

Some friends have also stayed at the Twelve Hotel in Galway and rate it very highly as a dog friendly place to stay.

maximo31

We stayed here with our fella a few years ago. Lovely apartments with large enclosed garden. Access to a BBQ. Short walk to pubs / restaurants which are also dog friendly. We actually took our dog out on a ferry to the islands where we left him off for a run on the beach. Gorgeous beach out there. Plenty of walking around Baltimore too. Would recommend.

https://harbourapartments.ie/