Stay in Killarney or Kenmare 2nights?
Sep 16th, 2008, 06:53 AM
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Stay in Killarney or Kenmare 2nights?
I am traveling for the first time to Ireland with my husband and another couple next fall 2009 for 2 weeks and we have a rough itinerary planned which starts in Dublin and ends in Shannon. Presently we are trying to decide if we should stay in Killarney or Kenmare (or elsewhere) for 2 nights while visiting the Ring of Kerry and Muckross House, etc. We generally prefer to stay in less touristy towns and love beautiful scenery but also don't want to be too far from town. Can you offer me any advice? Thanks for your help!
Sep 16th, 2008, 09:00 AM
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Killarney was a pleasant surprise for me. I expected a tourist trap and found a really nice town. It has a national park with a nice walk through trees to the lake and Muckross house. I found good traditional music at the Pub under the Grand hotel.
Sep 16th, 2008, 08:08 PM
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The wife and I spent 2 nights in Kenmare and really liked it. The drive from there to Killarney National Park and Muckross house was fantastic.
They are relatively close to one another - maybe 30-45 minutes apart - so either could work out for you. Don't think you could go wrong.
Sep 17th, 2008, 05:16 AM
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mbc508- will you br renting a car for the ring of kerry or taking a tour? i am asking because i actually posted a related question on another thread which got 0 responses (hmmm...)we are also going there and are trying to figure out how to do it without driving ourselves. we want to be able to hop on and off. my apologies if i have breached a forum rule by posting here.
Sep 17th, 2008, 07:55 AM
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joyceg:
There are very helpful people here who really try to answer peoples questions. But your question about a "car hire" is probably not one that most people have first hand information!
Just like I have no helpful insight to mbc508 question. But I can add that I prefer Slea Head Drive/Dingle to the Ring Of Kerry!
Sorry for hijacking the post!
There are very helpful people here who really try to answer peoples questions. But your question about a "car hire" is probably not one that most people have first hand information!
Just like I have no helpful insight to mbc508 question. But I can add that I prefer Slea Head Drive/Dingle to the Ring Of Kerry!
Sorry for hijacking the post!
Sep 17th, 2008, 04:29 PM
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Sorry joyceg - can't help on the car hire. As for accomodations, we stayed at Rockcrest House in Kenmare. http://www.rockcresthouse.com/
My wife and I liked it, but it's one of those B&B's that isn't for everyone. Rather than a small, cozy B&B, it's a much bigger place definitely oriented to the business angle rather than
That being said, I didn't have a problem with that. We had a room in the self catering cottage they show on their site - it's actually situated behind the main house in a small neighborhood of newer homes. It was HUGE by B&B standards, with a HUGE bathroom. And I have to say, it was nice for a change to be able to spread out a bit and have some room to breathe.
Breakfast was fine apparently, as I noted no issues. That also means it wasn't memorable or noteworthy. I actually met both the Mr. and the Mrs. and both of them were very nice.
Again, no issues with the place at all, and I'd most likely stay there again. The location was great - just a short walk to town center.
I'm also going to add this as a reply to your other post, just in case. I guess I missed this question when I first read your post.
Good luck!
My wife and I liked it, but it's one of those B&B's that isn't for everyone. Rather than a small, cozy B&B, it's a much bigger place definitely oriented to the business angle rather than
That being said, I didn't have a problem with that. We had a room in the self catering cottage they show on their site - it's actually situated behind the main house in a small neighborhood of newer homes. It was HUGE by B&B standards, with a HUGE bathroom. And I have to say, it was nice for a change to be able to spread out a bit and have some room to breathe.
Breakfast was fine apparently, as I noted no issues. That also means it wasn't memorable or noteworthy. I actually met both the Mr. and the Mrs. and both of them were very nice.
Again, no issues with the place at all, and I'd most likely stay there again. The location was great - just a short walk to town center.
I'm also going to add this as a reply to your other post, just in case. I guess I missed this question when I first read your post.
