How Much Does It Cost? Part II: Accommodations in Ireland
Welcome to Part 2 of our ‘How Much Does It Cost’ series (Part 1 on transportation). This time we’re reviewing all our Accommodations in Ireland—how much they cost and our experiences with each place. Joe and I stayed in 7 different locations for 14 nights in June, 2014, opting to stay in most places for multiple nights.
We selected where and how long were going to stay in each location primarily based on how many things we were going to do in the area. I look for good reviews online via Trip Advisor or B&B Ireland and have learned over time that we prefer the Irish B&B or a small self-catering unit over hotels.
To help you out, I listed the costs in US dollars and Euros. One US dollar cost about $0.363 more than one euro at the time of our travel.
Glendalough Hermitage Centre, Laragh, Co. Wicklow:
$286.23 (€210) or €70/night for 3 Nights
Grade: A+
A handful of nuns run a small self-catering establishment in the hills of Wicklow near Glendalough. It is primarily meant for people who seek a quiet spiritual retreat. We stayed three nights in a tiny house with two twin beds, a small kitchen and a bathroom. It had an open floor plan and a lovely fireplace. While we didn’t spend too much time in the nearby coach house with a chapel or the church, visitors are welcome to join the nuns in their daily religious services.
Joe and I loved the sense of peace we found in the hillsides surrounding the Hermitage. We spent most of our days out exploring Wicklow. But because it was the beginning of our trip and we were still jet lagged, we enjoyed early evenings resting by a crackling fireside before drifting off to sleep. I fixed breakfast in the morning from the groceries we bought at a tiny store, McCoy’s, in Laragh. Joe and I dream of spending a week here someday. Relaxing, writing, and walking. It really was the best start for a trip to Ireland we’ve had yet.
Kilkenny Self-Catering Apartment, Kilkenny, Co. Kilkenny:
$375.64 (€275.60) or €65/night for 4 nights with €15.60 booking fee; Stayed 1 Night
Grade: C-
We booked a place in Kilkenny for four nights over a Bank Holiday weekend. Because I was a little slow on the planning this year, we reserved this place just a couple of weeks before we left. It was a great deal for four nights in the center of town over the holiday. At the time I booked, it didn’t have any reviews and there were just a few pictures. I remember thinking that booking this place would be a gamble, but somebody had to be the first person to stay, right? So I booked it. Ugh.
Unfortunately, it wasn’t what we had hoped. It was in the bottom floor of a row house in town. Normally, this wouldn’t have been a problem, but the neighbor beside us played music until well into the wee hours of the morning (I’ll blame it on the Bank Holiday weekend).
I laid there and laid there; hoping that the music would die down and I could get some rest. On top of that, the people above clearly smoked and the odor was strong enough that my pajamas smelled of cigarettes within a couple of hours of being there. By about 2:30 in the morning, I couldn’t take much more. I pulled out my iPad and booked a B&B for the next three nights in Thomastown, village about 30 minutes outside of Kilkenny.
Even though we prepaid the apartment rental and knew we’d lose our money for the remaining nights, at 3:00 AM we decided a good night’s sleep was worth spending the cash.
I am beyond ashamed of myself because the next morning I didn’t have the guts to tell the owner the reason for our early departure. We simply said that we had a quick change in plans. I felt like a coward—still do, actually. We should have been honest with our host so that she could address the problems, if not for us then for the next people who rented the apartment.
While this place wasn’t right for us, now that I think back on the experience, I can see it being just fine for those who don’t mind smoke and are heavy sleepers (or have good ear plugs). Maybe the backpacker crowd? Our host was kind and gave us recommendations for great places to eat and things to do in Kilkenny. She had warm scones and hot tea ready for us when we arrived and we enjoyed perusing the large selection of books and travel brochures in the apartment.
I am going to chalk this one up as a good learning experience. By no means have I ever thought of us as luxury travelers, but I’ve come to the realization that we aren’t as intrepid as I once thought we were. My friends, I think it is possible that we are getting old or at least beyond the age when we can bound out of bed after a bad night’s sleep. I think I am ok with that, especially because that will make me seek out more places like the next one.
