Choosing accommodation for your stay in Ireland can be tricky. Visitors are faced with a host of options, from top-notch hotels in old castles to hostels in dark back alleys, from modern apartments to gypsy caravans. And then there is always the famed Irish B&B (short for Bed & Breakfast) ... the choice is yours, but what should you consider?
Unless you are pre-booking a tour you will have to decide how to spend your nights in Ireland. Of course a lot will depend on your budget.
Bed & Breakfast
Bed & Breakfast (B&B) is the great Irish tradition of staying for a night or two in a private house. You will get a room and a breakfast in the morning, all in fairly close contact with the hosts. Though this is in no way a "stay as a family guest" you will still meet family members (and pets), getting a glimpse of Irish life.
Bed & Breakfasts can be found everywhere in Ireland, even the smallest village usually has one. Tax-friendly and uncomplicated regulations make renting out a spare room an attractive proposal. This also means that the industry is largely unregulated and that B&Bs can vary dramatically in standard. Owners can apply for a semi-official rating from the Tourist Board but even this should be taken with a pinch of salt. The best idea is to have a look at the B&B and decide on the spot - though this is not always possible in the busy summer months when advance booking is advisable. Having said that I have to add that over the years I have only ever once left a B&B as being simply not acceptable - and that was due to the overbearing landlady which made Mother Bates look normal. All other B&Bs were of different standard but acceptable for an overnight stay.
What can you expect from a B&B then? Your room will be furnished with a bed, a wardrobe and maybe chest of drawers, usually a chair can be found as well. If the accommodation is en-suite you will have an adjoining private bathroom - otherwise you may have to share. Most B&Bs will have a small tray with a water kettle, tea and instant coffee. Likewise a TV in the room is becoming the norm (though you may only receive three channels). Small comforts all and all, but comfortable most of the time. All rooms should come with extra blankets for cold nights and towels.
The breakfast part of a B&B usually is a "Full Irish Breakfast" (or the similar "Ulster Fry"). This will consist of fried eggs, fried bacon, fried sausages, fried puddings plus maybe fried tomatoes and fried mushrooms. Accompanied by toast (sometimes fried in butter), marmalade and tea or coffee. If you cannot face so many fried ingredients in a breakfast talk to your host, most will be happy to accommodate you and switch for a light breakfast of muesli and fruit. Should you need a special diet check this out before checking in - preferably before booking.
If you are staying in one B&B for a few days, most landladies will be happy to do some washing for you (a gratuity would be expected).
Guesthouses
Guesthouses are somewhere between large B&Bs and Hotels with more anonymity than the former and less sleek professionalism than the last. Room comfort is comparable to B&Bs and service to small hotels.
Hotels
Hotels obviously come in all shapes and sizes and a general rating is impossible. From converted Georgian houses in Dublin to purpose-built structures in the suburbs, from former farmhouses to international chains you will find everything.
One general rule to bear in mind is room size - the older or more "traditional" a hotel is, the smaller the rooms are likely to be. Conditions in smaller hotels can be cramped. The more modern hotels will usually have larger rooms.
