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UK travel

Welcome to our UK travel forum where you can get advice on everything from holidays to exotic destinations, to tips on London travel.

Original poster

Ireland, cheap but clean cottages ?

45 replies

jmpuddleduck · 29/03/2008 10:39

I would like to go to Ireland this year but have a very limited budget, would be looking for a ? cottage for 6 + a baby. Could anyone recommend anywhere please ? Also cheapest way to travel from Scotland ?

OP posts:
DoodleToYou · 29/03/2008 19:44

Message withdrawn

Original poster
jmpuddleduck · 29/03/2008 19:59

I'm not sure, I have never been anywhere in Ireland before,( dh has sailed around the coast), so Iam open to suggestions please.

OP posts:
rosturra · 29/03/2008 20:00

How many children/adults excluding baby??

DoodleToYou · 29/03/2008 20:28

Message withdrawn

roisin · 29/03/2008 20:46

Portmagee cottages are lovely, immaculately presented, and very reasonable rates. We stayed in one a few years ago and are going again this summer.

700 Euros per week in July/August. 4 bedrooms - all double or twin. washing machine/drier, dishwasher etc. It's fab!

roisin · 29/03/2008 20:49

If you shop at Tescos you can use Tesco vouchers to pay for tickets on most of the ferry services.

We are going from Stranraer to Belfast. In August it's costing about £235 return (car + 4 of us), but it only cost £60 in Tesco vouchers iyswim.

Clementine1 · 29/03/2008 20:52

Lots of lovely cottages around - www.discoverireland.ie I'm in IReland so if you want to ask anything specific just ask.

roisin · 29/03/2008 20:59

To get a bargain I would say just avoid the big touristy areas - e.g Killarney, Dublin, ? - and you'll be fine.

We went to Ireland just after we got married 15 yrs ago when we were penniless. We toured round for 2 weeks and stayed in B&Bs. We booked it all beforehand and just chose the cheapest place we could find in each area. It was 15 yrs ago, but even so we were only paying £11 - £13 per night! All except Killarney were fantastic - immaculately clean, spacious, friendly, and all provided huge breakfasts!

roisin · 29/03/2008 21:01

Hi Clem!

Original poster
jmpuddleduck · 30/03/2008 11:48

We will be a party of 2-3 adults (depending on whether dh comes with me and my mum) and 4 children (age 18m - 13 yrs), thankyou for the links, I will have a look. Unfortunately because of where we live I only get to go to Tesco a couple of times a year so I dont earn enough points to get vouchers.

OP posts:
rosturra · 30/03/2008 13:10

We have a lovely little cottage set in the Ballyhoura mountain region. It's a lovely spot with plenty of walks and very very safe for kids.

Blarney Castle is a 40 minute drive away and we are within easy reach of Cork and Shannon airport.

The only thing is the cottage has only 2 bedrooms, a twin and a double. Now we have accomodated a family before,as 2 of the little ones slept on a very comfy sofa bed in the sun room so it is feasible but you might prefer a bigger house.

Anyway it is A LOT cheaper than 700 euro a week( as mentioned before) so if it was something you fancied I can always send you a link to the cottage and we do a discount for mumsnetters.HTH

winniethewino · 30/03/2008 13:13

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

WendyWeber · 30/03/2008 13:27

Welcome Cottages have lots and many are incredibly cheap.

If you can leave it until the last week of Aug prices go down quite a lot and you could have quite a choice at £400 or under, eg have a look at w6129 (put that in the property ref search box) - in Donegal, with sea views, for about £350.

Not sure how much ferry would be - would you have 1 car or 2?

WendyWeber · 30/03/2008 13:35

Just had a look at the Stena website - you could get fastcraft crossings Stranraer-elfast in one car for about £300 round trip - so about £650 all in for the week

TwoToTango · 30/03/2008 13:53

could I have a link please rosturra

rosturra · 30/03/2008 13:55

Hi winniethewino

The link below takes you to the website where we market the house:

www.goireland.com/limerick/ballyhoura-cottage-accommodation-self-catering-id42567.h tm

BUT If you want the mumsnet discount you can e-mail us at:

[email protected]

I've also added the local tourist website below which has lot's of info on the area:

www.ballyhouracountry.com/

rosturra · 30/03/2008 13:56

Hi twototango, I think we were posting at the same time!!!

winniethewino · 30/03/2008 13:56

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

rosturra · 30/03/2008 13:57

I think I missed a letter on that link, this should do it!!!!

www.goireland.com/limerick/ballyhoura-cottage-accommodation-self-catering-id42567.h tm

rosturra · 30/03/2008 13:59

I think the link is going haywire as I post. There should be no space at the end between h and t. I am very untechnical!!!

winniethewino · 30/03/2008 14:00

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

TwoToTango · 30/03/2008 14:00

Is this your cottage. Looks lovely and v reasonable rates

TwoToTango · 30/03/2008 14:02

Ballyhoura

Sazisi · 30/03/2008 14:05

The Gweedore area of Donegal is lovely, lots of beautiful beaches... not sure about cheap cottages though - I'm trying to think of any..

rosturra · 30/03/2008 14:06

Yes that's us!!!! Thanks for those links two to tango!!! Yes, it is a lovely cottage. It belongs to my in-laws and they use it when they come to visit us.