Help me "do" Dublin?
Help me "do" Dublin?
Hello!
It's my birthday in September and the OH and I are off on a few nights away. Originally this was going to be somewhere like Barcelona or Prague, but he's just bought a house, I'm saving for one, and they were quite expensive for city breaks.
I've always wanted to go to Dublin, and only happened to mention this at work and everyone starting saying how fantastic it was. I've found some ridiculously cheap flights (including taxes) so just need some help in picking a hotel (a bit special please - it is my birthday after all! :) ) and things to do while we're there.
OH is into photography, so he wants some interesting stuff to photograph, and I like pretty much everything, although I'm not really the sort of person who goes away solely to stay up all night drinking, if that makes sense. I want to see something of the place.
Any recommendations welcome!
Thanks
Answers:
just come back and must warn you it isn't cheap!! we ended up staying at a Days Inn just because everything else was way above what we had budgeted even though we got the cheap flights (would have stayed at the hibernian through work at discount rate but it has closed down for refurbishment)
Jurys Inn looks very nice as did the Gresham hotel
to be honest we wished we had gone to amsterdam/paris/venice/prague instead because of the prices!
actually for what we spent over 3 nights we would have gone back to mandelie la napuole in the south of france which is very very cheap, very hot and picturesque
Answers:
I've stayed at the Gresham and it's not worth the money. Pokey little rooms.
I think Dublin, like everywhere, is as expensive or cheap as you make it. Do the bus tour. Can't remember what it costs but it can take all day as it's a hop on hop off type thing and you get to see everything. I wasn't impressed by the Guinness factory but the Kil???(something - sorry was 2 years ago) jail was well worth the visit. Stay away from Temple Bar area unless you want to pay through the nose and talk to a load of drunken British people. Get on the dart and go out to Hoath (sp?) it's beautiful.
Have fun - i love Dublin:D
Answers:
Kilmainham jail. Yes def worth the visit. As is the Museum of Modern Art which is right beside it and has gorgeous ornamental gardens. Museums in Dublin are all free. (think the jail is about €5-€7)
Food and drink can be expensive, but you can do it cheaper. Lots of places do lunch deals and early bird specials that are really good value. For a special meal this is nice http://www.rolysbistro.ie/irl.htm Good set luches and dinners.
Have never stayed here but its meant to be nice and good value
http://www.bewleyshotels.com/ballsbridge_hotel.asp though its a mile or two from the city centre.
http://www.clarionhotelifsc.com/index.html is more central.
Agree with staying away frm Temple Bar, particularily at night, though it can be nice during the day. Its more expensive for food and drink than other places. Keep an eye out for the pubs around the city that are dropping their prices. A mini price war is starting. (well more like a bunfight at this stage).
http://www.pod.ie/about_mkt.php is great for really good, excellent value food.
Howth is worth the visit.
http://www.dublintourist.com/
If you do decide to come over you will have a ball. But then I am biased. I love my city.
Answers:
I second Havana's recommendation of the Clarion hotel.....not sure what the prices are like but its really nice. Its in a good location too, within walking distance of everything yet just a little bit out of the main hustle and bustle.
Howth is lovely (I'm biased as that's where I'm from and live nearby :D ) There are great views if you go up to the summit (you can take the bus - the 31B goes up there and the 31 goes up on Sundays) and your DH might get some good photos if its a nice day. The Summit pub does pretty decent food and is nice to sit outside on a sunny day. Another scenic place to visit there is the castle at Deer Park. Other nice places to eat are Cibo in the village, or Casa Pasta down on the sea front. If you want a special restaurant to go to in the evening Aqua is really nice (but expensive & you need to book) and the setting is beautiful.....its down at the very end of the pier.
Dalkey the other side of the city is also a lovely little town with some great restaurants. You can usually take the Dart but that part of the line is closed at the weekend at the moment for upgrade works - I'm not sure until when so you might want to check it out.
Or you could head out to one of the other towns by the sea, Malahide. The Dart line also goes out there. There are loads of bars and restaurants and there is a castle that you can visit (Malahide Castle)
If you want to out in the city centre, the area around Dawson Street has plenty of bars. One of my favourite restaurants is Bang Cafe.....its just off Stephen's green on Merrion row. Prices are pretty good for the quality of the food, and the service is excellent. Again, you would need to book.
DO NOT GO TO TEMPLE BAR - I REPEAT, DO NOT GO!!!!!!!
It is NOT the real Dublin, its an absolute rip off and all you will come across are drunken groups of english people on hen and stag parties!!!! If you want to see it, go during the day when its not so bad.
hth!
ss
xx
Hello!