Oldtown Farmhouse B&B, Thomastown, Co. Kilkenny:
$261.69 (€192) or €64/night for 3 nights
Grade: A+
After spending a full day in Kilkenny we made our way to Thomastown, the nearest place with three nights available over the Bank Holiday. As soon as we walked into our room with its plush pillows and pretty garden view, we fell fast asleep with the birds still singing. Ah, it was glorious. Who knew I liked sleep so much?
This was probably our favorite B&B of the entire trip and it wasn’t just because of the comfy pillows. Our hostess Mary and her husband John couldn’t be better hosts. Joe and I decided we would like to adopt them as another set of grandparents. Each night when we returned from our day out, Mary would bring out tea and cookies and delight us with stories from her childhood in rural Ireland. When she learned that we lived in Pennsylvania she taught us a new song. Ever heard of Pawn Shop on the Corner in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania?—neither did we, but now I find myself humming it when anyone says Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Mary and John give great recommendations for food nearby (Carrol’s Hotel in Knocktopher, if you are wondering) and Mary had delicious traditional breakfasts at the ready in the morning. One night, Mary even gave us a very special tour of the ring fort behind her home (with fairy stories included).
I am pretty sure Joe and I would have been happy to stay here the entire time we were in Ireland. We were sad to be moving on from Oldtown after three nights, but I am certain we will be back again to see Mary and John soon.
Groveside Farm and B&B, Kilmore, Co. Wexford:
$190.82 (€140) or €70/night for 2 nights
Grade: B+
Joe and I planned a day trip to Great Saltee Island, which is an island off the coast of Kilmore Quay in County Wexford. One thing we have learned from our trips to Ireland is that if you really want to do something big that will need most of the day, like visiting an island or climbing a mountain, schedule at least two nights in a nearby location. If the weather isn’t great the first day, you have another day to attempt the activity.
This is precisely why we choose two nights in at the Groveside Farm. The room was spacious and our hostess Mary was very welcoming She even left a wedding early just to be there to greet us. We mentioned that we were interested in the boat trip to Great Saltee the next day. She immediately called up the captain and reserved our two spots—which saved us the hassle of figuring it out as you can’t book prior to your trip.
Mary showed us to a room overlooking their beautiful farm and offered us some tea in the sitting room just off the main entrance. Joe and I enjoyed a cup and perused the menus of all the local restaurants. We also took some time then to check our email as the signal wasn’t very strong in our room.
Almost all of our B&B’s on this trip were in the country this time. The Groveside is removed from the town of Kilmore Quay by a few miles, and can be a little tricky to find especially in the dark. While being within walking distance from the pub is nice, we find our quiet mornings overlooking the hills or the ocean worth the trade.
Duncrone B&B, Ardmore Co. Waterford:
$269.87 (€198) or €66/night for 3 nights
Grade: A
When planning this trip we couldn’t quite decide how many nights to stay in West Waterford. We opted for three in Ardmore. Two might have been better for our itinerary but having three breakfasts at the Duncrone was worth staying that extra night. Seriously, yum!
After a few days, I tend to get a little traditional Irish breakfasted-out. I crave oatmeal, yogurt, and fruit and most B&B’s are happy to oblige. Jeannette, however, went above and beyond with possibly the best French toast I’ve ever had. We’re talking thick bread, fresh berries and maple syrup—I am still dreaming about it. I wish I had taken a picture before I gobbled it all up.
The rooms are nicely appointed too. We had two beds (one full, one twin), a hairdryer, and strong Wi-Fi. When another guest moved into the next room we found the walls to be a little thin.
I must talk about the view from our window. Oh the view—spectacular. It was the best of all the places we stayed. Brilliant green pastures with cows slowly moving across the fields. The turquoise blue Atlantic beckoning us to its shores. The ancient Ardmore round tower reminding us of sacred traditions. It was almost as if an artist woke up every morning and painted the scene on our window and in the evening added a berry pink sun setting on the water.
Jeannette gave us some great suggestions on things to do in area including a lovely walk from town to the round tower via the Oceanside cliffs—one of our favorite moments of the entire trip.
