My travel partner & I are going to Ireland in late Sept. We normally make all our travel arrangements beforehand, but this time we're thinking of just winging it - drive till it's time to find a hotel (we're not doing the B&B voucher thing). My question is, what's the likelihood we'll run into trouble finding a place to stay, especially mid-week? Anyone have any thoughts?

I don't know about finding hotels but finding B&B's on the fly should be easy enough even in the more touristy areas. We did 2 weeks in April without a single reservation except for arrival in Dublin. Can late September be that much different?

We winged it our first trip to Ireland. We had some idea where we were going next each day, and the B&Bs we were staying with called ahead and made us a reservation. They all talk and know each other. Also, vouchers can be restrictive in case you stay in a place that doesn't take them or decide on a hotel/castle stay The vouchers are prepaid.

If this is your first time in Ireland, I would recommend flying in and out of Shannon and visiting the Southwest quadrant. Northwest quadrant was nice, also.

As long as you don't have your heart set on staying in particular places, winging it should be fine in late September. (You know, you can stay in B&Bs even if you're not using vouchers.)

My wife & I are looking at a package deal from Philly to Shannon. First-time in Ireland and the package is a self-guided tour with the B&B voucher system. The package price seems too good to be true. Any add'l costs we can expect during this B&B voucher tour? The package is through Sceptre.

Sceptre has a good reputation and there are some very good packages being offered. I wouldn't expect that you'd run into significant additional costs. Some people don't like vouchers because: 1) not all B&Bs accept them; 2)you may spend less paying cash at a B&B than you pay for vouchers as part of your package.

Thanks, everyone, for your messages, that's very helpful. We've decided to book 2 nights in Dublin to make sure we've got that squared away (it's over the weekend too), but the other nights we'll give the "winging it" approach a try.

Sorry to disagree, but in west Clare you may find some 'no vacancy' signs in late September. There's a matchmaking festival centered in Lisdoonvarna and Ennistymon and people (mostly Irish) come from all over Europe to try to find a mate. The Falls Hotel may be fully booked as well as some others in that area. I visited John Daly's Matchmaker's Pub in Ennistymon with a lady who was 'on the hunt' two years ago.

Winging it should be fine, provided you check that there are no concerts/festivals taking place around the time you are planning to visit a certain area.

I thought the Lisdoon festival had been cancelled (or moved to Dublin) because of planning issues?

You may find that you will end up having to stay a little outside the town you are visiting.

RE: the 2003 Lisdoonvarna matchmaking festival:

http://www.matchmakerireland.com/festival.html

Be sure to read Tony Hawkes' 'Round Ireland with a Fridge'!

and if you enjoy Round Ireland with a Fridge....also try McCarthy's Bar by Pete McCarthy. Both very funny books!