Thanks for all your responses. Just to clarify, this is not my travel agent (we don't use one), just a friend of a friend who happens to be a travel agent. She said reporting about problems in northern Ireland has dropped out of the news because of Iraq, but I found no state department warnings. With your encouragement I now feel secure about traveling to Belfast. Thanks again.

I'm not sure when you're planning to go, but I avoid Northern Ireland during July's marching season. The sectarian tensions can become especially visible during that time of the year.

The main problems caused by parades are traffic related. Last summer was very quiet--very little trouble.

Reporting on problems in NI has dropped off because problems in NI have dropped off greatly in the past several years. Much of the trouble that does occur is in areas no tourist would go into anyway, like every city in the world.

Look it is not Iraq that has taken over the news. Belfast for a tourist is VERY safe. I know someone who worked for the BBC and they stated the news is down up there because of the good Friday agreement and there is very little happening and its a dead news zone. HAs she been there in recent years? I live in Dublin and of course would advise anyone if I though it was dangerous. Planning on a trip there myself in a few weeks.

Ann - any hotspots I should hit? The girls are taking the train up for the night and we want to shop, eat and go for a few drinks. What districts/areas would be good?

Thanks

S

Siobhan-

The Apartment seems to be "the" bar/club of the moment. It's right by the City Hall.

For dinner, Deane's (which isn't too far from The Apartment) is always a good choice. I haven't been to Shu on the Lisburn Road, but I've heard good things about it. Nick's Warehouse used to be my favorite, but seems to be sliding head-first into mediocrity.

I think the biggest indication of how safe Belfast city centre has become is that when we lived there, I would walk home from the pub at night myself (inevitably, I was ready to go before my husband), whereas I would NEVER have done that living both in Washington, DC and the Northern Virginia suburbs.

I heard about the Apartment recently in a review. Whst type of food is Deane's or is it a bar?