Budman,

I remember the Virginia's debacle. I have my suspicions she is still posting here under a pseudonym about various places around Ireland. Once in a while she slips "Virginia's" into a posting. I guess she has discovered the art of subtlety.

There was quite a scandal on the Trip Advisor forum about another B&B owner who got caught advertising her own place. They really raked her over the coals even after she publically apologized. Many of those posts have been deleted.

I agree with Epcotmikey about the Lansdowne Arms Hotel. Very nice place. Good food in their pubs too.

One more vote for the Lansdowne Arms hotel. Huge, updated rooms and a great pub. It's owned by a Bostonian, who happened to call into the bar last time I was there. We chatted for a few minutes, and he said - ask the guy wearing a hat at the end of the bar to sing you a song. He did, and it was wonderful. Just one of those precious, after hours Irish memories with some of the locals. I had to politely excuse myself at 1:30 AM, though, when they invited me to go out drinking with them for the night!

Steeleyes, Quick update on the Lansdowne Arms. It is now owned by the Quill family. They also own the local Quill's shop as well as The Lodge. They really did an excellent remodeling of the place.

Thanks for the info Budman, and, well, ick. We have reservations at Virginia's...May rethink that now.

oopsy, Since then, there have been other fodorites who have stayed there. Get their recommendations/price, and weigh the two. It may be a nice place, right downtown so you can imbibe and not drive, but it just turned me off at the time. ((b))

oopsy, I just took a look at rates for Virginia's and it actually costs more than The Lodge http://www.thelodgekenmare.com/ I have not stayed at Virginia's but The Lodge's rooms seem much nicer. I have stayed at The Lodge and it was perfect. Very posh and comfy, friendly, clean and excellent breakfast. It is not in the center of town but is only around the corner. I would ask if Virginia's has private off street parking. During the season parking can be a challenge in Kenmare.

I'm finding all the rates in Kenmare to be high for peak season/weekend. Is it just me?

Thanks for the update, Irish Eyes. I love the Quills shop - my wife bought one of her favorite sweaters there. If I recall, they also have a decent Waterford crystal area? I just hope that the locals are still allowed to hang out at the Lansdowne after closing with blinds drawn to occasionally serenade a tourist or two on command!

Well, I still stand by my opinion that Virgina's is a decent place to stay if you want to be in town. Noreen couldn't have been nicer (i.e. looking at maps with us and making suggestions). In fact we decided to leave Kenmare after 2 instead of 3 days. She didn't charge us for the 3rd day even though we would have paid for it if asked (we had, afterall, reserved it). Also, we apparently left our little Petzel (headlamp) in the room. She found it, emailed us that she had it (we didn't realize we'd lost it yet), and then mailed it back to us in the States and didn't want any $$ for her time/postage. So that is MY experience.

Thanks all for the helpful info on Virginia's. I'm not sure that we'll look at other places. I think there are plenty of authentic good reviews of the place. I'm just bothered by the covert marketing. We'll see...

Irisheyes...the rates at the Lodge actually look higher than what we have for Virginia's. Still, I might check it out.

oopsy

carolsc, It is good to know that Virginia's was a good experience for you. I suppose it just turned a few people off when they found her advertising on Fodors.

oopsy, I was looking at the prices on the websites of Virginia's and The Lodge. Maybe you have higher quotes by email?

Steeleyes, The locals are still very much a part of the Landsdowne Arms Hotel. After all it is owned by locals.

My post is not showing up eventhough I sent it yesterday so I'll try again.

Not that I'm sticking up for her-but we too had a night of our honeymoon booked in early June 2004 at Virginias-I too saw all the uproar that occured on this board but never cancelled my reservation. We really enjoyed it and the breakfasts were really good. We were there on a bank holiday and had a room facing the street. Room was big and comfy the only complaint was that you could hear a bunch of noise-butnot unbearable I believe the rate was 42E back then.
This was over two years ago that the finding out of her postings occurred And I do remember she came cleaned and fully admitted it. I think its time to causiously move on and get over it.