alternative to doolin
 

We were hoping to stay in Doolin on the last Saturday in September -- the first night of our trip. Plan was to pick up the car at Shannon, drive to see the Cliffs, stay in Doolin, drive the next day to Dingle. To my surprise (perhaps naive surprise), I have tried my top 3 B&B choices: Atlantic View, Cullinan's and O'Connor's, and they are all booked. Still waiting to hear from Daly's and Sea View, but I am getting concerned that we may not get rooms in Doolin at places where we want to stay. So, anyone have favorite alternatives for overnights near the Cliffs before a drive to Dingle? I'd really appreciate the tips.

Lehinch and Lisdoonvarna though I don't have any suggestions for places to stay.

Bill

Thanks -- I'm concerned about the Lisdoonvarna Matchmaking Festival. I wonder whether that's why Doolin is booked up. I am single, so hey, it might work in my favor, although I'm not sure my parents want to mingle with the singletons of Ireland ... Anyone have favorites in either Lahinch or Lisdoonvarna? On tripadvisor, Berry Lodge in the former and Sheedy's in the latter seem to get good reviews.

And does anyone suggest driving up to Ballyvaughan for that first night, or is it too far if we're just going to drive south again to go to Dingle the next day? Thanks in advance for any advice.

We are staying at The Doolin Activity Lodge in a few weeks. It gets good reviews.

Shannon to Dingle is about four hours but it is a very easy drive on major, well marked roads. Why not head right to Dingle, take a nap and believe me there will be great music on a Sat. night all over the town. The music won't start untill about 9:30. You can catch the cliffs,(only takes an hour) on your way back to Shannon. In my opinion Dingle is heads and tails above Doolin. Have fun

I stayed at a nice, clean, convenient B&B in Ennis our first 4 nights - called Stonehaven. http://www.stonehavenclare.com/page1.htm

Some street noise, and nothing spectacular, but the welcome was warm and the breakfast good - and about an hour from the Cliffs.

My cousins have a hotel in Lisdoonvarna, The Royal Spa. I have stayed there and it is quite nice, good food and pub with traditional music.

Sheedys House Hotel in Lisdoonvarna and Carrigan Hotel in Lisdoonvarna.

Old Ground Hotel in Ennis or TempleGate.

Lahinch is a nice village fairly close to the cliffs. I've never stayed there.

Or as Johnod said go to Dingle and catch the cliffs later.

During that time of year (i.e., peak of the Lisdoonvarna Matchmaking festival) I stayed two nights at Fitzgerald's B&B in Miltown Malbay.
I've never stayed there, but the Falls Hotel was the central point for the festival (and, of course, John Daly's Matchmakers' Pub).

Have you tried Hotel Doolin? It's new, so perhaps yu could get a deal? You right by ferry dervice (half an hour) to Aran Islands. Could take that in before you go to Co. Kerry.
Also, there's a handy ferry dervice from Kilrush (Killimer)to Co. Kerry that could save you plenty of time getting through Limerick City.
Bear in mind that you may be tired on arrival.

We liked the Carrigan House in Lisdoonvarna. You can also have a very good dinner there at their restaurant. The salmon was excellent. We drove to Dingle the next day and it took longer than we expected--very rainy and cold and this was at the end of May several years ago.

i stayed at a "island view", or "island house" (something like that) in doolin years ago. give that one a try.

Perhaps look to staying in Kilrush instead of Doolin. You culd check out Clark's B&B, http://www.clarkekilrush.com/, or Hillcrest,http://www.hillcrestview.com/. Kilrush puts you close to the Killimer/Tarbert Ferry for your journey to Dingle.

Slan Beo,

Bit

I just booked Ballyvara House in Doolin for September. Anyone ever stayed there? Convenient to town? Nice place?