Coatesland House B&B, Adare, Co. Limerick:
$95.41 (€70) or €70/night for 1 night
Grade: B+
We decided not to pre-book a B&B for our second to last night in Ireland, opting to be spontaneous instead. We ended up in Adare and at the Coatesland House B&B.
The hosts provide every possible amenity you might want in the room including tea, fruit, biscuits, bathroom reading materials and stuffed animals(which I found to be a little strange yet whimsical). The breakfast room is light and airy and they offer a large continental spread as well as a full Irish.
While it is the number one rated B&B in Adare, we found it to be a little dated—not awful ‘70 shag carpet dated, but just a little tired. The room was smallish without a lot space to lay out our things. The cookies left in our rooms were individually wrapped, but stale.
The best part about staying in a B&B is often the people you meet. Florence, our hostess, was great company around the breakfast table. We chatted with her and a French mother, daughter duo long after our meal was complete.
Dunaree B&B, Bunratty, Co. Limerick:
$95.41 (€70) or €70/night for 1 night
Grade A
Our final B&B was a great find. We stay in Bunratty the night before flying out of the Shannon airport because it is a quick drive in the morning. Normally, our reservation is with the Courtyard B&B but when we got around to booking our stay, it was full. Penny had room at the Dunaree and we are so glad she did!
About a mile from Bunratty Castle on the Low Road (directly between the castle and Durty Nellies) is the Dunaree. We found this busy little B&B to be clean and very comfortable (especially at the end of our trip when we were becoming a little ragged). As we were unloading our car of the accumulated luggage, water bottles, sweatshirts, walking sticks, chocolate wrappers, etc., etc., etc., Penny recognized we were reorganizing our bags for the plane ride home. She offered to let us use the hallway, sitting room, or wherever else we wanted to repack. The space in our room ended up being just fine, but I found it astute of her to anticipate our needs.
The Wi-Fi signal was a little weak in our room at the end of the house, so I hung out in the sitting room to check-in for our flight the next day while Joe repacked.
Our final farewell to Ireland is often a traditional banquet at Bunratty (Kitschy? Yes. Fun? Absolutely). You can’t walk to the castle from the B&B, but there is a large car park just across the street from the castle entrance.
Would you believe we didn’t take a single photo at Dunaree? Me either! You can tell this was at the end of our trip. I promise the photos on their photo gallery page truly look like the real thing including the breakfast, which reminds me–it was really good, perfect for the last meal before our plane ride home.
Total cost for accommodations in Ireland for 14 nights was $1575.07 or €1155.60.
The average room cost $92.45 or €67.98.
There you have it. All the places we stayed in 2014. Did you have great accommodations in Ireland? Tell us about it! We are always looking for great places to stay!
Next up for ‘How Much does It Cost’ Part III—Food!
I want to attach some photos that are relevant to this “accommadations” post…Great places (Airbnb) that my granddaughter and I stayed at. I only use email and am not on Facebook or anything. How can I do this?
Sincerely,
Kathy
Hi Kathy! Isn’t AirBnB great? I’d love to see your granddaughter’s photos. The easiest way is probably to upload them to free flickr account and share the link. You can always email me at infiniteireland [at] gmail [dot] com too. :-)
We are in the process of planning a trip to Ireland in May…in the Southeast!! How lucky are we that you just went there and we can use your expertise in planning out our trip. We are in the process of planning accommodations. I am going to both the bed and breakfast website and using trip advisor, etc. Occasionally, a pop up will “pop” offering a reduced rate to stay at the bed and breakfast that I am currently reviewing. Their price is generally lower than going directly through the bed and breakfast’s owner. I have come across comments on trip advisor whereas when the visitor arrived to their home, the visitor felt they were being lectured on their choice to use the third party payer. The visitor(s) therefore felt that their service was negatively compromised. What is your experience with this? What about the readers? Thanks for any feedback you can give.
Hi Jose! Oh I am so glad this series can be super relevant for you! You ask a very good question, clearly someone has been doing her research. :-)
So basically, what you say is true. B&B owners make less when you book through a third party, because the booking agent retains some of the booking revenue. I think most B&B owners appreciate your booking directly with them so that they can continue making a living.
