maxpaste

I've only seen a few comments here about this B&B, and basically nothing in Tripadvisor. If you have some experiences with this place you'd like to share, I'd be grateful! Thanks!

SiobhanP

Most of the rooms look lovely and new and some a bit too chintzy for me but a nice house. Only drawback is if you are staying here to go into Dublin each day by bus or train its way out there.

The village is lovely and has cute boutique shops and lots of places to eat in various price ranges as well as pubs. But if it's your base for sightseeing in Dublin I would say it's too far away.

maxpaste

Thanks, SiobhanP.

We're thinking about using Malahide as our base for our last 2 days in Ireland - one day to see Newgrange, Tara, and things North of Dublin, and one day to take the DART into Dublin for a day of sightseeing. We're not worried about the distance from Dublin, just the accommodations. What do you mean by 'chintzy'? Is it all non-smoking? How's the food/hostess/neighborhood? I can't find any reviews about it on Tripadvisor which concerns me. If you have a suggestion of a better B&B in that area, I'm all ears!!

Melissa5

Have you asked Michele Erdvig on www.IrelandYes.com? (She has a book, Best Little Guide to Ireland, and specializes in Ireland.)

Good luck with your research.

lucielou

Maxpaste, the neighbourhood of Malahide is very nice, you need not worry on that score, and as for the smoking issue, everywhere in Ireland is non-smoking now, except outside.I think Beechwood house looks very lovely, i would be quite pleased to stay there.I live in Dublin so if I can help you with anything give me a shout.
Regards
Lucielou

chatham

maxpaste, Along with Irelandyes, also check IrelandExpert.com Pat Preston has a good web-site and lists a lot of accommodations.

IrishEyes

Just had a look at the web sites mentioned. Irelandexpert.com does not have B&Bs for Malahide but does recommend King Stiric in Howth (expensive) http://www.irelandexpert.com/dublin-...uesthouses.htm On her forum Pat Preston said she has not stayed at Beechwood.

Your question about Beechwood was answered on the irelandyes.com forum. Evidently Michelle Erdvig stayed there & recommends it on her Great Places to Stay in Ireland page http://www.irelandyes.com/lodgings.html

Since SiobhanP lives in Dublin I am wondering if she has stayed there or only looked at the website? Just because a place is not "rated" does not mean it is no good only that it is "undiscovered". Maybe now it will be discovered.

chatham

Maxpaste, I just read what IrishEyes had to say, if Irelandyes recommends it I would not worry about staying there. I've stayed in a couple of places she recommended and they were right on the money. I've also bought a couple of her books. I found them very helpful. If you decide to stay in Dublin do check out Ireland Expert. Pat Preston does give recommations for that area. Have a great trip. Joan

SiobhanP

I live here and no have not stayed there. I think its a great looking place and did not mean to infer it was not but I think its far for day trips to Dublin. Seeing that you will be going to newgrange and only 1 day Dublin then it's should be great.

As for how the owners are they I am sure will be pleasant and helpful as they are in the service business but remember it is not a hotel and I do not expect the owners to do more than provde B&B and answer any queries.

The neighborhood is nice and malahide is an upmarket area and as mentioned there are several places to eat in various price ranges. Try www.adlib.ie and types in Malahide to see restaurants and reviews.

Enjoy

lawchick

Malahide is a suburb of Dublin. It is a nice suburban place to live, but from a touristic point of view, I would not really recommend it. I would rather suggest Howth, which has nore of a quaint Irish village feel to it. I would second the B&B at the King Sitric in Howth. I have never stayed there, but have eaten many times at the restaurant - which is great.

chatham

I agree with Lawchick. One year flying in and out of Dublin, I stayed at Portmarnock near Malahide and The Grand right in Malahide. I wished I had of stayed in Howth at King Sitric. Don't get me wrong, they were both lovely hotels. One golfing and the other business. Malahide is a lovely village, but from Howth you could get public transportation easiler. Just my opinion.

IrishEyes

SiobhanP,

You wrote:

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"As for how the owners are they I am sure will be pleasant and helpful as they are in the service business..."

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Having stayed at many B&Bs in Ireland over the years I have learned that not all B&B owners are nice. There are plenty of them that ARE pleasant and others who couldn't be bothered other than to give you a key and take your money. There is a vast difference in B&B owners and in B&Bs. Obviously the ones that go the extra mile will have repeat business and get a good reputation. But don't count on anything unless you do your research.

