Staycation Ireland.. Anyone doing it

lisasimpson · 03-08-2020 11:27am

beggars_bush wrote: »

How was the bar open without serving food?

I was thinking the same. But its rediculous hotels should be allowed serve drink in bars to residents only. It would be easy enough to police using your room key to order. Went to kerry a few weeks ago. Wouldnt be a big drinker but once we left a restuarant at 9 there was nothing to do but go back to our accomdation. Allowing hotels to open bars to residents only would help spread custom around a town

Tenzor07 · 03-08-2020 11:47am

lisasimpson wrote: »

I was thinking the same. But its rediculous hotels should be allowed serve drink in bars to residents only. It would be easy enough to police using your room key to order. Went to kerry a few weeks ago. Wouldnt be a big drinker but once we left a restuarant at 9 there was nothing to do but go back to our accomdation. Allowing hotels to open bars to residents only would help spread custom around a town

I believe that some Hotels in Ireland will allow you to take a pint up to your room and drink it there....

bladespin · 03-08-2020 12:21pm

Tenzor07 wrote: »

I believe that some Hotels in Ireland will allow you to take a pint up to your room and drink it there....

Lobbies too, any I know of apply bar rules in their bars and after meals etc residents can move to the lobby.

Tenzor07 · 03-08-2020 12:45pm

bladespin wrote: »

Lobbies too, any I know of apply bar rules in their bars and after meals etc residents can move to the lobby.

I can't imagine why anyone in their right mind would pay to go to a hotel a couple of hours drive away to be told they have 105 mins to eat dinner and then shoved out into a hallway or back to your room to have a drink...

mossy464 · 03-08-2020 2:13pm

Just back from two nights in amber springs. Great for kids. Any other hotels around the country with similar facilities for kids? Really made the whole thing enjoyable for us and our two year old

Liamo57 · 03-08-2020 2:22pm

Im heading to N Ireland tomorrow for 4 nights. Looking forward to it. Looked Kerry and saw the punters are being screwed in hotels etc. so reckon they dont deserve our business.

03-08-2020 3:18pm

Back from a nice itinerary which I enjoyed very much, but for the woeful weather a lot of the time.

Dublin-Athlone (visited castle) - Lodge at Ashford Castle 1 night (visited Ross Errilly Friary ruins on way) - Clifden self-catering 4 nights (Intended 6 but was referred to Galway for X-ray after bone stuck in throat) from where I visited Omey Island, Dakerna Beach, Cleggan, Ballyconneely coral beach, Gurteen Bat, Sky Road, Bunowen beach, Aillebrack beach, Ballynahinch castle grounds - Loughrea overnight (Coole Park, Thoor Ballylee & lovely swim at a Loughrea lake beach) - Tullamore overnight (via Clonfert Cathedral & Lough Boora Discovery Oark, both zero cost) with whiskey Tasting experience at DEW - back to Dublin via Edenderry (where I took a look at the church designed by an ancestor) and Lullymore Heritage & Discovery Park in Kildare.

I made sure to take the slow roads and explore places in the Hidden Heartlands as well as my key destination in the west. Found some hotels to have paper-thin walls, where crowded room parties were happening with young folk. However I found food to be value for money and perhaps over-generous in proportions!

twin_beacon · 03-08-2020 4:39pm

6 nights booked along the wild Atlantic Way in September, moving north from Clare to sligo. Really looking forward to it. Hope the weather is good, but it's not the end of the world if it's not.

Lundstram · 03-08-2020 4:40pm

Liamo57 wrote: »

Im heading to N Ireland tomorrow for 4 nights. Looking forward to it. Looked Kerry and saw the punters are being screwed in hotels etc. so reckon they dont deserve our business.

Thinking of a few nights up there myself. Good value to be had. I'd rather hand the Queen my money than the rip off merchants down here. No shame whatsoever.

HBC08 · 03-08-2020 4:44pm

Mehaffey1 wrote: »

Staying four nights in Castlebar in a studio apartment Airbnb this month. Can honestly say after seeing nothing aside from four walls at home and the factory at work since the winter that I've never been as excited for a holiday since I was a kid.

