When I left Ireland and Northern Ireland at the request of the Office of Tourism to be its ambassador on A World Elsewhere, I agreed to test the well established network of the Association of Bed & Breakfast. Why did I say yes? ... Out of curiosity! Because I do not know. Course at the option of shooting in which I participate I sometimes sleep in private homes, to be received in very remote hotels, luxury or not. Or even sleeping on the deck of a boat or under the porch of the caves under the stars. But I was curious to experience the Bed & Breakfast, with Anglo-Saxon.

I had to spend six nights in Ireland, and I tested four nights in rural as it is, I think, the translation is most suited to this type of accommodation. In Belfast, it is almost impossible task because no Bed & Breakfast is located in the city. So I opted for a city hotel to be at the heart of life. But I reserved my room first before leaving France.

A list of Bed & Breakfast Ireland website available to visitors by first clicking on the county you want and selecting the appropriate city in the Search tab. That's what I did to choose my first step in the county of Donegal.

So I tested the The Arches Country House Donegal Lough Eske, about ten kilometers from the town of Donegal. An address recommended by many local guides. A huge house located above the lake Eske face Bluestack Mountains. A beautiful setting in the morning ... The room with comfortable bed and my first real Irish breakfast (with renowned and strong "traditionnal Irish fry", pictured below) struck me as a good omen. While the affable Noreen proved more talkative when she suddenly realized that I was in Ireland ... to talk about Ireland. She insisted and soon introduced me to another room, bigger, more comfortable still. But with the same view on the lake and the mountains (photo above).

For the next evening, I chose to do as the majority of passengers using this type of accommodation and bet on the unexpected: I did not open the guide provided by the Association of Bed & Breakfast in arriving to, in Westport, County Mayo (no, not like the plan ...). Being subject to acceptance by the owners of the vouchers provided by the association, I went directly to the house that seemed most suited to my needs as it promised the Holy Grail: a WLAN, which had been Closed the day before ... Shortly before 18:00, I rang struck. And have received no response. So I rise in car parking outside the house and I called to hear that not respond immediately, tonight and despite the announcement "vacancy" posted at the entrance, it was impossible for me. Disappointment and frustration.

So I called two other houses, and I was accepted into the farthest from the vibrant downtown Westport, a village about ten minutes by car Sea Breeze. I can not easily summed up my impression: a modest house, but the warm welcome that was not changed when the next morning the lady was told that I was a journalist (which enabled him to understand why I need so much Internet the night before). A tea was offered to me since my arrival in this tiny room with shower stall cold but extremely soft bed, with an electric blanket to make the introduction between the sheets even more enjoyable when the outside temperature drops. If Internet use was possible at low speeds on the PC provided by the nice girl home in the living room, I ate breakfast there at the best scrambled eggs with smoked salmon all my life! A thick salmon, salty, smoking subtle in a region famous for its fishing (photo below). Also note the location of this house by the sea (a road to cross) and a spectacular view (photo top of article).

The next day I had less luck ... with the intention of sleeping in Galway in the county of the same name, and the profusion of available addresses in the guide, I am not unduly worried. But take a few precautions, and after a busy day, I am still assured to arrive early enough to find a room in town to enjoy the nightlife of the pedestrian streets of Galway. At 4:00 p.m. So, I garais in a street near the city center and I called the house that I had spotted the previous night due to small icons indicating the facilities available to: car parking, acceptance of vouchers, and if possible access to the Internet.

I called ... eight houses, one after the other, gradually getting away from downtown. All showed "complete". Three others were not receiving this season, or were just closed, contrary to what was stated in the guide. Two others have not responded despite my repeated calls. And I had long since abandoned any possibility to work on the Internet the same evening.

Not wanting to leave it at that, I tried my luck, striking directly at the door of two other houses crossed my path while trying to leave the city (traffic congestion). Cabbage!

