Belfast/Northern Ireland
 

I am planning a trip to Belfast , Giants Causeway then on to Donegal, Sligo and Galway.
We will spend a couple of nights at Ashford Castle. Are there any hotels of special note on our route? Any restaurant/shopping recommendations would also be greatly appreciated. Thanks

We spent two nights at the lovely Avenue House B&B in Belfast last April. It's located near Queen's University and we walked to the CBD although there's plenty of buses too. If you are driving, there's plenty of free on-street parking. The hosts, Stephen and Alice, were fabulous and will give you good advice on where to eat. I definitely recommend booking a "snug" at the Crown Bar one day for lunch. (You can do this in advance through their website.) It was a great experience and the food was both tasty and well-priced.

My husband and I are also lanning a trip to Northern Ireland we land May 14. What type of clothes this next week and where to go?

miztravel- Reading your itinerary I thought it was DH and me that was writing!! We are doing the exact same thing! When will you be at Ashford Castle? We are there May 23 & 24, and prior to then spend May 20 to 23 in Northern Ireland. We hope to see Giant's Causeway,Grianon of Aileach, Glenarrif Forest,Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge,Carrickfergus Castle. Do you have anything we might want to add to this? Have a great trip!

In Sligo you could check our Markree Castle or Castle Dargan:

www.castledargan.com
www.markreecastle.ie

Giant's Causeway - The Bushmills Inn

http://www.bushmillsinn.com/

Belfast - the Merchant, in the Cathedral Quarter the building was originally a bank.

http://www.themerchanthotel.com/

Just outside Belfast The Culloden is an old Bishops Palace overlooking Belfast Lough.

http://www.hastingshotels.com/culloden-estate-and-spa

Donegal - Harvey's Point very luxurious

http://www.harveyspoint.com/