Accommodations: Booked!

It's been a few months since we have updated, but with a little over a month to go, Conor and I have decided that it's time to really nail down a few things. Number 1 was to figure out where we will be staying around the country and in which cities, number 2 is to figure out the rental car situation. We knew that our trip to the land of green will basically consist of making a large circle around the country starting and ending in Dublin. The trick was to figure out the stops in between.

Since we will be arriving in Dublin at about 5am on a Friday morning, we needed to find somewhere that was going to allow us to check in at an odd time. It's always hard to tell how you are going to feel after such a long flight. Reminding ourselves that staying in more "affordable" accommodations was the route we wanted to go, we had to keep our budget in mind. While we are in Dublin, we want to be close to the city center so that we can walk and bike everywhere that we need to. (Fortunately, Dublin seems to be very fond of bikers and has a bicycle sharing system similar to Minneapolis.) We found a small b&b called the Tipperary House, that looks and seems more like a hostel, has been family-owned for the last 40 years and sits right across from the River Liffey. We will be sleeping here for 2 nights. It is just around the corner from the Guinness brewery and the Jameson Distillery, is right on the rail line and walking distance to what seems to be one of Dublin's busiest neighborhoods: Temple Bar. This is the beginning to one of the several places we will be sharing a room with others, our booked bedroom sleeps 4, (we will take one of the bunk beds), and shares a bathroom. Who knows who will be sleeping with us!
Two days later we plan to rent a small car and drive down to Cork. Cork is the largest city on the southern portion of Ireland and sits right on the water. Our plan is to only stay 1 night in Cork, in a small hostel called the Aaran House. Again, we will be sharing a room with 2 others. It seems like a very small place, but there doesn't seem to be a lot of budget-friendly choices to stay at in Cork either. However, the reviews are decent and everyone seems to have a slew of wonderful things to say about the owner. We aren't going to Ireland to sleep all day anyway, right? Fortunately, most of these places that we have booked have so many positive remarks about the owners and that they provide so much useful information about Ireland. A definite plus for us!
After Cork, we will make our way up to Killarney; about an hour northwest of Cork and on our way to Galway. We have booked a room for 2 nights in this area of Ireland, as it is close to the Ring of Kerry, Skellig Michael Island and the Cliffs of Moher. Our original intention was to stay at a small place in town, however, the 2nd night that we wanted to stay there did not have the accommodations we were looking for. The place we wanted to stay at is a small hostel called Sugan Hostel Killarney, and has been around since 1795. It looks so quaint! Since they cannot accommodate us, (honestly, I refuse to stay in a room that bunks more than 4 people), we will be staying a little outside of town and on the Ring of Kerry itself in another small place called Dunloe View. I must say, this looks like a really great place. Again, the reviews are wonderful and supposedly there are chickens, goats, bunnies and a garden in the backyard. Many people mentioned that the owner cooks you farm fresh eggs from his chicken in the backyard and makes homemade soda bread for breakfast. Sounds wonderful! The rooms look clean and cozy, and we will definitely be more in the countryside, which is just fine with us. We will be sharing a room with 2 others again. I think we are definitely going to get to meet some interesting characters on this trip, considering how many people we will be rooming with..
After 2 days in Killarney, we will travel up to Cork. Here, we will finally get our own room and will be staying at the Abbey View b&b. Our time in Cork will last 3 nights. Abbey View is just about 5 minutes outside of the city and seems to be in a very beautiful portion of the country. The rooms look quaint and clean and the breakfast looks amazing. I am hoping that the reviews are just as good as they seem to be! These last few days will be spent doing a lot of exploring the countryside and mingling with the locals.

We have one night left in Dublin, that we have yet to book before we leave.. Alas, we also have yet to figure out if we want to stay in the same place as when we arrived, or if we should try somewhere new. Knowing me, I want to try something new. So who knows! Next up, booking that last night and booking a vehicle. Let the last minute planning begin.

The route.

Every year I get the itch to travel. Near or far, it doesn't matter. A couple of months ago, I mentioned to Conor that once the new year hits, it's time to plan, and it's time to plan internationally. He couldn't have agreed more, asking that his first trans- Atlantic flight be to the home of his ancestors; Ireland. How could I disagree?

Fast forward a couple of months, a few tax returns later, and a bit of planning, the tickets are now purchased and we are well on our way. Our dates of travel will be August 22, 2013- September 1, 2013. I couldn't be more ecstatic to be a part of his first "official" international adventure! There is nothing quite so satisfying as travel. The people you meet, the roads you take, and the food you consume in various countries are some of the most memorable experiences you could possibly want and imagine for your life. Wanderlust is definitely in my blood!

So, we've planned our route and booked our first bed in breakfast in Galway. Neither of us want to stay in your typical hotel or motel ordeal, feeling that it may lack in just a little of the Irish character that we are looking for. The thought of staying in countryside cottages or working farms, quaint little b&b's or an urban hostel is more our idea of a good time. Everything that we have heard and read about the Irish folk is nothing other than positive. They are an incredibly hospitable and friendly kind. The are the epitome of eating, drinking and merriment! We want every little bit of that experience so our route is planned for us to stay in 5 cities: Dublin, Kilkenney, Cork, Killarney and Galway. However, I am sure we will make plenty of stops along our way! (I've been told this country is extremely fantastical. There are more castles than I can imagine!) Our first booked b&b is about 5 minutes outside of Galway and is called Abbey View; we will be there for 3 nights. It seems to be just what we are looking for as is it nestled in the countryside, only has 4 rooms and according to the reviews, shares a wonderful breakfast each morning. Sounds just perfect.

Once we have all of our places to stay booked, we will then start to really dig into sites we will visit along our way. The Ring of Kerry, Kissing the Blarney Stone, the Cliffs of Moher, a ferry ride out to Skellig Michael Island, numerous castles, and of course, a taste of "The Black Stuff" are just to name a few of our ideas..

Gotta just love that planning part. Stay tuned!

And so it begins..