Make sure to cycle the Castlebar Greenway to the national museum in Turlough,also lots of nice places to eat in Cbar!

scwazrh · 03-08-2020 4:49pm

Northern Ireland definitely has better value at the moment which is a shame as I would rather spend my money in our own economy but not willing to pay the inflated prices hotels here are charging

Manc_Red · 03-08-2020 4:53pm

Kilkenny next week for a few days.

Hopefully pubs are given the green light.

Mehaffey1 · 03-08-2020 8:24pm

HBC08 wrote: »

Make sure to cycle the Castlebar Greenway to the national museum in Turlough,also lots of nice places to eat in Cbar!

One of the things planned to do, taking the wee 3 year old in a towed trailer, give me a bit of an extra work out!

Spanish Eyes · 03-08-2020 8:29pm

zweton wrote: »

Just back from westport last week, stayed 6 nights in the wyatt hotel (highly recommend). No pubs open bar the ones serving food but the wyatt has a bar that was very popular with people that were not staying there. As a resident no need buy food each time so very handy that way. Guinness and food was great and had a cracking few days.

The Wyatt is a lovely spot alright. Could not fault it, right in the centre of things (well once upon a time), and very friendly and professional staff and super grub too. Just saying.

03-08-2020 8:33pm

Are there any hotels left after all the B listers and influencers went west for their stories?

Spanish Eyes · 03-08-2020 8:35pm

Just to give you all a gasp and a laugh maybe, I got a pop up message from somewhere about Private Irish Railtours.

Hmmm. Got on the website and sure enough the train trip is private, i.e. no one else getting on or off. They have reduced the numbers for social distancing and so on. Snacks and drinks on board complimentary. So far so good.

7 nights staying in hotels in Waterford, Cork, Killarney, Galway, Belfast and wherever BnB only costs how much do you reckon? Tours included but no meals.

Well it is €1,899 per person. They obviously think we are Americans or something. That is outrageous pricing IMV. Am I wrong to thing that?

03-08-2020 8:39pm

Spanish Eyes wrote: »

Just to give you all a gasp and a laugh maybe, I got a pop up message from somewhere about Private Irish Railtours.

Hmmm. Got on the website and sure enough the train trip is private, i.e. no one else getting on or off. They have reduced the numbers for social distancing and so on. Snacks and drinks on board complimentary. So far so good.

7 nights staying in hotels in Waterford, Cork, Killarney, Galway, Belfast and wherever BnB only costs how much do you reckon? Tours included but no meals.

Well it is €1,899 per person. They obviously think we are Americans or something. That is outrageous pricing IMV. Am I wrong to thing that?

But “support Irish business”

There’s been enough stories the past few days to prove they all think we’re idiots.

Spanish Eyes · 03-08-2020 8:55pm

ReginaldSmythV wrote: »

But “support Irish business”

There’s been enough stories the past few days to prove they all think we’re idiots.

To be fair, not all places are gouging, there are reasonable deals to be had, but it is high holiday season and it was always thus.

We will be going September time, when hopefully the kids will be back at school (but who knows), and the holiday frenzy time is easing off a bit.

03-08-2020 8:58pm

Spanish Eyes wrote: »

To be fair, not all places are gouging, there are reasonable deals to be had, but it is high holiday season and it was always thus.

We will be going September time, when hopefully the kids will be back at school (but who knows), and the holiday frenzy time is easing off a bit.

Pubs are gouging, restaurants are gouging, hotels are gouging, yet they all stand behind a big banner with the pockets hanging out asking us to support Irish like it’s some sort of right they have. It’s the Irish way.

TenLeftFingers · 03-08-2020 9:04pm

Visited Chorca Dhuibhne and the Ring of Kerry this weekend. There are no tour busses or coaches on the road and other traffic was v light so there are advantages to travelling at the moment.