SiobhanP

Well I personally see B&B's as bed and breakfast with no hotel frills. I have been staying in B&B's in Ireland since I was a child of 4-5 and I am in my late 30's now. I expect a pleasant person, nice room and nice breakfast and I usually have a quick chat with the owner and ask what I need to know i.e. if we are at a wedding late can we have the key or will the door be open and any other touristy things I may want to know. We are pretty self sufficient and i know from My Auntie owning one years ago that there is a lot of work to be done behind the scenes as well as having a family life so I ask what i need upfront and don't drop in on the owner 6 times to ask separate questions. I have encountered a rude owner is a VERY upmarket B&B and he did not like the look of me and my partner. He has been written up in places to stay in ireland etc and the house is lovely but I tell everyone never stay there as he was totally rude to me and completely dismissive of his wife in front of guests. I hope she hit him on the head with a frying pan in the kitchen after . I have stayed at ,much cheaper B&B'ss and been treated so kindly . Like hotels they can vary but they do provide a more basic service in a homely environment which can be nicer.

maxpaste

Malahide or Howth?

Until this thread, I had heard nothing but good things about Malahide. Is Howth really that much nicer? If anyone 'lurking' has opinions on comparing the 2 cities I love to hear from you. We wouldn't be staying in either of these specifically to be tourists there, but rather as the base for our touring of Newgrange and Dublin.

SiobhanP

Malahide is a larger town with a more village atmosphere and larger choice of pubs and restaurants.

Howth is small and more rustic to me with a lovely pier and boathouse and lots of smaller restaurants on the seafront and up the hill in the vigllage. Its a quieter area in the evenings and we oftyer go here on a summer sunday for fish and chips from Beshoff's and sit in the grass and watch boats come in.

I like both areas and they are both on the sea.

Melissa5

SiobhanP, Malahide and Howth both sound nice for our last night in Ireland, then we fly home from Dublin airport. We will have a rental car to turn in.

Which village is easier to drive to the airport in the morning: Trim, Malahide, or Howth?

We will be driving down from Belfast/Newtownards area to either Trim, Malahide, or Howth. We will probably arrive by 1:00 pm and will have time to do something in the afternoon. Trim Castle? Malahide Castle?

What would you suggest?

We are actually renting our car near Shannon airport, and will turn it in at Dublin airport.

Thanks! Just thought I'd post my question here since everyone is already talking about the area.

maxpaste, good luck with your decision.

SiobhanP

Malahid is the easiest roiute and closest. Howth is on a penninsula so there is 1 road in and one out and if there is traffic you will be slow going. Malahide is a normal road to the village but then you turn onto the motorway for the airport and there quickly. I really don't know what the big deal is with Tripm for some. It's not a parrticulary touristy area i.e. not a lot to do here unless you are a resident. Nvere seen trip castle. Malahide castle is lovely and small and has a nice grassy area around it that many families will come to on the weekends fro a bit of soccer or a picnic. On the way to Malahide Castle just on the right is a gardencentre (Gardenworks?) they have a great little food place in here like a smaller version of the Avoca cafe. I would reccommend this for lunch.

Melissa5

SiobhanP, thanks for the Malahide area info. I think the "deal" about Trim is that Rick Steves recommends it as an alternative to staying in Dublin. I was originally thinking of staying in Trim at the end of our trip, but am now thinking Malahide makes the most sense, though Howth is also tempting. I was looking at the King Sitric whic lawchick recommends.

But you say that Malahide has more choices of restaurants and pubs? Perhaps Malahide is best for us for 2 reasons: do you think it's a better spot for my young adult daughters to be entertained on their last night in Ireland; and also you say it's more convenient to the airport the next morning...

But Howth sounds interesting too...

Melissa5

lawchick: I was looking at the King Sitric in Howth for our last night. (Also considering Malahide.) "A quaint Irish village feel", as you say, sounds appealing to me. Do you think it would interest young college-age women like my daughters as well? (We would only be there 1 night, our last night in Ireland...unless we choose Malahide or even Trim.)

Melissa5

lucielou, since you are from Dublin, you are just the person I would like to chat with. I am trying to wrap up our plans for first trip to Ireland for next July 2006.

Flying into shannon, out of dublin. So Dublin airport comes at the end of our trip. In my original plan, we were going to spend our last 3 nights in Dublin city centre on a weekend in July. But when I began to realize how busy and crowded Dublin would likely be on a July weekend, I thought perhaps that wasn't the best time to see dublin.

How do you find Dublin on a July weekend? Do you find it intolerably noisy and crowded, or loads of fun? Or no different than any other time?

I thought it would be best to skip visiting Dublin on this trip, and see Dublin on our next trip, which I'm hoping we can take in a quieter season, like May or September.

So, at the end of this trip, we will either be spending just 1 night near Dublin airport (Malahide or Howth, probably); or else we could spend 3 nights in Malahide or Howth, which would be enough time to include a day-trip into Dublin, but it would be on a weekend...)

What is your advice, Lucielou? I should add I have difficulty sleeping if there is any noise...traffic, merry-makers, etc...

Thanks!

Maxpaste, hope you don't mind that I'm sharing your space, but at least we're both talking about Malahide, hope this helps you too!