No real sentimental value for these instruments, Suze. My best will stay home. In fact, the mandolin and fiddle I'll bring will both be sold someday.

And no, my mind isn't made up ahead of time. I'm inclined to play things by ear. I don't even have a particular itinerary. :)

Tim

Many trips to Ireland and no problems with car break-ins. Suggest staying at B&Bs instead. I consider the contents of my room much safer than in a hotel since it is someone's home and the only people in it are guests and the family. Most have private off-street parking. Lock your car. Lock the door to your room. Do not leave anything visible in the car.

It's impossible to predict the risk.

Every country has places you could leave the car unlocked with valuables in plain sight in almost certain safety and places that if you left the car unattended for 5 minutes you'd come back to an empty shell because they'd gone as far as stripping the wiring out. And all point inbetween.

I'll bet you know a few of each place in your local area.

It can be difficult to tell these places by sight and even a few streets over can make a big difference.

Like I said up thread, it is as safe or not as back in the midwest. If you are lucky on that day and if you pick the right car-park you'll be fine and I don't think anyone here can predict how (un)lucky you'll be.

I agree with those who have questioned the priorities here.

I was concerned when you made the comment about "I won't be sitting around in a hotel"

Look, it is irrelevant that you are planning to sell the "not the best ones" instruments...you're gonna feel pretty stupid if those instruments are STOLEN half way through the trip..whether they were the best ones or not.

It's amazing what can be found on the web: There has been a comparative study of the EU re. crimes in the different member states. As most big studies, the figures are not for very recent years, but for 2004.

Among other types of crimes, the study also gives an assessment on "thefts from or out of cars":

<i>Having something stolen from or out of a car was much more common than having the car
itself stolen. The mean European victimisation rate was 3.5 %. Prevalence rates were highest
in Estonia, the United Kingdom, Ireland and Portugal. The lowest risks were in Hungary,
Greece, Germany, Denmark and Finland: two percent or less were victimised.</i>

The full report via:
http://www.europeansafetyobservatory.eu/

Well, IndianaTim, dunno if we helped address your concerns, but in the course of researching your instrument problem, I ran across this site with the following thread: &quot;Will Somebody Think of the Violins&quot; ? The exchange about the problems encountered by travelling musicians is hilarious.

http://tinyurl.com/24opfv

Last year in June I spent about two weeks using Hostels in Ireland with my family traveling in a rental car. We were usually able to get a private hostel room with a locking door by calling in the morning to reserve one for that night. The local schools had not let out then so the hostels were usually only about half full. Unless there is some sort of festival or school group, I would assume that they would be almost empty in February, at least out side the cities. We didn’t stay in Dublin, but the one in Belfast was the only one that didn’t have a parking lot.

A few that were memorable were;

Foulksrath Castle Hostel near Kilkenny. That was in a Castle(actually a tower house)

http://www.anoige.ie/hostels/foulksrath-castle

Whitepark Bay in Northern Ireland near the Giants causeway. A great facility, but we has good weather then.

http://www.anoige.ie/ezine/0109/whit...orthen-ireland

Glendaloch International Hostel, sort of like a college dorm, but in an unbelievable location.

http://www.anoige.ie/hostels/glendaloch

FYI, I booked by rental car directly with on the Irish Thrifty car rental web site because the would accept the car insurance that a gold MasterCard comes, but not Visa for some reason. Most of the other companies wouldn’t take the credit card insurance and their daily insurance was very expensive. This was over a year ago so be sure to read the fine print.

Greg

Both my children are musicians and often travel with 2 violins and sometimes a trumpet... I know airlines are getting stricter, but so far they've had no problem carrying them on flights in addition to a medium-sized handbag. We usually check our luggage even if it's carry-on size. We're petite and it's one less thing to lift into the overhead.

Beyond your obvious issues with the equipment, I only recommend parking in a very visible place. In a small town, see if this can be opposite the constable, or another place with traffic, even if it's further from your rooms - whatever they turn out to be. Leave nothing tell-tale in the car (maps or car rental folder, etc - anything that says tourist). Instead, leave an Irish newspaper on the seat.

Assuming you'll be meeting other (local) musicians in your travels, take advantage of professional courtesy and let a new friend store your instruments overnight.

If I were you, I would book rooms in small family-run b&amp;bs with good reputations. Fewer strangers in the house means fewer people with opportunity to run off with your stuff.

It is not safe anywhere to leave things in a car. Someone could be watching you lock your things up in the trunk of the car.

I have never had anything stolen from me or my family out of a b&amp;b room (or even a hotel room). But we have had several cars broken into and stuff stolen.

Good luck. Have a look at Michele Erdvig's Best Little Guide to Ireland for recommended b&amp;bs and guesthouses with good reputations, which are family-run. See her web-site at IrelandYes.com. You'll also get excellent advice right here from fodorites of course!

Tim,

I appreciate your frugality. However, in the month that you are looking to travel, February, the cost difference between Hostels and B&amp;B will be minimal at best. In addition, the breakfast that you will enjoy at the B&amp;B will be ample neough that you will more than likely forgo lunch, which also is a cost saver. I would never leave my equipment and instruments in a locker at a Hostel. However, we have left these items in our rooms at B&amp;Bs throughout Ireland and never had a worry or an issue.

I travel over to Ireland frequently with a guitar, mandolin, banjo, several harmonicas and two bodhrans. I also travel with a professional digital camera and all of its necessary accessories. We have left these same instruments &amp; photographic equipment in our vehicle when going in to eat, check out shops or wander some ruin or picture worthy site. The only precaution that we have ever taken was to drape our coats across the top of the boot. We have traveled all of Northern Ireland and Ireland and never had an issue, ***Knock on Wood***.

To address your photographic needs, I am thrilled to see that you are visiting the West Coast,as its ever changing topography and scenery, from South to North, will provide you ample opportunities.

When you have an idea of dates, I would be happy to suggest some very affordable B&amp;Bs for your perusal.

Slan Beo (Take care),

Bit