It was surprisingly nice to strike up conversations and chat to people from other parts of Ireland. Met people who have been living near me for a while too actually

HeidiHeidi · 03-08-2020 9:33pm

I've been up in NW Donegal for most of the last two weeks, and my God I've never seen anything like the amount of camper vans and cars from all over, right to the other end of the country! (LK, WX, C etc).

Normally this time of year it's mostly NI reg's to be seen.

People are definitely spreading their wings within the confines of Ireland this summer.

I continue to be absolutely blown away with the beauty of the landscape and beaches up there, even on the ****ty days (of which there were only one or two, to be fair).

Collie D · 03-08-2020 9:49pm

Spanish Eyes wrote: »

Just to give you all a gasp and a laugh maybe, I got a pop up message from somewhere about Private Irish Railtours.

Hmmm. Got on the website and sure enough the train trip is private, i.e. no one else getting on or off. They have reduced the numbers for social distancing and so on. Snacks and drinks on board complimentary. So far so good.

7 nights staying in hotels in Waterford, Cork, Killarney, Galway, Belfast and wherever BnB only costs how much do you reckon? Tours included but no meals.

Well it is €1,899 per person. They obviously think we are Americans or something. That is outrageous pricing IMV. Am I wrong to thing that?

That’s not a new thing. I’ve come across that before at similar price points and well above and it’s not just an Irish thing. There is a market out there for expensive multi day train journeys.

Most surprising thing is that it works in a small country like Ireland but there you go.

03-08-2020 9:56pm

Just spent 5 days in Sligo on the North West coast.
Miserable. The rain & wind was horrendous.
There was literally nothing to do when the weather was bad.

Going to Westport next week for 2 nights, 200euro a night in a Mon &Tues night .
Outrageous prices, 200 euro for one room per night on a Mon/Tues night!!

And it will probably rain......

Get me on an aeroplane asap!

Brock Turnpike · 03-08-2020 10:00pm

Charged €5.50 for a Guinness in Newport, Co.Mayo at the weekend. Not the kind of price I would expect to be paying outside of Dublin. Is that normal or have they whacked up their prices?

twin_beacon · 04-08-2020 7:46am

Spanish Eyes wrote: »

7 nights staying in hotels in Waterford, Cork, Killarney, Galway, Belfast and wherever BnB only costs how much do you reckon? Tours included but no meals.

Well it is €1,899 per person. They obviously think we are Americans or something. That is outrageous pricing IMV. Am I wrong to thing that?

Only Americans get those tours

HBC08 · 04-08-2020 8:44am

Brock Turnpike wrote: »

Charged €5.50 for a Guinness in Newport, Co.Mayo at the weekend. Not the kind of price I would expect to be paying outside of Dublin. Is that normal or have they whacked up their prices?

Was it in a hotel?

beggars_bush · 04-08-2020 8:44am

Irish people go to Canada, American, Europe and Australia on rail tours.
My parents even did it
So there must be a market for it

screamer · 04-08-2020 9:04am

We decided against a holiday in Ireland this year for the first time. Prices are definitely 2 to 3 times what they usually are, and with covid in circulation happier to staycation at home. We’ve been taking day trips every weekend, bringing picnics as we’ve small kids and pre booking to eat out is not very practical. Mostly we have noticed the places we’ve been are busy, so it seems a lot of people are holidaying here, including those with yellow reg cars and campers.

run_Forrest_run · 04-08-2020 9:21am

Currently staying in the Wyatt Hotel in Westport with the family, was woken up by a feckin squawking crow at 5:30 this morning. Why didn't I have my window closed you ask, well because the room was like a furnace. Why can't Irish hotels fit AC ffs!

Apart from that, there was a nice vibe around the Octagon as people were outside having a few pints. Stout was decent, food was OK, nothing major.

The covid arrangements in the hotel are a bit odd, staff can't service your room during your stay but none of the staff are wearing face coverings, bar/restaurant/reception, no coverings used at all.

Tenzor07 · 04-08-2020 11:12am

Brock Turnpike wrote: »

Charged €5.50 for a Guinness in Newport, Co.Mayo at the weekend. Not the kind of price I would expect to be paying outside of Dublin. Is that normal or have they whacked up their prices?