Good luck!
Sep 17th, 2008, 04:49 PM
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Our stay in Kenmare was the highlight of our trip to Ireland a few years ago. Kenmare is a lovely small town. My husband and I splurged and stayed at the Sheen Falls Lodge. Our room had a view of the falls. Look at the website...you'll be tempted. http://www.sheenfallslodge.ie/
Sep 18th, 2008, 05:10 AM
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Just returned from our first trip. We selected Kenmare over Kilarney because we wanted a smaller town and we were not disappointed. We stayed at Driftwood B&B which is about a 10-15 walk to the town center. It is a relatively new property w/ clean comfortable rooms. Breakfast is excellent - Peter makes great pancakes along w/ the usual options.
Kenmare pubs offer trad music - we especially appreciated the early session (begins at 6:30 rather than 9:30) at PF McCarthys.
We did not drive the ROK - we chose the Beara peninsula and than relocated over to Dingle to experience that peninsula (which was our favorite).
If you do not want to drive ( and the road are twisty & narrow)you can get tour bus trips from Kilarney or Kenmare. In Dingle, we arranged a "private tour" with a tour guide driving his car. It allowed the "stop when you want" option along w/ his knowledge. Maybe there are similar options for ROK.
Kenmare pubs offer trad music - we especially appreciated the early session (begins at 6:30 rather than 9:30) at PF McCarthys.
We did not drive the ROK - we chose the Beara peninsula and than relocated over to Dingle to experience that peninsula (which was our favorite).
If you do not want to drive ( and the road are twisty & narrow)you can get tour bus trips from Kilarney or Kenmare. In Dingle, we arranged a "private tour" with a tour guide driving his car. It allowed the "stop when you want" option along w/ his knowledge. Maybe there are similar options for ROK.
Sep 18th, 2008, 05:15 AM
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Thank you all for your wonderful thoughts/advice. joyceg, we will be renting a car. We are just not into the big tour bus thing and we have done nicely ourselves elsewhere without hiring a driver. It's part of the experience. I will discuss with my traveling companions Killarney vs. Kenmare and let you know. If anyone has any really good B & B suggestions that are 140 euros per couple per night or less I'd love to know of them.
I really appreciate all the help!! Keep it coming
!
I really appreciate all the help!! Keep it coming
!
Sep 18th, 2008, 05:58 AM
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If it were me Kenmare would win every time. For me Killarney is beautiful but is more touristy. Kenmare does attract tourists but it's less twee in my opinion. That's my tuppence worth. See if you can get a good deal in the Park Hotel- It's in the town but on beautiful grounds and so feels like it's a country estate and fab. You could probably pick up a good deal mid week. Happy planning.
Cailin
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Sep 18th, 2008, 11:33 AM
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We leave for Ireland on Monday (yea!) and I wrestled with the same question you are ~ Killarney or Kenmare?
I gathered from the board members that Killarney would not be too touristy in the fall (unless on a weekend) but I eventually chose Kenmare. Everyone seemed to love their stay at Kenmare, the town, the available accomodations, the restaurants.
So...I'll let you know!
I gathered from the board members that Killarney would not be too touristy in the fall (unless on a weekend) but I eventually chose Kenmare. Everyone seemed to love their stay at Kenmare, the town, the available accomodations, the restaurants.
So...I'll let you know!
Sep 18th, 2008, 12:52 PM
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We chose Kenmare and were very happy with our decision. Killarney was fine but just a little too touristy than I would have preferred. We loved our stay at the Willow Lodge (http://willowlodgekenmare.com/), and it was only a 5 minute walk into town.
Tracy
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Sep 18th, 2008, 02:13 PM
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Joyceg and Mbc- the tour buses go from one end to the other on the Ring of Kerry, and you can't hop on and off. Personally, I wouldn't do the entire ring: it takes 8 hours or more and you're stuck behing tour buses doing the same thing; similarly, I wouldn't want to be on a tour bus with hoards of others. I would do a part of it only, and I'd do it with a hired car.
