veniceCA

One night at an affordable B&B while experiencing Connemara- It looks like Clifden is a good bet, but I can't find much info. on the other towns. Is clifden the way to go or is there a smaller town I should consider?

NEDSIRELAND

I stayed at a GuestHouse in Ross a'Veal that was quite agreeable: going west from Galway, after Spiddal the coastal route takes a wide turn to the right. An Ceibh is a 2-story building on the turn. The'Pub' is on the right end of the building and the B&B (ask for 'Brid') is on the left.

Irish Country & Western Thursday nites and Trad Irish music Friday nites.

It was quite economical.

cmcfong

I enjoyed a stay at Mal Dua b and b in Clifden. I thought the town and the b and b were good choices. Enjoy your trip.

chatham

I too stayed at Mal Dua in Clifden and it was very nice but a little more expensive as it is a guesthouse. Try Connemara.net and see if they have a list of b&b's. Clifden is a good location for 2 days. Good luck.

celticmoon

May I suggest a wonderful gracious manor house named Currarevagh House, outside of the town of Oughterard, and close to Connemara My husband and I used this hotel as our base for 3 - 4 days and it was wonderful. It is situatted on Lake Corrib, the second largest lake in Ireland, and lots if exploring can be done from this area. The meals were first class, and fine-dining at its best. Formerly a hunting lodge, but rooms are comfortable, and the grounds are great for exploring.

IrishEyes

Mal Dua is lovely but on the expensive side.Currarevagh House is also expensive. I sugest Ivy Rock House in Roundstone overlooking the bay. Rates are a very reasonable 30-32 euro per person. It is a great place to stay.

MaryZ

Clifden is a good bet with lots of B&B options. If you'd prefer something smaller, take a look at Roundstone or tiny Leenane (a personal favorite). Both are very picturesque.

Ignatz

Had a very pleasant stay at Faul House(faulhouse.com). Reasonable rates in a clean comfortable home with friendly dog (small) and short walk to the water. Humans are very nice also. A bit out of the way but worth it.
p.s. Fantastic chinese food in town! go figure.

Marlie

We stayed at the Faul House as well. It was actually the cleanest, most comfortable room we stayed in on our whole trip.

We had a king sized bed, huge room, and only 35 E for the night. It was just on the edge of town, and a beautiful drive.

Marlie

Sorry, forgot to say that the Faul House is in Clifden.

SiobhanP

My vote is for Clifden. We go for one or two weekends a year to get away from Dublin. I have stayed in the Abbeyglen castle (pricey unless you get a deal) also in the Buttermilk lodge which is lovely and a 5 minute walk to the town centre. For a cheap and pretty good option we last minute stayed in Foyles hotel in the village cebtre and it was much better than expected probably 100 or less a night. The buttermilk lodge we paid 40pp high season.

edhodge

Another vote for Clifden. We found just the right balance of restaurants, great pubs, shopping and sightseeing there. It is easy to do a day trip to Kylemore Abbey and Doo Lough Valley. We stayed at Ben Breen House which is about 5 kms from town center. However, the owners are wonderful. Raymond gave us a little map of the area with great suggestions of where to go. The location is incredible, at the base of the Twelve Bens, overlooking a small lake.

veniceCA

I'm hearing a lot about Clifden, which is where my heart seems to be anyway. this may be a very ignorant question here, but what's the feasibility of sleeping in Galway City, getting up and going to the Aran Islands for the day, then ending up in Clifden is? Impossible? Easy? Somewhere in between?

Molloy95

Oh, what wonderful decisions you have to make .

We stayed in Clifden for five nights last August with Irish friends. Took day trips to Roundstone and Renvyle beach (get a good map to find it, you will see why it is so pristine). Had the good fortune of fantastic weather the beach day and got the most beautiful pictures of the little ones in the ocean and frolicking on the beach in their undies. Would have loved to have gone to the national park, but somehow we ran out of time.

I second the vote for Leenane being a magically lovely spot.

Lots to do and see in that part of the world.

Have a wonderful time! Oh gosh, I just re-read you post and saw "one night" -- stretch it if you can or at least plan to see things on your way there and on your way out. And depending on where you are going next, maybe consider Roundstone. It is right on the water and while Clifden looks like it is on the map, you will not feel like you are that near the water while you are in town.

p.s. -- we also had the good chinese carry out, funny!

beach_dweller

We just returned from a 3 night stay in Clifden--loved it. As to staying in Galway City & driving west after visiting the Aran Isles? I'd say no, stay in the West.

We stayed at SeaMist House in Clifden and loved it. It's a great location, about two blocks from the town centre (the square). Closer than any of the other B&B's mentioned above (even though I am sure they are great too).