I'd say this is worth a call to the "Joe Duffy Show".....

sabinaspb · 04-08-2020 11:14am

Just back from a weekend in Northern Ireland. Stayed in Premier Inn (titanic) for £45 a night for a family room, which I thought was great value for a weekend. Went up to Giant's causeway/dunluce castle/dark Hedges which you can do without having to pay to enter. We booked our time slots for museums (some are free entry) in advance of the trip and went to Belfast Zoo on our last day. Hotel served breakfast, we ordered dinner delivered to hotel through app, did not want to bother with looking for a sit in place. All in all great trip, and definitely felt I wasn't getting ripped off. Used uber to get around Belfast museums to save time and hassle to find parking spaces. Wish we stayed longer, have to say everyone we dealt with was very welcoming.

Tenzor07 · 04-08-2020 11:14am

run_Forrest_run wrote: »

The covid arrangements in the hotel are a bit odd, staff can't service your room during your stay but none of the staff are wearing face coverings, bar/restaurant/reception, no coverings used at all.

Hotels i've stayed at recently say you have to request that your room be cleaned, staff won't come knocking at your door as pre-covid...

04-08-2020 11:22am

Tenzor07 wrote: »

I'd say this is worth a call to the "Joe Duffy Show".....

The stock boards scoffing bull**** answer to everything. Parody at this stage.

It’s a disgraceful price for a pint. More gouging, Irish business don’t deserve our help.

Brock Turnpike · 04-08-2020 11:43am

HBC08 wrote: »

Was it in a hotel?

No

Tenzor07 · 04-08-2020 1:08pm

ReginaldSmythV wrote: »

The stock boards scoffing bull**** answer to everything. Parody at this stage.
It’s a disgraceful price for a pint. More gouging, Irish business don’t deserve our help.

I'm sure you would be the first one on here to complain that the staff at a pub/restaurant didn't have masks/hand sanitizer/gloves and perspex screens up... so if a business has to charge an extra 50c for a beer then suck it up!

If you don't like it then the local off-licence will sell you 8 cans of Guinness for €12.

CrankyHaus · 04-08-2020 1:12pm

sabinaspb wrote: »

Just back from a weekend in Northern Ireland. Stayed in Premier Inn (titanic) for £45 a night for a family room, which I thought was great value for a weekend. Went up to Giant's causeway/dunluce castle/dark Hedges which you can do without having to pay to enter. We booked our time slots for museums (some are free entry) in advance of the trip and went to Belfast Zoo on our last day. Hotel served breakfast, we ordered dinner delivered to hotel through app, did not want to bother with looking for a sit in place. All in all great trip, and definitely felt I wasn't getting ripped off. Used uber to get around Belfast museums to save time and hassle to find parking spaces. Wish we stayed longer, have to say everyone we dealt with was very welcoming.

NI gets a bad rap from some eejits still living in the '80s.
Avoid obvious problem areas and it's very pleasant. Not badly priced either.

04-08-2020 1:14pm

Tenzor07 wrote: »

I'm sure you would be the first one on here to complain that the staff at a pub/restaurant didn't have masks/hand sanitizer/gloves and perspex screens up... so if a business has to charge an extra 50c for a beer then suck it up!

If you don't like it then the local off-licence will sell you 8 cans of Guinness for €12.

Some of that might be valid if businesses here didn’t have form for it for years. Everything is just an excuse to bleed the public dry and this is like all their Christmases come at once.

Hoboo · 04-08-2020 1:28pm

ReginaldSmythV wrote: »

Some of that might be valid if businesses here didn’t have form for it for years. Everything is just an excuse to bleed the public dry and this is like all their Christmases come at once.

Businesses have form for maximising profits? I'm shocked.

No one is bleeding anyone dry, as suggested, you have a choice.

Hoboo · 04-08-2020 1:36pm

ReginaldSmythV wrote: »

The stock boards scoffing bull**** answer to everything. Parody at this stage.

