Town Homes are located around major towns and on the outskirts of city centers near public transportation, shopping, and cultural centers and concert halls. These homes usually range from detached and semidetached houses to period residences.

Country Homes located in the country and remote areas. These houses, tend to be more relaxing, quiet and convey a sense of charm. These homes range from modern to period residents.

• Family homes will have one to six bedrooms.
• Most bedrooms are en suite these days but some houses have standard rooms available.
• A full Irish Breakfast is included in the room rate.
• Rarely will you find rooms that will have coffee/tea makers, TV's or direct dial phones but some do.
• Most houses are season, only opening for select months of the year.

Part of a working or retired farm. House types range from modern to period houses. Some have been in the family for generations. Farming ranges from dairy cows, export cattle, hogs, sheep and poultry as well as grain crops such as wheat, corn/maize, hops and sometimes varieties of flowers.

Farmhouse stays can be very educational for children, especially during calving season.

• Farmhouses are a cross between family homes and guesthouses. They will have more rooms than family homes but less services than guesthouses.
• They operate under the same premise as family homes.
• A "full Irish or Farmhouse Breakfast" is included in the room rate.
• Dinners can be provided with advanced notice for a small fee.
• Often times you will find a retired farm has opened a full restaurant on site where only an evening reservation is required.
• Houses can also be seasonal like family homes.

Large scale B&Bs with a minimum of six sleeping rooms. These houses are often purpose-built these days but you will also find period houses.

Guesthouses also operate under a similar rating system as hotels, though some to remain unclassified to maintain their B&B atmosphere and charm. Guesthouses also have more amenities than a regular B&B.

• "Full Irish breakfast" or a made to order breakfast are standard.
• Dinners can be provided with advanced notice for a small fee.
• Often times you will find a retired farm has opened a full restaurant on site where only an evening reservation is required.
• More amenities are available, such as TV's, direct dial phones and hairdryers all in room.
• Often on private acreage.
• Operate under a 1-4 star rating similar to hotels, some are considered small hotels.

Hotels come in about as wide a variety as bed and breakfasts ranging from from old-world inns to luxurious castles to stately manor houses and the more common modern hotel.

Hotels offer two room types...room only and B&B.

Room Only means the rate you are quoted is for room only. Breakfast is available in the hotel restaurant at regular restaurant rates. Tax and services charges may also apply.
B&B Rates mean that full Irish breakfast is included in the rate. Your room tax will also be included.

• All offer full hotel amenities including coffee/tea makers, TV's, direct dial phones, hairdryers, valet service or in-room presses and are fully en suite.
• Many 3-5 star hotels offer some form of leisure facilities.
• Hotels operate under a five-star rating system.
• Offer a dual rating system as above, Room Only or B&B Rates.
• Offer full service restaurants as well as pubs or bars.
• Some offer evening entertainment including traditional Irish music and dance.

Reservations can be made many ways...(**see notes below)

1. by calling the accommodation directly yourself,
2. by having a travel agent book rooms for you,
3. through the Irish Tourist Board/Bord Failte
4. through a central reservations service (CRS) for hotel chains or services like Gulliver
5. Or, preferably, you can book through All Ireland Travel.

** 1) Keep in mind that there are long distance phone charges that will apply. Check your carrier for rates before phoning.

** 2) Travel agents will rarely book B&Bs and smaller accommodations because there is no commission offered.

** 3) The ITB/BF will charge you up to 20% deposit for booking rooms. This is actually a they're commission imposed on the accommodation. If you need to cancel your accommodation this "deposit" will be non refundable to you and non-transferable.

** 4) A CRS for a hotel chain is a good option for booking because you have the option of chosing from a number of hotels under that hotels ownership/management. The CRS also has a commission charge of up to 20% as well. Keep in mind that there may be long distance charges to phone from where you are. Be sure to get a confirmation number and directions on booking. Also be SURE of the cancellation policy as they may have strict rules for this, or non-refundable deposits.

