|
backontrack
|
 |
« on: February 06, 2012, 01:06:37 PM » |
|
Greetings all!
The family is planning a trip to Ireland this summer. The plan is to pick one general region and stay there, can't see it all in a week, so we will try to soak up one location (historical buildings, hiking, archaeology, etc). We are learning towards Galway, with the many things nearby, including the offshore Islands.
Anyone know the cost of food in Ireland?
We are debating hotel vs. B&B vs. vacation home
Thanks in advance,
bot
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
eigen
|
|
« Reply #1 on: February 06, 2012, 07:41:22 PM » |
|
No suggestions, but bookmarking for later use.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
mended_drum
|
|
« Reply #2 on: February 06, 2012, 08:01:10 PM » |
|
Make sure to do the Atlantic drive and Achill Island for some ridiculously amazing landscapes. Clonmacnoise is also reasonably close.
I stay with students at Jurys Inn in Galway, but more for the location than the quality of the hotel. It's a chain, but generally clean and well-managed.
Food is fairly reasonably priced, especially outside of Dublin. I find having the bread-and-soup combo for lunch, often at a pub, to be the most economical lunch, but that may be because I go in the winter when the hot soup is very welcome. I also like a ploughman's sandwich, but they seemed to have gone upscale on me this year compared to six years ago when they were more down-home. I paid between 6 and 10 euros for lunch, and between 8 and 16 euros for dinner, including tea, but usually excluding alcohol. Breakfast may be included at many hotels, and if not, you can order it, either just the cold version or the full Irish breakfast (which is more than I eat in the morning, personally). On Saturdays there is an open air market in Galway, where you can buy produce and various trinkets. I've seen it open once in a while on Sunday too. A vacation home would let you cook and take advantage of the fresh seafood in the area. I like the bass, myself.
I recommend both the Lonely Planet and the Rough Guides to Ireland.
On a personal note: if you're going to try a real Guinness, be fair and try a Beamish if you're in Cork or Blarney. In Galway, if you want to try an Irish lager, Hooker is the local brew, one of the very few actually owned by an Irish company, and it's quite good. You get it bottled, not on tap. Lots of jewelers in the area who do some fine work in silver. You can hear traditional Irish music nearly every night of the week if you go to the right pub. Add a bit of milk to Bewley's tea for a lovely cup any time night or day.
Oh, and Shannon is one of the very few, maybe still the only, European airport which has a U.S.--approved security system, which means that you can actually check your return luggage all the way through to your final U.S. destination if that's where you're returning. No getting your luggage and rechecking it after customs in the U.S.!
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
prof_smartypants
Treasure-pilferin' and grog-swillin'
Distinguished Senior Member
Posts: 7,078
Kiss the baby!
|
|
« Reply #3 on: February 06, 2012, 08:19:11 PM » |
|
Beamish blows Guinness away, IMO.
And Kilkenny on draft remains my favorite beer.
Haven't been since 1997, but I hope to go back in the next couple of years.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
Welcome to college, motherf*cker.
|
|
|
|
mended_drum
|
|
« Reply #4 on: February 06, 2012, 10:30:40 PM » |
|
Beamish blows Guinness away, IMO.
You're only the second person I've ever met who agrees with me on that, prof_smartypants. |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
backontrack
|
|
« Reply #5 on: February 07, 2012, 01:04:08 AM » |
|
Thanks for the detailed suggestions, m_d.
I am not a huge beer drinker, but I'll give them a try, thanks to you both for the information!
trip planning is so much more fun than class prep....
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
pink_
|
|
« Reply #6 on: February 07, 2012, 07:42:12 AM » |
|
There are a number of very nice B&Bs just outside of Galway (Salthill) that are walking distance in to the city center.
I love Dublin, but it's pricey. It too has an awesome farmer's marker and craft fair on Saturdays in Temple Bar
Definitely visit the Aran Islands, and rent bikes so you can see more than just the cool but touristy Dun Aengus. The rest of the island is breathtakingly gorgeous as well and worth seeing.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
Horses don't have seatbelts. Listen to Pink, she's smart.
|
|
|
wanderingeducators
New member
Posts: 42
|
|
« Reply #7 on: February 08, 2012, 11:02:55 AM » |
|
I'd recommend flying into Shannon - very easy. One great site for information is IrishFireside. We relied heavily on them for our planning! Also Ireland Yes - and Michele has a book with excellent resources and discounts.
We stayed on the Ring of Kerry and LOVED it. There's so much to see and do! I wrote many articles about our time there on our site, wandering educators. We've not been to Galway (yet) and hope to head there next time!
As for food, I was really surprised. I had read about the Irish Food Revolution and expected good things (Ballymaloe, etc.). What we found was entirely different. The seafood chowder anywhere was awesome. As was the brown bread. But almost everything else we tried was either overdone (don't order a roast anything) or not very good. The exception being seafood, of course. We ended up shopping the local market at Kenmare, and stocking up at Tesco, for our groceries, and cooking at home (we rented an oceanside house through HomeAway).
I could go on and on - happy to help! :)
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
mouseman
Oh dear, how did I become a
Distinguished Senior Member
Posts: 7,103
The Validater/Validator-in-Chief
|
|
« Reply #8 on: February 08, 2012, 03:21:47 PM » |
|
A second recommendation for the Ring of Kerry. We stayed at a B&B on the beach of St. Finan's Bay, between Portmagee and Ballinskelligs, called the Cill Bhreac House www.cillbhreachouse.com. We really enjoyed the stay there - it was very beautiful. Here are the photos again: http://s762.photobucket.com/albums/xx265/mouseman_2010/Ireland%202010/. You should also look at the recommendations I got before my trip to Ireland: http://chronicle.com/forums/index.php/topic,68337.0.html |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
In the midst of the word he was trying to say,
In the midst of his laughter and glee,
He had softly and suddenly vanished away -- -
For the Snark was a Boojum, you see.
Lewis Carroll
|
|
|
|
backontrack
|
|
« Reply #9 on: February 25, 2012, 12:57:57 PM » |
|
Greetings, and again thanks for the suggestions. Flights, car, and vacation home are booked!
We decided to stay slightly southwest of Galway, shooting distance from many sights, parks, etc.
Now if only I can make it through the semester....
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
wanderingeducators
New member
Posts: 42
|
|
« Reply #10 on: February 26, 2012, 10:14:10 PM » |
|
How exciting! YAY!
If you fly into Shannon, and need to sleep there, I'd recommend the Bunratty Mews B&B - owner Dolores O'Toole is the friendliest person in Ireland. Have fun!
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
fedscholar
|
|
« Reply #11 on: February 27, 2012, 11:17:58 AM » |
|
Galway is a terrific choice. We flew into Dublin and immediately jumped on the train to Galway.
From Galway you can easily visit the Burren and Cliffs of Moher just to the south or the Connemara just to the west, and of course the Aran Islands. The latter two have interesting Gaeltach (Irish speaking) areas. Renting a car can be fun, but bear in mind that the narrow roads and droving on the left can be terrifying. Most roads have stone walls along the sides, and when a tour bus is coming the other direction, it is almost hard to believe you car and the buss can fit!
Also, Galway City is a great, spirited spot itself, with music and craic in the pubs, beautiful streets, and friendly people.
Have a blast!
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
