Hi!
We are honeymooning for two weeks in Ireland this spring. I have had some trouble finding a moderately priced hotel in Dublin for the weekend of April 29-May 1st. Does anyone know if there is some kind of event or if we haven't allowed for enough time to make a reservation? Does anyone have some affordable hotel choices (I've looked at the postings and am a bit confused as to what is recommend and what's not). Is a trip to Ireland complete without Dublin? Perhaps we should just head out to the country. Do Belfast instead? Only one or two nights? Help? We are headed from Dublin to Sligo, Ballina, Galway, County Kerry, and finishing in Kinsale. Any help is much appreciated!
G

Monday May 3rd is a Bank Holiday and Dublin is normally packed anyway. A holiday is just makes it more so.

It depends on your interests and how long you have as to whether Dublin is worth it for you.

Belfast is not likely to be less expensive but rather more as it is on the English Pound Sterling for currency and not the Euro. Exchange rates are closer to $2 for 1pound so even if prices are lower over all the exchange rate will kill you.

If it were me, I'd stay out in the countryside and do day trips into Dublin then take off for the west coast.

Congratulations on your wedding!

Wendy
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Thank you Wendy!! That helps a lot. Any suggestions on a stop-over from Dublin to Sligo?

What Wendy says can sometimes work out if you are staying outside Dublin on a DART line (local Train system), which will bring you into Dublin quickly. However if you are driving....the hassle of driving in and out of Dublin and finding parking would not be worth it.

Try the following place....VERY central and very, very nice accomadation at a reasonable hotel rate http://www.pembroketownhouse.com. Will cost approx 100 euro per night for the room and an amazing breakfast and is 10 minutes walk from St. Stephens green.

I have checked your dates and they have availability.

Good luck and enjoy.

P

Its going t0 be tough. There are a lot of events on as we are celebrating the entry of the new countries into the EU so its a bit of a party. As well its a 3 day weekend.

Try B&B's or Check out smoothhound they seems to have good rates and as well try

Leeson Inn
Harcourt Hotel
Central Hotel
Jurys Inn- Ballsbridge or Christchurch
Russell Court Hotel
Rathmines Capital Hotel

Also try www.laterooms.com

It should be a fun weekend in Dublin.

Ginny,

For a honeymoon I'd go with a castle stay! You have plenty to choose from and can do search for them here or online. I've not heard anything bad about any of them (except Ross Castle in Co. Cavan but that's not exactly on the same level as the big castle-hotels listed here.)

Since you want to go from Dublin to Sligo, then Kinnitty Castle may be your best bet as it is on the way (sort of)

http://www.kinnittycastle.com/website/main.htm

Here's a beautiful B&B that's on my list of Places to Stay in Ireland though I've not yet had the pleasure.

www.kinnitty.net -- Ardmore House

Alternatively, Kilkea Castle is near to Dublin but more south in Kildare.
www.kilkeacastle.ie

Don't forget about Ashford Castle, which most folks cannot say enough good things about. You may want to save that for when you are going through Galway though.
www.ashford.ie

There are also many lovely places at
www.hidden-ireland.com as well. And even a few in Westmeath/Longford area which is certainly on the way to Sligo.

Hope this helps!

Wendy

Kinnity is a lovely smallish gothic Castle. I was there for a wedding in December and could not fault one thing. It would be lovely for a stop over.

I haven't been to ashford but I hear its fantastic but very pricey.

The dollar is weak against both the euro and the pound, so it doesn't make that much difference whether you're in the Republic or the UK.

That said, Belfast is out of the way of the rest of your trip.

I'd head out to the country if you just can't find a hotel. Dublin's a great city, but it's not worth all the hassle you seem to be having.

My friends went to Ashford Castle in February (still expensive, but not quite so outrageous as in the summer). Said it was wonderful--great food and accommodation. Their only semi-complaint was that the place was packed, but I guess that's to be expected.

I stayed at Ashford Castle recently and enjoyed it very much although I really did very little there except go for walks in the beautiful grounds,eat and drink.There is a sign there "Residents only" but recently they allow non-residents to have dinner if space is available.Dinner costs about $80 and wine costs $30 upwards.If I am in Connemara again I will go for dinner but I won`t stay in the hotel as they have no pool,unlike Dromoland which is quite near Shannon and owned by the same Irish-American company.Their sites are at www.ashford.ie and www.dromoland.ie