cody

Does anyone know of a nice town to stay in between Dingle and Shannon Airport? We would like to be closer to the airport the day before. Also, would it be better to stay in Doolin and take a day trip to Galway or is the opposite true? Thanks.

MaryZ

I have to admit that I don't quite get the charm of Doolin. Although it's in a lovely area, the crowds of summer deter me in high season. During the off-season, there's just not much that keeps me there. On the other hand, I love Galway. I guess that's my answer to your Doolin/Galway question.

Sher

We spent a night in Doolin in May and two in Galway.
We picked Doolin, because of the music and coming from Kenmare, we thought we needed a break for the trip.
We liked Galway a lot better and enjoyed the music at Monroe's in Galway much more than the pubs in Doolin.
There just is not much in Doolin. But the road from there to Ballyvaugnan(excuse the spelling) leads you through some beautiful Burren landscape.

Owen_ONeill

If you do stay in Galway, consider staying at Marless House on Threadneedle Road in Salthill. It's a hundrewd yards or so from the promenade on the harbor on a quiet side street. We picked it at random from the Rough Guide and it turned out to be the best B&B stay of our entire 8 day visit. Mary, the proprietor, was one of the warmest and most charming people we met in Ireland, the breakfast was superb and the room extremely comfortable (a bit on the frilly and feminine side in terms of room decor but my GF loved that part). It's only a 5 or 56 minute drive to the Quay and Shop Street areas. We parked under Jury's Inn for $2.20 Euro for two hours and wandered around - nice city with better restaurant selection and lower prices than the smaller towns we were in.

Keenan

Good answers on both sides. I prefer quiet combined with cozy pubs so Doolin is my choice. I've had a great experience in Galway and most recently not so great experience. Galway is a nice town but it has a very young population which tends to swarm the streets at night. I'd still recommend it if you haven't been because it is a lovely walking town. As far as Shannon, I usually recommend Killaloe. It is at the bottom of Lough Derg about twenty minutes above Limerick. Very nice and secluded but only forty mins from the airport. Good Luck PS I'm only in my thirties so I'm not so far removed from the youths RE: Galway.

waffle18

The Bunratty-side of Limerick, I've heard, is a good place to stay the night before your trip out. Bunratty itself is worth a visit and plenty of B&Bs in that area so why not?

I have to go completely with MaryZ about Doolin and Galway. Doolin is a little village that is packed with tourists in the evenings, esp during summer. We stayed in an ok B&B (not one of those newer beauties you see there now) and had a great dinner in one of the pubs but it was so packed with people you had to *stand* in the next room and strain to hear the music. No thanks. At least in Galway you expect more people.

Have a great trip!
Wendy

dr2b

I would recommend either what the previous poster said about Bunratty, or heading on to Tralee and spending the night there. Tralee is a really nice little city with stuff to do if you want, or quiet pubs to hang out in. Good luck.