And the rain hit hard on the car, drowning the windshield and my illusions, suddenly bringing me back to reality of my situation: it was 6:00 p.m. ET I had no room for the night. The sign and the avant-garde building a Radisson suddenly standing before me, I decided to jump to false Bed & Breakfast for that night and I went straight to the reception of hotel, leaving my luggage safely in the car. Although I! The hotel and its 284 rooms were sold out! I then asked the question should have been asking for two hours: what's happening in Galway this evening? ... The friendly receptionist confused unable to meet the French replied immediately: an exhibition!

Hmm ... congress, exhibition, show, ... whatever. The town was overrun with visitors and could not accommodate one more. I joined the steering wheel of my car and grabbed the Lonely Planet, the source of all the satisfactions of the wayfarer. After a look at the Michelin map and a vague recollection that I calculated the mileage the day before, I felt it was better to go back as soon as possible to the next stage of my journey brought me back to the North Sligo (County of the same name). Exasperated, hungry, tired and upset, I chose the only hotel that seemed worthy of the challenge of my impatience and my frustration: I needed the solid comfort of a home at all hours and possibly a restaurant in the establishment. After a quick call and (finally!) Meeting, I started pouring rain to swallow the 149 miles that still separated me from my bed ...

As a precaution and to respect the commitment I made to promote as much as possible the network of Bed & Breakfast, I called the next morning two or three houses to make a reservation before leaving the hotel Sligo. And since I had to join the Northern Ireland, I opted for the Arch House Tullyhona near Enniskillen in County Fermanagh.

I was not too difficult to locate the house, thanks to signs that are still very present in the middle of the road signs. This large house that looks to provide visitors rooms of children who left the family nest is recommended by various local and international guides including the famous Backpacker. Located near a tourist attraction and Geologically, the Marble Arch Caves, it is nestled in a region highly undulating green. If you like the campaign, visit Fermanagh!

I've never seen a room as blue as ... "... or so silky! ... A room buried under silk and satin, pale blue, a girl frenzy of the past century. The smiling hostess provides brochures upon arrival in the region and indicates that the dinner will be served from 18:30. Because, yes, for tonight I chose a house which also offers dinner. After a quick shower in a very nice bathroom (still dominant but blue Greek style this time), I enjoy going down the river trout served with an assortment of mashed carrots, cabbage and mashed potatoes. Simple, but delicious. The dessert, a pavlova served with a brandy sorbet nut is frozen ... and deserved to be based more in the kitchen before I made. Especially as I swap in a third type of dialogue with a charming retired Royal Air Force who told me his only trip to Paris after the Second World War before opening his shirt to show me the scar above his valiant , all in a pure English diction of British crossbred worthy of the 79 spring have difficulty making themselves understood ...

A pleasant surprise is that I managed to connect without the will on the wifi network from home without leaving my room blue, the PC on the knees and under the clouds of muslin air which adorns the canopy bed. The breakfast the next morning is no surprise, scrambled eggs with smoked salmon were much smoother and more generous in the modest home in Westport, but I am here homemade stewed, no sugar added ...

And as the owner of another house deemed Lough Eske Donegal, once they understand that I will talk about his establishment, the lady drags me to another room, larger bathroom with a larger well. Whatever, I liked the amazing blue room that has the merit of the character even if the new overlooks the garden and not on the backyard as the Blue Room.

By cons, it is kind of worrying about my next night and I told him that taking a plane for Paris the next morning, I plan to sleep in a bed and breakfast near the airport. She then noted that this weekend is a holiday and hotels in Belfast should sell out ... The specter of another arduous search is looming on the horizon, so until it takes the direction of the authority operations.

She suggested a house at 5 km from the airport, I can accept it immediately phoned the owner she called by his first name and the case is conducted smoothly: before leaving his house extremely crowded whole bunch of ornaments and miscellaneous objects, my reservation for the night is provided in a house with an excellent reputation assures me it. And I heard her add, "the lady is a journalist!". What I would almost want to cancel the booking to go towards more anonymous ... But his approach left a good feeling and I am grateful for giving me the boost needed to free myself of this concern before able to resume flying to Belfast.

