desertgirl

We (family of 4) are flying into Cork in late July and arrive at 10:00 p.m. By the time we get our bags and out of the airport, it will be 10:30, so I need to find an inexpensive hotel close to the airport. Any suggestions? Thanks!

desertgirl

Topping.

Luisah

Check on hotels around Timoleague, about a twenty minute drive from the airport. The hotel I stayed in is out of business now but there must be others.

I think Clonakilty is a larger town and not too long a drive from Cork airport.

Good luck.

Padhraicin

http://www.webtrade.ie/cork_travelodge.asp

Travelodge or Quality Hotels are inexpensive. You can check on this website.

desertgirl

Thanks for the suggestions. I have just heard back from a place called the Berkley Lodge in Cork, 5 km from the airport, that can accomodate us. But we get in after bus service ends, and the car rental places seem to be closed by then as well. Do you know if taxis are available after 10:00 p.m. at the Cork Airport?

Where2Travel

Car rental places should not all be closed by the time you arrive. A few weeks back I arrived on a flight into Cork at 10.30 p.m. and after collecting baggage joined the Budget rental car queue. From memory, most of the other car rental offices were open too.

Cork Airport is only a few miles from the city and so I'd definitely think about picking a B&B somewhere near the city.

What are your plans for the next day? That may determine the best location for you to stay.

desertgirl

I hadn't checked Budget--will give that it a try. On our first full day in Ireland, we want to see Cohb, Blarney Castle and Kinsale, since they all seem to be in close proximity to one another. After that, we want to travel west to see the Dingle Peninsula / Kenmare area, then go north and east toward Dublin. We fly out of Dublin seven days after we arrive in Cork.

I would be grateful for any other lodging suggestions in the areas mentioned above. With four of us (2 teenagers, boy and girl) we need two rooms, so bed and breakfast seems like the way to go.

SiobhanP

Of course there will be taxi's at the airport we are still a modern country Don't worry about that. Clonakilty is miles away from the airport so I would not reccommend it Also its a dark drive out on small roads. Stay near the airport or the city/town is nearby. It sounds like you foiund a place and I would stick to it if only for a night. You could also try Jurys in Cork.

jaimewvu

Kinsale seems close to Cork, but it isn't accessible via any decent roads, and a lot of the time the road signs are missing, turned around the wrong direction or simply mismarked. The food is great there, but that is about all it has going for it. I wouldn't go to Kinsale again if someone paid me! Stick with Blarney and Cobh -- those are both worth it -- but skip Kinsale.

Where2Travel

You first full day was exactly the same as ours: Blarney Castle, Cobh and Kinsale. We stayed the first night (after our late arrival) at a B&B on Western Road in Cork (which (i) was easy to find from the airport and (ii) not too far from Blarney Castle at the start of the next day). We spent our second night in a B&B in Kinsale.

amaclise

I got to Kinsale easily from the train station in Cork using public transportation - no problem with the roads.

Kinsale is wonderful. Lovely to wander around. Fun shops and streets. Very photogenic. I was there in July and it was just fine! Have a great time.

desertgirl

Where2travel:
I wonder if you know the B&B I found--actually, two of them. One is Berkley House, and the other is Ardfied House. Berkley House is apparently very close to the airport (5 km) and so I am leaning toward that one.

What did you think of Kinsale? From the posts here, I think we will include it in our first full day, but then head west to Kenmare or Castlemaine to explore Dingle for a couple of days. I am trying hard not to overschedule so that we can take our time and meander a bit.

Where2Travel

I don't recall those B&B names from when I was doing my research so I can't help with those.

I'd definitely recommend heading further west and spending time in Kenmare, Killarney, Ring of Kerry and/or Dingle. How many days so you have in total?

My only concern is that you don't fit on too much in your first full day. I would have thought Blarney Castle, Cobh and then Kinsale would be enough so that spending the second night in Kinsale made most sense rather than travelling much further west this day. Kinsale is a really nice town with a harbour and some really nice quant(ish) streets for wandering.

This part of Ireland is for taking your time. We fit a lot into our six nights and didn't regret it but it was important to have some relaxing time too.

desertgirl

Thanks for your input. We have seven nights total, with the first being spent near the airport. If we can see the Cork sites I mentioned by early afternoon, I would be in favor of heading over to Kenmare or a town closer to the Dingle Pennesula, where we could like to spend at least a couple of days.

Our issue is that our departing flight is out of Dublin, so we will have to work our way over there in 5 days, as we are planning to spend the last two nights in Dublin. (This is subject to change, as we have not made any reservations yet.) So I want to get as much time in the southwest part of Ireland as possible.

Any recommendations for B&Bs in the Kenmare or Dingle areas?

SiobhanP

Jamiewvu-I cannot believe you like Blarney over Kinsale. Desertgirl....I live in Ireland and have been to both plases. I thought Blarney was awful, the place is a pre-built tourist trap except for the Blarney stone and small castle which is real. They charge people to kiss a wall upside down and probably made it up to get money from tourism. I think there are hundreds of nicer places to go and spend money on than that . Kinsale is a stunning lovely little harbor town and best in the summer months. The food is great and it has lovely pubs.Its small but a great stop on your way to west Cork.

As for Cobh the history is interesting but it has a feel of an old run down seaside town. I was only there recently and quite disappointed it has a rough feel about it to me. If you do go this way stop at FOTA the animal park on the way. It is lovely and great for kids (and bog ones too!)