Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
When establishing prices, confirm if the charge is per person or per room (if a price
is too good to be true, it's probably per person). Because many places in Ireland charge
per person, small groups often pay the same for a single and a double as they would for a
triple. Note: In this topic, room prices are listed per room, not per person.
Ireland has a rating system for hotels and B&Bs. These stars and shamrocks are supposed
to imply quality, but I find that they mean only that the place sporting symbols is paying
dues to the tourist board. These rating systems often have little to do with value: One of
my favorite Irish B&Bs (also loved by readers) will never be tourist-board approved be-
cause it has no dedicated breakfast room (a strict requirement in the eyes of the board).
Instead, guests sit around a large kitchen table and enjoy a lively chat with the friendly
hosts as they cook breakfast 10 feet away.
Hotels
Many of my recommended hotels have three floors of rooms and steep stairs; expect good
exercise. Elevators are rare except in some hotels, and they're often very small—pack
light, or you may need to send your bags up separately. If you're concerned about stairs,
call and ask about ground-floor rooms or pay for a hotel with a lift (elevator).
Know the terminology: “Twin” means two single beds, and “double” means one double
bed. If you'll take either one, let them know, or you might be needlessly turned away. An
“en suite” room has a bathroom (toilet and shower/tub) inside the room; a room with a
“private bathroom” can mean that the bathroom is all yours, but it's across the hall; and
a “standard” room has access to a bathroom that's shared with other rooms and down the
hall. Figuring there's little difference between “en suite” and “private” rooms, some places
charge the same for both. If you want your own bathroom inside the room, request “en
suite.”
If money's tight, ask for a standard room. You'll almost always have a sink in your
room, and as more rooms go “en suite,” the hallway bathroom is shared with fewer stand-
ard rooms.
Mosthotelsofferfamilydeals,whichmeansthatparentswithyoungchildrencaneasily
get a room with an extra child's bed or a discount for a larger room. Call to negotiate the
price. Teenagers are generally charged as adults. Kids under five sleep almost free.
Note that to be called a “hotel,” a place technically must have certain amenities, includ-
ing a 24-hour reception (though this rule is loosely applied). TVs are standard in rooms.
If you're arriving early in the morning, your room probably won't be ready. You can
drop your bag safely at the hotel and dive right into sightseeing.
