Hotels

Ireland: Emerald Isle’s Best Hotels and Inns

Story Published on December 9, 2008 ⋅  Email this Story ⋅  Print this Story ⋅ Post a comment ⋅

Ireland, though split politically into the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, is truly one romantic, mysterious being at heart. Filled with castles, ancient churches and spectacular scenery, travelers easily can fill a two-week vacation with enough memories and stories to last a lifetime.

Your journey might begin in Dublin, a beautiful city full of quaint, historic charm. Dublin is a perfect spot for exploring on foot, and driving here is not recommended so save your rental car for trips out of the city. Museums, historic sites and, of course, the Guinness Brewery await guests to the Republic of Ireland’s capitol city. From there, you can head north up to the coast and the attractions of Northern Ireland and Belfast, or perhaps head south and enjoy the Killarney Lakes or take a trip to Blarney Castle.

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.

Surrounded by acres of parkland, which includes a ruined Norman Church, a stay at Ballaghtobin is a bit like staying at a friend’s posh country estate. The ivy-covered inn offers three charming guest rooms, each with a private bathroom. The Sun Room is a delightful place to relax and enjoy the scenery. Ballaghtobin, which is located in County Kilkenny, was named by Karen Brown readers as Ireland’s “Greatest Value.”

If money is no object, or you just wish to treat yourself, consider The Merrion, a five-star hotel in Dublin, next to the Irish House of Parliament. The elegant rooms are spread among two buildings, the historic main house and the garden wing. The accommodations range from a 2,200-square-foot penthouse with a rooftop hot tub to spacious guest rooms with king-size beds and views of the city or hotel gardens. The hotel’s spa offers massage treatments, a swimming pool and a fully equipped fitness center. There are two restaurants and a cozy pub; the Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud is the only two-star Michelin restaurant in Ireland. With all this to recommend it, Karen Brown readers voted The Merrion as Ireland’s best “Splendid Splurge.

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