Enjoy Ireland’s Top Inns and Hotels
A wise Irishman once noted, “Ireland is where strange tales begin and happy endings are possible.” Travelers to this Emerald Isle are sure to discover the truth of that statement. Exploring ancient sites, wandering through castles and sampling a pint or two of fine Irish ale are just a few of the happy adventures awaiting visitors to Ireland.
A journey to Ireland would not be complete without a stay in Dublin. Be sure to bring comfortable walking shoes, as the easiest way to see the sites of the city are on foot. The Guinness Brewery is a popular attraction, as is the National Gallery, where you’ll find works ranging from Manet to Picasso. From there head in any direction and you are sure to find something of interest, from Blarney Castle and the lakes of Killarney in the southwest to the unique landscape of Connemara in the western portion of Ireland. Don’t forget to set aside a few days to explore Northern Ireland and Belfast.
If you aren’t sure where to go and what to see, seasoned travel writer Karen Brown recommends several interesting Ireland itineraries on her comprehensive website. Her readers also have voted for and chosen the following lodgings as Ireland’s best places to stay:
The Quay House, a historic gem located just off the harbor in the seaside village of Clifdon, has been chosen by Karen Brown readers as Ireland’s “Most Romantic” inn. Quay House offers seven guest rooms and seven studios, each with individual dcor ranging from traditional Irish with antiques to more fanciful and bohemian-themed rooms. All but two of the rooms boast a harbor view. A homemade breakfast buffet is served each morning in the cheerful conservatory.
If it’s Irish hospitality you seek, look no further than Ballyvolane House, an exquisite historic country home that earned the Karen Brown Readers’ Choice Award for “Warmest Welcome” in Ireland. The grand interior of this early 18th-century home features period dcor and furnishings, which continue up to the spacious guest rooms. Several guest rooms include antique tubs, where guests can relax and soak away their cares. There also is a self-contained, private cottage available. The grounds include amazing gardens as well as seven kilometers of private salmon fishing along the River Blackwater.
The grounds at Ballaghtobin are part parkland, part tillage farm where acres of wheat and Christmas trees are grown. An old ruined Norman church rests next to the charming ivy-covered main house. The interior is elegant and includes three lovely guest rooms, each with a private bath. Guests are encouraged to put on their walking shoes and tour the extensive grounds, taking what 18th-century Irish gentry would no doubt praise as a proper country walk. Ballaghtobin was chosen by Karen Brown readers as Ireland’s “Greatest Value.”
If you wish to indulge yourself at one of Ireland’s best lodgings, The Merrion is a stunning Dublin hotel and was chosen by Karen Brown readers as Ireland’s best “Splendid Splurge.” The historic hotel is opposite from Leinster House, the home of Ireland’s Parliament. Guest rooms and suites, as well as a hugely extravagant penthouse, are spread among the historic main house and the garden wing. All of the rooms are spacious and elegant with views of the city or hotel gardens. The Tethra Spa offers a wide selection of massage treatments, as well as a fitness center and swimming pool. The Cellar Bar is an excellent spot to enjoy a pint or a glass or wine, and it is found in the hotel’s original wine vaults. There are two restaurants, the more casual Cellar Restaurant and the Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud, Ireland’s only two-star Michelin Restaurant.
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