However, using a third-party booking agent is an option for the owners and they do not have to use them to help book guests. Therefore, I say if you are on a budget and are able to secure a deal somewhere other than directly with the owner, book it. I have done so on occasion and never had a confrontation or even a conversation about the cost of the room with our B&B hosts. I can imagine it happens but probably less than the vocal few make it seem.
If budget isn’t a concern and you would like to support your hosts, then book directly with your B&B. However, if its between getting awesome deals or not going to Ireland—get the good deal! :-)
Hope this helps! Enjoy your time in Ireland. I think you will really love it!
Stephanie,
Thank you for your feedback. You brought up a good point that the owners have the option of using the third party booking agents, so they are obviously looking for means of drumming up business. And also you brought up the point that the individuals who may have had negative comments regarding this policy on the trip advisor, there are many who had positive comments as well, who just may not have posted their comments. Like me!! Thanks again for your feedback!
So glad I could help Josie! :-)
I’ve seen on some b&b websites that the price is per person. I’m looking at traveling solo. It seems too good to be true to cut your numbers in half, but is there a rough percentage you would use to estimate for one person instead of two? Thanks!
Hi Sarah! Great question! Rooms in Ireland are typically per person, but usually they are expecting two people in each room. So for someone traveling solo if it says 35 euro per person then it is typically 35 euro plus a single supplement. The supplement can vary, but I would to see 15-20 euros. Email the B&B’s and simply ask–they should give you your total rate upfront. I hope you have a great trip. :-)
Hi Stephanie,
I wanted to ask a quick question if I could, me and 2 other friends are going to Ireland on a trip in September for 16 days and have rented a house in county clare for eight days and plan on branching out to things in that area, we haven’t booked yet for the other half of our trip and we can’t decide if we should rent another home on the other side in Kildare or if we should rent a couple different ones around that area, as we want to see some things in dublin , hill of Tara and newgrange as well as the Wicklow mtns, I noticed you typically rent several different ones so what’s your take on renting a home that long and branching out. Thank you for your wonderful website its very helpful. All the best!
Pam
Hi Pam! Thanks so much for the compliments! 16 days–Yay! I am quite jealous! We’ve done both staying for a week or longer as well as moving around a little. It definitely makes sense to rent one location for your small group if you are wanting to save a little money as well as have a home base. Those trying to cover a wide area of Ireland tend to move around a bit more. Kildare is certainly central to all of the locations you mention, but each day will require a little bit of driving. If you want to split it up, you might be interested in a few days just south and a few days just north of Dublin for less time on the road.
I hope you have a great time in Ireland!! -Stephanie
Hi Pamela Holcombe I just noticed your query and I can tell you as a B&B owner in Ennis town center that our bed and breakfast and I think I can speak for most as a BnB owner that just like Stephanie said it is on PPS arrangement, we typically charge €30 PPS including breakfast per night and €40 for the sole adventurer including breakfast hope that clears it up for you :) Wishing you all the best on your stay in Eire.
HI Stephanie,
I am so glad I found your blog it is extremely helpful. I am planning my first trip out of the country and I want to take my boys to Ireland. How hard is it to find accommodations for three adults? Most I have seen are two twin beds and my boys are not little guys. Will I be able to find B&B;s that have two doubles? Thanks
Hi Tammy!
Thanks so much for your complements about the blog! :) I am glad you’ve found it helpful. It can be tricky to find accommodations for three adults not sharing any beds. While it will be unlikely to find B&B’s with two doubles, you might be able to look for family rooms in B&B’s that have one double and two twins or some combination that would fit your family. I would email the B&B directly to be sure you are assigned something that would suit.
You could also look in hostel’s that would likely have three twins, but you might be sharing the room with other guests as well.
One final thought would be to rent a cottage or an apartment in Ireland for the three of you. AirBnB makes this really easy even for just a night or two. We have used it all over the place and found it to be really fun and sometimes just as engaging as a B&B. Here’s my referral link (you get $25 off your first stay with it):https://www.airbnb.com/c/schastain1
I am sure you and your boys will have a great time in Ireland!
Hi Tammy I don’t want to be overly self promoting here on Stephanie’s website but if you wanted to check out our B&B you can do so by clicking the name Rose Cottage B&B we cater to what you need so if you visit Co Clare look us up :) I would also think there are many other places like us around the county, best wishes Carmel.