It’s a disgraceful price for a pint. More gouging, Irish business don’t deserve our help.

They've limited space, they've set the price at a point to dissuade some, but ensure demand remains high. Don't like the price, you don't buy.

Its unfortunately necessary when space is limited . Why'd you think an airplane sandwich is 5/6 quid. It's not about gouging.

Gardner · 04-08-2020 3:04pm

Have Doolin booked for 2 nights ( Aran View Country House)

then, Inis Mor booked for 2 nights ( Pier House bed and breakfast)

then Clifden booked for 2 nights (Station House Hotel)

then Westport booked for 2 nights (Hotel Westpost)

anyone stay here or would recommend alternative. Basically we will be walking, cycling and going to main tourist attractions etc.

drunkmonkey · 04-08-2020 4:07pm

Your covering a lot of ground there in a short time, weather would want to play ball with you, have you kids in tow?

Gardner · 04-08-2020 4:40pm

drunkmonkey wrote: »

Your covering a lot of ground there in a short time, weather would want to play ball with you, have you kids in tow?

nope and dont mind driving a few hours a day if needs be to see things.

CackHand · 04-08-2020 4:40pm

Does anyone have any recommendations for a self catering stay for 4 adults and two infants in Kerry or Donegal. Ideally we would like courtyard / lodge style accommodation with an adjoining hotel to make use of the leisure facilities. Parknasilla for example but unfortunately its booked out.

On a seperate note, it is proving very difficult to get any sort of vacancy for 11/12 September. I would have hoped things had calmed down by then.

krissovo · 04-08-2020 4:51pm

CackHand wrote: »

Does anyone have any recommendations for a self catering stay for 4 adults and two infants in Kerry or Donegal. Ideally we would like courtyard / lodge style accommodation with an adjoining hotel to make use of the leisure facilities. Parknasilla for example but unfortunately its booked out.

On a separate note, it is proving very difficult to get any sort of vacancy for 11/12 September. I would have hoped things had calmed down by then.

I have stayed in these for self catering, I added the Kinsale hotel in Cork as well as that was great break for us. Some of the prices maybe cheeky though.

Kinsale Hotel & Spa
Park Hotel Kenmare (The Townhouse)
Sheen falls
Muckross park
Gleneagle apartments

oldfella · 04-08-2020 6:15pm

hi ..im looking for somewhere to stay in the tramore/dunmore east region in mid august .prefer hotel ..touring around during day,,no kids .any recommendations from anyone ....thanks

tom1ie · 04-08-2020 9:13pm

Hi guys, we are heading to Sligo and looking for a few recommendations for restaurants.
Also can anyone recommend somewhere in either longford or Mullingar to break up the trip and get a nice lunch (rather not go to a service station).
Thanks all.

HBC08 · 04-08-2020 11:24pm

Brock Turnpike wrote: »

No

Name and shame then.
Are you sure that was for a Guinness?

headtheball14 · 05-08-2020 12:01am

tom1ie wrote: »

Hi guys, we are heading to Sligo and looking for a few recommendations for restaurants.
Also can anyone recommend somewhere in either longford or Mullingar to break up the trip and get a nice lunch (rather not go to a service station).
Thanks all.

Red earth in Mullingar is nice for food and a wander, there’s a gift shop and outdoor seating area plenty of parking

twin_beacon · 05-08-2020 7:42am

tom1ie wrote: »

Hi guys, we are heading to Sligo and looking for a few recommendations for restaurants.
Also can anyone recommend somewhere in either longford or Mullingar to break up the trip and get a nice lunch (rather not go to a service station).
Thanks all.

Bloomfield house hotel just outside mullingar has lovely food.

kippy · 05-08-2020 7:53am

CrankyHaus wrote: »

NI gets a bad rap from some eejits still living in the '80s.
Avoid obvious problem areas and it's very pleasant. Not badly priced either.

NI is great. A lot to offer..generally decent value..there's a fifty percent off food Mondays Tuesdays and Wednesdays in August that makes eating out very appealing at the moment also.

Staycation Ireland.. Anyone doing it

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