It's my birthday in September and the OH and I are off on a few nights away. Originally this was going to be somewhere like Barcelona or Prague, but he's just bought a house, I'm saving for one, and they were quite expensive for city breaks.
I've always wanted to go to Dublin, and only happened to mention this at work and everyone starting saying how fantastic it was. I've found some ridiculously cheap flights (including taxes) so just need some help in picking a hotel (a bit special please - it is my birthday after all! :) ) and things to do while we're there.
OH is into photography, so he wants some interesting stuff to photograph, and I like pretty much everything, although I'm not really the sort of person who goes away solely to stay up all night drinking, if that makes sense. I want to see something of the place.
Any recommendations welcome!
Thanks
Answers:
just come back and must warn you it isn't cheap!! we ended up staying at a Days Inn just because everything else was way above what we had budgeted even though we got the cheap flights (would have stayed at the hibernian through work at discount rate but it has closed down for refurbishment)
Jurys Inn looks very nice as did the Gresham hotel
to be honest we wished we had gone to amsterdam/paris/venice/prague instead because of the prices!
actually for what we spent over 3 nights we would have gone back to mandelie la napuole in the south of france which is very very cheap, very hot and picturesque
Answers:
I've stayed at the Gresham and it's not worth the money. Pokey little rooms.
I think Dublin, like everywhere, is as expensive or cheap as you make it. Do the bus tour. Can't remember what it costs but it can take all day as it's a hop on hop off type thing and you get to see everything. I wasn't impressed by the Guinness factory but the Kil???(something - sorry was 2 years ago) jail was well worth the visit. Stay away from Temple Bar area unless you want to pay through the nose and talk to a load of drunken British people. Get on the dart and go out to Hoath (sp?) it's beautiful.
Have fun - i love Dublin:D
Answers:
Kilmainham jail. Yes def worth the visit. As is the Museum of Modern Art which is right beside it and has gorgeous ornamental gardens. Museums in Dublin are all free. (think the jail is about €5-€7)
Food and drink can be expensive, but you can do it cheaper. Lots of places do lunch deals and early bird specials that are really good value. For a special meal this is nice http://www.rolysbistro.ie/irl.htm Good set luches and dinners.
Have never stayed here but its meant to be nice and good value
http://www.bewleyshotels.com/ballsbridge_hotel.asp though its a mile or two from the city centre.
http://www.clarionhotelifsc.com/index.html is more central.
Agree with staying away frm Temple Bar, particularily at night, though it can be nice during the day. Its more expensive for food and drink than other places. Keep an eye out for the pubs around the city that are dropping their prices. A mini price war is starting. (well more like a bunfight at this stage).
http://www.pod.ie/about_mkt.php is great for really good, excellent value food.
Howth is worth the visit.
http://www.dublintourist.com/
If you do decide to come over you will have a ball. But then I am biased. I love my city.
Answers:
I second Havana's recommendation of the Clarion hotel.....not sure what the prices are like but its really nice. Its in a good location too, within walking distance of everything yet just a little bit out of the main hustle and bustle.
Howth is lovely (I'm biased as that's where I'm from and live nearby :D ) There are great views if you go up to the summit (you can take the bus - the 31B goes up there and the 31 goes up on Sundays) and your DH might get some good photos if its a nice day. The Summit pub does pretty decent food and is nice to sit outside on a sunny day. Another scenic place to visit there is the castle at Deer Park. Other nice places to eat are Cibo in the village, or Casa Pasta down on the sea front. If you want a special restaurant to go to in the evening Aqua is really nice (but expensive & you need to book) and the setting is beautiful.....its down at the very end of the pier.
Dalkey the other side of the city is also a lovely little town with some great restaurants. You can usually take the Dart but that part of the line is closed at the weekend at the moment for upgrade works - I'm not sure until when so you might want to check it out.
Or you could head out to one of the other towns by the sea, Malahide. The Dart line also goes out there. There are loads of bars and restaurants and there is a castle that you can visit (Malahide Castle)
If you want to out in the city centre, the area around Dawson Street has plenty of bars. One of my favourite restaurants is Bang Cafe.....its just off Stephen's green on Merrion row. Prices are pretty good for the quality of the food, and the service is excellent. Again, you would need to book.
DO NOT GO TO TEMPLE BAR - I REPEAT, DO NOT GO!!!!!!!
It is NOT the real Dublin, its an absolute rip off and all you will come across are drunken groups of english people on hen and stag parties!!!! If you want to see it, go during the day when its not so bad.
hth!
ss
xx