As at the end of this trip to Ireland I am trying to locate my last step, I am obliged to call to succeed in finding the Keef Halla Country House. A courteous gentleman was kind enough to reassure me, first, to be precise and then to direct me to his house which is located beside a main road that leads straight to the airport. It's 19:30, I am exhausted and have only one desire: to go to bed.

Fortunately, the home is discreet but effective, it helps me carry my bags and the owner, big brown slim and elegant, kindly offers me a tea or coffee. Seeing my hesitation, and my face drawn?, It suggests a camomile. This evening will be old lady, I opted for chamomile I am sipping quietly from the bathroom clear and functional room, large comfortable and elegant, without additional decoration stifling. Here, I feel more at ease and I soon understood why: so close to the airport, it is probably the target business customers enjoying the kettle, cookies, ironing facilities costume the next day, and especially the office with all the electrical outlets in the right place, for the sake of maximum efficiency!

And I do not mean the Internet access to wireless network indicating a connection as soon as I start my PC to download my photos of the day ...

A very comfortable bed, a bathroom appreciable space for everyone since I have not been disturbed by promiscuity of others, and a breakfast served in the beautiful porcelain white starched table immaculate, with a pitcher of fresh orange juice for myself and trim of the traditional breakfast, rich and for the first time with a fried egg cooked to perfection, served in a wide veranda with discretion and attention to detail of master of the house carefully, and here I am again ready to vote for this type of accommodation!

Especially when the gentleman in question kindly help me to carry my suitcase into the trunk of my car before you tell me precisely the direction of the airport.

I should note here that if the tourist office I suggested this type of accommodation, nobody asked me to write a specific article on Bed & Breakfast is a personal initiative. And it seemed interesting to talk for once on this blog about the homestay, as it is indeed that. If I gave each of these houses, not to offer them promotion, they probably do not need me for that. By cons I found it difficult to talk about each of their specificity without naming them, without locating them. And I find it hard to separate them.

My first recommendation, if you want to try the Bed & Breakfast Ireland, is not too much to adventure counting on luck or on last minute bookings. For my part, if I repeat the experience, I would reserve in advance every night, from my home, so you do not have the desire to find a room every night, significantly cutting your phone bill and eliminate the stress of not knowing where to sleep the same evening.

Moreover, and while I agree that this type of accommodation may facilitate dialogue between the visitor and the host that receives the B & Bs seem to be more frequented by a clientele and a couple age is not yet mine. As a couple, or family, is undoubtedly the preferred housing to feel almost at home. The formalities are kept to a minimum (one phone call to book) and you pay voucher in most of them, allowing you to control your budget.

By cons do not favor one type of housing for persons moving without means of transport staff: the rooms are rarely located in the center of town, or they are booked well in advance, and other rare houses are offering dinner on site. What compels you, after settling into your room before 19:00, to drive out to between one to ten or fifteen miles along the sea, lakes or mountains, to find something you eat decently. And if you happen to arrive late and it is a bed & breakfast really isolated, I recommend you stop at a fast food so you do not have to come out then ... If you arrive after 19 : 00, it must still take into consideration the fact that you have received (e) in the head and is courteous not to behave like in a hotel where anonymity can often happen and from unconditional.

Finally, I would say it is not a mode of accommodation for travel professionals: if you need to call in the evening or have an internet connection, go your way. In the countryside, few rooms connected to the network. And in the first house I did not even have access to my ISP local SFR.

So, in conclusion, I support the Bed & Breakfast if you're on holiday, you're a couple or family, you have a means of locomotion own and you do not consider it a disadvantage to have to highlight each evening the house looking for you to feed elsewhere. If you are traveling for professional reasons, prefer the hotel, easy to arrive at any hour, on-site restaurant or in the same street, the electrical connections made available in rooms, telephone access and the Internet.

And if you've already tried this type of accommodation, I'd be curious to read your feedback! ...

Article sponsored by Blogrider

Keywords: Ireland

This article was published June 30, 2008 at 8 h 02 min in the category Europe . Follow the RSS comments.