lovexhappiness

Hello everyone.
My boyfriend and I are traveling to Ireland in the beginning of March. We have our airfare booked but that's about it.
I am looking at priceline and hotels.com for booking our hotels but have come across the app "hotels tonight." It allows you mega deals for a hotel for the current evening.
So if we went that route we would book hotels for the day of once we are in Ireland.

Is that something you would be ok with if it were you? Or would you just opt to book all of them before traveling to get it out of the way?

Thanks so much!

Cathinjoetown

In March I think you'd be fine doing that, well maybe not on the 17th. I haven't been to Ireland in awhile so no current recs but b&bs, guest houses and hotels are everywhere. Some bnbs are really outstanding, maybe ask around and also people will chime in here, I'm sure.

lovexhappiness

Nope, we will be there the week before St. Patrick's day. It would have been cool to experience Ireland on St. party's day but it didn't work with our schedule this time. Plus I'm sure hotels skyrocket then, too.

Macross

The Metropole Hotel in Cork would be ok but some of those hotels in Dublin and Cork are not close to center at all. The Dean is not bad in Dublin. I would just watch that if you use the hoteltonight app.
I like the Smithfield area of Dublin and the area around Christ Church.

Tony2phones

Depends on what you are looking for. Personally I don't either those sites for Ireland. I have accounts I have used them before but not for over here. Booking.com perhaps or for B&B's B&Bireland.

Book first and last nights definitely.

If I knew your dates and possible locations it might help advise. It might also decide whether your plans are ok or as more usual, overambitious.

lovexhappiness

Tony2phones - we will be there March 4-12.
Only hotel we are set on is Ashford Castle when we are in Cong. That's the hotel we are splurging on. For all the others we'd like to get them around $100-$150, in order to save money for tours and such.

Tony2phones

Just clicked the options are possibly covered in your other question that is running.

I think my views on Ashford are known and if you changed that one splurge and changed for somewhere like Ballynahich or Glenlo Abbey (doesn't re open for a couple of weeks) then the savings would give more scope elsewhere? I think a 2 night break at Ballynahinch or Glenlo was about €400/€450 for 2 people for 2 nights off season.

McMick

Ireland is one of those countries where you don't have to book ahead.
It's a tourist economy, so there's a plethora of places to stay. I would never book ahead for a trip to Ireland.

Also, beware of the Voucher schemes, that promise you a place of your choice, after you've paid the voucher company money. They oversell the bookings, then you have no place to sleep, and have to pay out of pocket for a room.

The economy is bad right now, so lots of people open up their home as a B&B. I also found the most interesting places to stay on Airbnb!

Tony2phones

Not sure when you last tried booking a room over here McMick. I do it often and it is becoming increasingly difficult to get the rooms I want for folk. There is a growing trend on the booking sites to offer last minute cancellation without any penalty. folk are now booking 5 rooms per night and cancelling 4 of them the day before.

You will always get a room as a couple without great expectations but that room might not be what you would ideally like in a location you might ideally like.

Voucher scheme is just advertising medium.. B&B Ireland list over 700 accommodation under their Doolin and Cliffs of Moher search area. Vouchers are accepted by about 300 B&B's on the whole of the island.

The Irish economy is actually one of the best in Europe. Since the US triggered the free fall of global economy, Ireland has bailed out ourselves and a lump of the rest of Europe.

AirBnB is a growing market which has attracted the attention of the revenue service.. I haven't stayed at or had reports on any of their listings hence I don't recommend any.