Our Week in Ireland

Me and my husband visited Ireland in October 2006 on our 2nd year anniversary. People said we were going to be too young to enjoy it. They were wrong, it is great for all ages. The whole trip was in one word amazing! We traveled from Shannon to Dublin and only had two set hotels. We stayed at Bunratty Castle Hotel the first night and Crown Plaza Hotel on the last night. The rest of the nights we stayed in B&Bs and they were so cozy and all but one had very nice owners.

The sights are breathtaking and the people are great. Driving is a little different but you get used to it. We went to lots of castles, gardens, interest points, waterfalls, and restaurants. Oh, and you have to do the Ring of Kerry, it is beautiful. Waterford Crystal is amazing and very neat. Powers courts gardens are indescribable, the flowers and everything! You have to go kiss the Blarney stone at Blarney castle! We went to a lot of places and saw a lot but there is still way more and I would go back in a hart beat! As you can see I highly recommend the trip, we had an amazing time!

Quick Tips:

Know your exchange rates, they change daily but when you just put stuff on your CC and don't change it over, you may be in for a surprise when you get home! The Blarney Woolen Mills are all around the country and are very good for shopping! Must sees are Power Courts Garden, Waterford Crystal, Blarney Castle and The Ring of Kerry. Just slow down and enjoy, Ireland has a lot of beauty to offer take it all in!

Best Way To Get Around:

We picked up our Nissan Micra at the Shannon airport and drove it all over. When we were done we returned it in Dublin at the airport and Avis was very stress free. Beware you drive on the left side of the road and the cars are switched around too from the US. They have very small cars, but that's good because the roads are very tiny. The road signs are on the sides of the buildings not on poles. It is somewhat hard to navigate because it's so different from the US. They have different names for everything, but you get the hang of it after a few days.

This hotel is very beautiful. The floors are a rich wood, crown molding and a fire place in the lobby. The rooms are very nice and clean, and they have great bathrooms! They were doing some upgrades to the hotel when we were there, but it never bothered us at all. Bunratty Castle is right across the street and they offer a great mid-evil banquet! Next to the castle is Durty Nelly's which is a great pub with a variety of Irish beer and whiskey.

Info@bunrattycastlehotel.com.

One word... amazing! This is one of the nicest hotels we had ever been to. There are two great restaurants in the hotel and 3 to 4 right around the corner within walking distance. The rooms are beautiful and they have great bathrooms. The hotel is very modern and sheek, and the attendants are very warm. There is a very pretty lobby with two huge saltwater fish tanks in it. A+++

 www.crowneplazadublin.ie.

Great food and great entertainment. They take you back to the old day and time with music, costumes and food. Someone gets chosen to be thrown in the dungeon and another gets to be King /Queen for the night. Very funny and again great food!