Mina

Bill, I think I read from Krista's other post that she went to Bunratty, Limerick, Blarney, Waterford (and a few other places I can't remember). It seemed she did enjoy the sights.<BR><BR>I don't think everyone experiences the hospitality that Bill did. I came back and told my friend's father in law that I found the people amazingly friendly and generous (like the guy who took the day off or work to drive me around Connemara for hours). He said he and his girlfriend enjoyed Ireland, but they didn't find the people overly friendly. I saw lots of American tourists only talking amongst themselves, and the Irish didn't seem to go out of their way to talk to them. But I think that's normal for most people. For me, Ireland will be a tough place to beat.<BR><BR>I do have to say though, I don't remember actually meeting a rude person anywhere in Ireland...

Krista

We got back from Ireland yesterday after a week. My college roommate was a Butler from Kilkenny (her great grandmother I think was the last one to live in the castle), worked in an Irish pub for a while...and I seriously think that the nicest Irish people are here in the US. After long days of seeing stuff and driving then going to a pub for a nice meal and are treated rudely and like we are a hassle kinda ruined it for us. And even in the Castle hotels they weren't that much better. They don't have service like we do here. The different sites (ie. King John's castle, Rock of Cashel, Waterford factory) were all amazing. We had an impossibly hard time finding bed and breakfasts that would rent us rooms. Twice my husband called two different places both told him to check to see if they had rooms (how hard is it to keep track of 3 rooms) and then said no they were full, yet we had the receptionist at a store we went to call and both said they had rooms open. Had a problem with that. Oh, go to Blarney Woolen Mills in Blarney! Great selection of stuff, and Rosarie, one of the sales clerks there was soooo wonderful. We met a few people who were great but they were the exception.

Mina

Krista:<BR><BR>Sorry to hear that you didn't have the best experience. However, (and please don't take this in the wrong way) you are setting yourself for the usual criticisms on this board when you say things like &quot;they don't have the service like we do here.&quot; To expect another country to have the same rituals and services that we have doesn't work out too well. <BR><BR>I'm not an expert on how B&amp;B's work, but my guess is that places with only three rooms like to have a person in front of them to offer a room. If someone is calling around, and says they will be there, then doesn't show up, it would be quite a loss of revenue. Just my guess.<BR><BR>Hope your next trip is better.

Ann

Since my husband's from Ireland, and we lived there for awhile, everyone's always asking for travel advice, or telling us about their trip.<BR><BR>The one thing I consistently hear is that American expect to instantly find new friends the moment they step into a pub in Ireland. And the only people this happens to are the kind of people who here in America instantly find new friends the moment they step into a bar in the U.S. Total strangers don't walk up to me in any country, and offer to buy me a drink. But total strangers do come up to people like Mina, or my father! Your personality doesn't change because you're in a new country.<BR><BR>I find the people in Ireland to be very warm and welcoming. They also are unassuming and simply don't have the pretensions that are so prevelant here in America. And they are always eager to lend a hand--as evidenced by a man near Laragh who once spent more than an hour calling around to find a garage with the tire we needed after ours went flat, and then opened his house to us, offering coffee and biscuits to the four of us, simply because we broke down in front of his house.<BR><BR>Service is different in Ireland, but I prefer it. It's a slower pace and people don't get hung up on unimportant things. Have to say, after having been to Ireland nearly 20 times, in addition to living there, I've only ever been treated rudely once, and that was by a guy I used to work with.

Krista

I have travelled all over Europe before, so this wasn't my first trip abroad. And yes, EVERY where I went there they have service in restaurants like we do here. They don't just drop your drinks and your food down then never come back. We would walk into a pub/restaurant and the waiters/waitresses would literally walk past us two or three times and never acknowledge us. Anywhere else you go (Europe or the US) someone would say take a seat or wait a few. <BR><BR>As for the B&amp;Bs, it's hard to go anywhere and look at places if all you have is a phone number. And the few that did tell us they had rooms, we gave them our VISA # to hold the room while we attempted to find the places. <BR><BR>I wasn't looking for best friends anywhere, though I am the kind of person who usually ends up with a few no matter where I go. I inherited my mom's non-shy personalitiy. But I didn't expect to be treated like a hassle to the people in pubs, especially not in the places where we were paying 60 Euros a meal (no alcohol either).

mlf

We love September...or May....you are going to love it no matter what...weve been in almost any season. Try Kilmoon House in Ennis on Kildysart Rd...great B&amp;B

Jeff

It's interesting that Krista's the only person I have heard complain about people in Ireland being rude, and that everyone else raves about how friendly and helpful there are. I've never been to Ireland, but I think I'd go with the 99 people who love it, not the one who didn't.

bill

You should go Jeff and you WOULD love it. It is a wonderful country. You make a great point.<BR><BR>Bill

Brian

Sorry, think my post was lost in after the shock of Krista's post. Can anyone tell me how Ireland is in April?

Ann

It's likely that it will be rainy, but hopefully you have some sunshine. Cool, but not cold. Probably in the 50s F.

Ashlee

Wow, the Irish and rude in the same sentence?!? I would never have imagined that!!!<BR><BR>My husband and I went in September for our honeymoon. Ten days and not a drop of rain!! Can you imagine?!? We feel like we missed out on the whole soggy experience, but we aren't complaining! It rained on our wedding day, so we figured we were due for a dry honeymoon!!<BR><BR>Now, in pubs and restaurants, we attributed the whole experience Krista had to it being a different culture. After awhile, we realized that you could either just seat yourself, or go up to the bar to order. It was just awkward at first. But overall, we had a wonderful experience and really believe Ireland to be the friendliest place in the world (and I have travelled in other areas of Europe and Latin America). For instance, on our way to the airport in Dublin on our last day, the taxi driver chatted the entire way there as if he were our best friend (telling us about some friends of his who were buying a house, etc.), then when we arrived at the airport, he got out of the taxi, went and found a cart for our luggage from someone who was finished with theirs so we didn't have to pay, loaded our luggage onto it, took us into the airport, and took us to the appropriate line to stand in. Can you imagine that in NYC???<BR><BR>Everywhere we went, people wanted to talk, we LOVED the experience and are encouraging everyone we know to go. I would agree and go with the 99.99% that had a great time.<BR><BR>ashlee