I need to find a Belfast hotel for one night after arriving rather late after a long flight from California. We will be arriving at the City Airport, not Belfast International, and will somehow rendezvous with daughter coming in from Afghanistan. The next day we will be renting a car. Ideally I would like to find a hotel at the airport but that doesn't seem possible at that particular airport. There are several interesting places in the neighborhood but perhaps it would be just as easy to go into Belfast (best method for three/four people with luggage?) I am not fond of expensive chain-type hotels but would like something nice to start out our Irish vacation.

www.booking.com/city/gb/belfast.en.html

Dukes at Quuens comfy for me from $100

Merchant best but $$$$$$$

Holiday Inn close to the airport was nice for price $60

for me last... mostly chains like days inn etc...

Happy Hunting!

I think you would probably be better to go to Belfast but Rayanne House in Holywood (closer to City Airport than Belfast), might suit your requirements.

http://www.rayannehouse.com/

Alas, Rayanne House appears to be sold out for our dates in June. It looks lovely . I am thinking it would be best then to taxi into Belfast and spend the night and rent a car in Belfast the next morning. Since we will most likely be flying out to England a week later I was just trying to simplify the moves a little and didn't especially want to spend time in Belfast proper. Again I am looking for convenient hotels where we can rent a car and get in and out without too much of a problem.

Your best bet for renting a car is at the airport.

This is another very nice B&B on the Lisburn Road area of Belfast. Although it is further away than Holywood as it is on the south side of Belfast, it is very easy to get to from the City Airport (drive towards Belfast straight onto the West Link then onto the MI and take 1st exit at Balmoral)
http://maryvillehouse.co.uk/

Where are you going after Belfast?

Another option would be the Crawfordsburn Inn which is the opposite direction from Belfast but close to the City Airport.
http://www.theoldinn.com/

If you really don't want to drive after a long flight the closest hotel would be The hilton but the Fitzwillian or the Europa are close to McCausland Car Hire.

http://www.hilton.co.uk/belfast
http://www.fitzwilliamhotelbelfast.com/
http://www.hastingshotels.com/europa-belfast

We spent 2 nights at the Avenue House Guesthouse in Belfast and it was wonderful. The house is lovely and the owners are so helpful and accommodating. You are within close walking distance of Queens University and about a 20 minute walk to the Belfast CBD. Yet, the neighborhood is so quiet. Should you have a car, there is no problem finding on-street parking close to the guesthouse.

http://www.avenueguesthouse.com/