** 5) All Ireland Travel is the best option for booking your accommodations because we have a more personal report with the accommodation than a larger booking service would have. Often times we've stayed with the accommodation so can give you our personal experiences. We only book ITB/BF approved accommodations so you know that wherever we suggest will meet or exceed government set standards. And if we recommend an accommodation you know that it exceeds OUR standards. We are not a free service however. Being a non-commission based service we have a small 10% service charge, which is non-refundable, which covers our expenses for placing your booking.

NOTES ON HANDLING YOUR OWN BOOKING
If you are booking your own reservations it won't hurt to confirm your reservation by posting a letter of intent to the accommodation and them asking for a confirmation letter to be sent to you in reply. Be sure to include your name, dates of your stay and contact number. If you gave your credit card number over the phone it is only necessary to note which card you gave in your letter but not the number. If you are required to submit a deposit be sure to complete the check including either the accommodations name or the owners name.
Please note: It's courtesy to add 5% on top of your country's currency to cover the cost of the foreign exchange in Ireland.

** If you're booking well in advance, a call to the accommodation to confirm the reservation is strongly advisable. Do this about a week before arrival.

THE TRAVEL SEASON
April through October are excellent months to see Ireland. From April you will see the Spring growth, attractions are open and fresh for the season, and getting around is easier as kids are still in school and this is not family travel season. Up to October you will see the change in colors to Autumn colors, kids have gone back to school so traveling around is easier than in summer, and attractions are still open until the end of the month.

Traditionally the first half of May has the best weather days of the season. The last two weeks in June are the longest days of the year so sightseeing at night is ideal.

July and August is peak travel season for Ireland and it is highly recommended that you book your stay prior to arrival to avoid long lines at tourist offices or having to make numerous calls yourself once in Ireland. While there are those that prefer to travel "on the fly" (booking rooms as you go each day) in peak travel season you will find rooms scarce in many areas including highly popular areas such as Dublin, Cork, Killarney, Galway and Belfast. Dublin in particular is extremely busy in August as over half a million EU students come to Ireland to learn English that month.

CHECK IN AND CANCELLATIONS
Check-in times are after 2pm and before 6pm.

• If you are going to be later than 6pm you are required to phone the accommodation as soon as possible to let them know when you will be in. Do this BEFORE 6pm.
• Most of the smaller accommodations are family run, so it's much appreciated to arrive before 6pm so that the innkeepers can spend the evening time with their families and tend to personal business.
• Keep in mind that your innkeeper is also the one making your breakfast and needs to be up in the early hours to prepare, which means getting to bed early, so try to arrive no later than 10pm when possible.
• If you are arriving into the location earlier than 2pm you can certainly drop your luggage at the house then go off to see the sights. Your luggage will be put into your room when it's ready. If the innkeeper has a spare set of keys available, he/she will tell you your room number that way you can come back later when you're ready without having to be there before 6pm.
• This is only required on the day of check in. If you are staying more than one night you can come and go at will.

Check-out times are generally no later than 11am. Late check-outs can be arrange but prepare to pay at least a half day charge.

Cancellations vary between accommodations so be sure to ask when booking the room. If you're required to post a deposit be SURE that you adhere to the rules of that accommodation if you want a refund. While it's not necessary to send a letter of cancellation it would be wise to do so. If there is a deposit made to the room and there is a problem getting the refund it will help to have documentation. It would not hurt to have the cancellation policy in writing as well. Innkeepers can often times fax the details to you.

Prices are based a per person sharing based on double occupancy. There is supplemental charge for single travelers of about 25%.

Children under ten years old and Old Age Pensioners (OAP)/Seniors get a discount in room rates of 10-25% depending on the season.

ROOM DEFINITIONS
Single - A room with one single/twin size bed in it. Or a double room sold for one person
Double - A room with one double/full/queen size bed in it.
Family - A room with one double/full/queen size bed plus either one or two single/twin size beds in it.
Twin - A room with two single/twin size beds in it.
Triple - A room with three single/twin size beds in it.

Standard rooms - This is just a room. There is a full bathroom on the floor with your room but is shared with other guests.
En Suite room - This refers to rooms that have a full private bathroom in the room.
Please note that we try to book en suite rooms where possible. If none are available we consult with the client before booking.

If you have further questions not covered here please refer to our FAQ page. If the answers you're looking for are not there, feel free to email us and we'll try to answer your questions.