Hello! So VERY pleased to have found this wonderful site! Thank you for the great information.
We are planning our second trip to Ireland. The first visit (far too long ago, back in 2002) was with family and the elders with us insisted on a Globus Tour. Not a bad thing by any means, but this time we are so looking forward to going by ourselves and doing a driving tour (so to speak) of Ireland.
We’re having a hard time deciding on where to go! We definitely want to see the west coast. I think booking a cottage/self catering is a great idea and then doing day trips.
Is there a particular booking site (we’ve been exploring homeaway and have found some nice places) that we should be looking at? I do like the idea of a 3 night (or so) stay and then move to another place.
I am hoping we can go for a solid 15 days, and we are planning right now on going the last week of March, first week of April 2016. Easter falls during that time, but I definitely want to be there then, so Easter in Ireland it is!
Any advice on accommodations is most sincerely appreciated. Not just “where to stay,” but comments on staying less than a week, and moving (maybe three times??).
Sorry for the long post. I’m VERY excited!
Hi Edie,
Doing a self-catering house (or 3) in the west is a great idea. Here are few sites that might help get you search started:
http://www.westcork-cottages.com/
http://www.tridentholidayhomes.ie/
https://www.airbnb.com/c/schastain1 (this is a referral code for $25 off your first stay)
Some places will only allow you to rent one week from saturday-saturday. With AirBnB you have a little more flexibility. You can always ask for special accommodations even if it doesn’t seem to be allowed on the website.
As for Easter in Ireland, you will find a lot of things shut down (even pubs) on Good Friday and Easter Sunday. So having a well-stocked self-catering place then will be a big help.
Have a wonderful time!
Thank you SO much for your suggestions!!
Hi,
My sister and I will be in Galway in November 2015 for a work conference for 4 days. We will have about 4 days after where we would like to just see the country, or at least a part of it. After reading your blog, I realize we may not be able to see or do much in 4 days. We are looking for ways to immerse in the culture,and not spend the whole time running around. We want to enjoy the days. What area would you recommend we try to see, and would it be best to rent a car, or take the train? I like the idea of driving so we can see the roads and countryside, but I rented a car in France last year, and our road trip ended up being twice as long as planned due to not understanding the roads. Any advice would be great! Thank you!
Hi Miranda,
How great that you will get to spend a little extra time in Ireland with your sister. I would definitely opt for a car for the very reasons you mentioned. But you are also correct that the driving times on google maps will not be representative of the time it actually takes. So I would suggest trying not too go to far each day and really soak in where you are. If you want to travel to another location on day 1 of your 4 free days, then stick to that area the next 2-3 days you will be in great shape. I might suggest going south toward county Kerry or heading north toward Belfast/Giant’s Causeway. If the two you want to see Dublin, there is quite a bit to do in that area as well. I hope this gets you started! I think you two will have a great time! :-)
Hi Stephanie! I just finished up with your most recent webinar on Feb 8, 2020. It was so informative and I’m so, so glad I joined in. We’re planning a trip this September. Myself, my husband and our four adult children….a family affaire! While researching B&B’s, I’m not finding any that will accommodate 6 people in 1 room (multiple beds, of course). Is this going to be a hard find? So far it looks like we’ll need to book 2 rooms at each stay. I’m finding this to be quite costly. I guess it’s safe to say that the largest part of my budget will be accommodations? Any suggestions? Also, are all B&B’s priced per person?
Hi Tracey!
It’ll be tough to find 6 beds in one room. Most places anticipate only two people per room. You can find family rooms that accommodate an additional one, two or three guests, but there are few that would accommodate more than that. Almost all B&B’s charge per person so you are right–it can get pretty expensive quickly. For most families accommodations tend to be the biggest expense beyond airfare.
For you, I would recommend splitting up your stays between B&B’s and Self-catering apartments/cottages to help manage the budget a bit. There are some fabulous options on AirBnB–and most often these charge per night rather than per person.
I hope this helps a bit! I am so glad you were able to join the webinar! aren’t they a blast?! :-)