Sunday, 19 April 2015

Hotels In Ireland

Hotels

If you are traveling to Ireland, I would first recommend seeking out a bed and breakfast and not a hotel. You will receive more personalized experiences and sneak peeks into Irish culture and daily life. However with that being said, there are some fantastic hotels in Ireland. If you find yourself spending a night or two in a hotel, you should not be disappointed.
In larger towns and cities, you can usually find an Irish hotel that will meet the smallest of budgets or the largest of expense accounts. Depending on your limitations, there are a variety of hotel accommodations in Ireland to suit you needs.

Exterior of the Shelbourne Hotel Dublin
An iconic Dublin hotel, The Shelbourne

Booking

Selecting an Irish hotel can be as easy as finding one on an aggregate travel site like Expedia or Orbitz. This is an okay place to start if only to see the types of hotels available. If you find one you like, I would peruse the actual hotel’s website and give them a call to see if you can get a better deal.
I also suggest reading prior guest reviews on a site like Trip Advisor or another travel site with reviews either as a starting point to find great hotels or determine between a few choices. Nothing is worse than arriving and finding out that a hotel recently had an outbreak of bed bugs.
Hotel bed & bath robes
The Conrad Hotel in Dublin. Courtesy of Flickr user Uggboy.
If there is a festival or bank holiday weekend, hotels in major hubs around Ireland, like Dublin, Galway and Killarney, can book quickly. Some weekends in July or August can also be tricky to book around the country. It’s best to book a month or two in advance if your stay falls within this time. Also note that a few hotels do not book more than 6 months out, others do. It is best to simply check, especially if you have your heart set on something special.

Amenities

The typical three star Irish hotel will have most everything you need: shampoo, soap, clean room and bedding, hot showers, and maid service.
Rooms are often smaller than their American cousins and are often without alarm clocks. Use your cell phone or pack a portable clock just in case. Some other conveniences that may or may not be included in your room are hair dryers, ironing boards, laundry service, and wash cloths (considered a “personal” item in Ireland).
Amenities at four and five-star hotels will likely have all sorts of fun extras you might expect, like spas, salons, swimming pools, fitness centers, on site restaurants, and pubs. These hotels have full concierge services too to help you book tours, picnics, and other marvelous adventures.

Breakfast

Bacon, Sausage, eggs, toast, tea, & fruit
Hearty hotel breakfast, the perfect way to start a day.

Often hotels can be booked with or without breakfast included. Look for a bed and breakfast rate to get a meal in the morning. Double-check that it is a full Irish breakfast—unless continental is ok with you. If you have other plans for breakfast look for a standard room or room only rate.

Payment

Depending on how you book (online or over the phone), you may need to produce final payment upon arrival at the hotel. All Irish hotels should accept cash, Visa, or MasterCard transactions. Be sure you are charged in Euros to eliminate dynamic conversion (essentially having the hotel convert into your payment to US dollars and your bank doing the same, causing you to pay much more).
Most Ireland hotel rates are quoted per person in the room. If you are traveling alone, some places may ask you to pay a single supplement rate. This helps the owner cover the loss of not having two people in the room.

Disabilities

jurys inn
Jurys Inn, one of the many hotel chains in Ireland. Photo courtesy of Flickr user 46137.
If you are traveling with disabled persons, hotels might be your best option to ensure accessibility. Most modern hotels have the staffing, regulations, and foresight to put you at ease with rooms, elevators, and entrances acc that accommodate those in wheelchairs, walkers, and other restrictions.

Hotel Chains

Check out a few hotel chains operated in Ireland.
Jurys Inn
Bewleys Hotel
Maldron Hotels
Irish Court Hotels
Brian McEniff Hotels

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