Mbc - I'd choose Kenmare. As another poster said, it's fairly close to Killarney and also a very pretty drive. Since you stated you wanted to be close to restaurants and enjoy a small town feeling, Kenmare would be my choice. There's a wonderful hotel there: The Park Hotel. It's about the same price as Sheen Falls Lodge, but it's smaller - an ex-bishop's palace - and gloriously furnished and superbly staffed.
Mbc - I'd choose Kenmare. As another poster said, it's fairly close to Killarney and also a very pretty drive. Since you stated you wanted to be close to restaurants and enjoy a small town feeling, Kenmare would be my choice. There's a wonderful hotel there: The Park Hotel. It's about the same price as Sheen Falls Lodge, but it's smaller - an ex-bishop's palace - and gloriously furnished and superbly staffed.
Sep 19th, 2008, 11:10 AM
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Most of the posters here prefer Kenmare but we stayed at Loch Lein House about 5 minutes outside of Killarney. We spent 3 nts there and hated to leave. It was the most luxurious accommodation of our trip and the view out our window, over the lake, was wonderful.
On the www.irelandyes.com website, Michele Erdvig is offering a $60pp/nt rate that includes breakfast and a bottle of wine/couple. They have a beautiful dining room and we enjoyed dinner there one evening. After sightseeing, golfing, hiking during the day, we would sit on the front lawn with a glass of wine.
On the www.irelandyes.com website, Michele Erdvig is offering a $60pp/nt rate that includes breakfast and a bottle of wine/couple. They have a beautiful dining room and we enjoyed dinner there one evening. After sightseeing, golfing, hiking during the day, we would sit on the front lawn with a glass of wine.
Sep 19th, 2008, 09:53 PM
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We stayed at The Lodge in Kenmare http://www.thelodgekenmare.com/
We were very comfortable. It's about a 5 minute walk to the center. I've stayed in Killarney also but liked Kenmare more.
Have a wonderful trip, Joan
We were very comfortable. It's about a 5 minute walk to the center. I've stayed in Killarney also but liked Kenmare more.
Have a wonderful trip, Joan
Sep 20th, 2008, 03:49 AM
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This note may not apply to the particulars of the OP, but if any reader is looking for a family rental in Kenmare, we stayed at the Kenmare Holiday Village http://www.kenmareholidayvillage.com/. We had a weekly rental unit with 4 dorms, 3 bathrooms, huge kitchen, parking not a problem. All this for $700/week. Kenmare is a great town in itself and a great gateway to the Ring of Kerry and the Beara Peninsula.
Sep 26th, 2008, 05:31 PM
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We are planning to rent a house or cottage near Killarney or Kenmare next summer for a small family reunion -- and want to be able to take day trips in the area.
My sense is that it would be a LONG day trip from Kenmare to Dingle -- and, therefore something close to Killarney would be preferable? (The Kenmare-Killarney road isn't long but, according to Rick Steves, takes close to an hour to drive?) Can anyone who's driven these roads comment?
My sense is that it would be a LONG day trip from Kenmare to Dingle -- and, therefore something close to Killarney would be preferable? (The Kenmare-Killarney road isn't long but, according to Rick Steves, takes close to an hour to drive?) Can anyone who's driven these roads comment?
Sep 26th, 2008, 09:08 PM
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The N-71 could take some time to drive, sure. It's fairly hilly/mountainous and does a lot fo twisting and turning. Add in that its part of the Ring of Kerry drive, and you have some traffic to contend with.
We were there in May 2007 and they were actually tearing up bits of it near Killarney, so that added a bit to drive times.
Killarney would certainly put you closer to Dingle, and also let you get to Kenmare for a day, too.
We were there in May 2007 and they were actually tearing up bits of it near Killarney, so that added a bit to drive times.
Killarney would certainly put you closer to Dingle, and also let you get to Kenmare for a day, too.
