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Doolin Hotels – Three Best Hotels In Doolin Ireland
May 31, 2010
Doolin hotels have endeavored to compete with the larger hotels that are now becoming the norm in the west of Ireland. The three hotels short-listed here represent some of the best accommodation in the area with splendid view and great food to savor.
The Aran View Hotel is one of the more traditional country manor style hotels in Doolin. The main attraction to the hotel for many guests will be the panoramic views of the Aran Islands that the hotel has from its hill top location overlooking Doolin.
As befits a genuine Georgian country house, the guest rooms are spacious with high ceilings and the recent renovations have raised the standard of the en-suites to a more contemporary style and quality. The hotel restaurant has a superb menu of Irish dishes, with a-la-carte options, and the family-friendly bar hosts traditional music sessions in summer to entertain the guests.
Within a short walk of Doolin village the Ballyvara Guest House Hotel is a modern build hotel which has a great mix of rooms including twin, double, family rooms, luxury suites and studio apartments.
All rooms are appointed with modern amenities with the luxury suites also having spa baths and king size beds. The 2 studio apartment have their own kitchenette making them perfect for families and groups wishing to partake of self-catering. The addition of a pool room and tennis courts which can be used by all guests means there is no end to the number of activities nearby.
The Tir Gan Ean is one of the newer styles of hotels in Doolin that mixes traditional Celtic architecture with modern creature comforts. The hotel has an almost boutique feel to its twelve spacious rooms that all feature under-floor heating, modern en-suite bathrooms, plasma TVs and broadband connectivity.
The hotel’s own restaurant and bar has a good mix of Irish and European style dishes available. In the mornings, the breakfast buffet is also surprising given the huge range of choices on offer with everything from scrambled eggs with salmon to pancakes and maple syrup (a breakfast rarity in Irish terms).
In many Doolin hotels and guest houses, visitors can expect to experience a warm friendly welcome along with some spectacular scenic views. This brief list brings a small selection of the hotels in Doolin that are rightly popular for providing comfort and modern amenities against the back-drop of this lovely Irish town.
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Five Best Hotels In Doolin Ireland
April 28, 2010
Accommodation options in Doolin hotels, guest houses and bed & breakfasts can vary considerably. This part of the west of Ireland is a little off the beaten track so the larger hotel chains have not yet moved into the town. This list pulls together great hotel options which combine comfortable rooms, great views and dining.
The town of Doolin has long been a destination point for tourists either heading over to the Aran Islands (on the Doolin ferry) or there to enjoy the traditional music that is played in Doolin’s bars. In either case, the following hotels are certainly worth the visit while in this part of County Clare.
Aran View Hotel: This 3-star hotel on the outskirts of the village has 19 spacious rooms. The hotels Atlantic sea views are visible from most rooms. The hotel has several dining options, from a la carte and regular menus in the dining room to the wholesome pub fare available in the bar.
The Ballyvara Guest House: Closer to town, this modern 4 star guest house has all rooms kitted out with modern amenities such as plasma TVs and marble en-suite bathrooms. Additionally, the variety of double, family and studio room choices provides great flexibility for any type of travel group.
Tir-Gan-Ean House Hotel: This newly built 4 star hotel is very modern in its architecture, room designs and facilities. Of particular note is the huge variety of breakfasts this is included (omelettes, banana bread, smokehouse salmon, etc).
Sheedys Country House Hotel: Further out of town, in the Burren region, lies this homely family-run hotel. Each room has been individually designed with modern conveniences. This is an ideal base from which to visit the Burren.
Logues Liscannor: Heading further afield (slightly) the Logues hotel is a pleasant option when visiting this picturesque fishing village. Rooms have great views of the bay and the hotel bistro restaurant and bar have a friendly relaxed atmosphere.
Many Doolin hotels would not be out of place in the larger Irish cities given the range of 3 and 4 star accommodation on offer. Any of the five hotels above would make a great destination for both short and extended holidays.
For more information about restaurants, entertainment and hotels in Doolin visit our website at http://doolinhotelsguide.com/doolin-ireland-information
The Top 5 Resorts And Locations For Golf Holidays In Portugal
April 17, 2010
It is never going to be easy to single out five special golf courses in any one country. Compiling such a list for Portugal is made even more difficult due to the huge range and styles of courses on offer.
This list reflects five great courses that are enjoyable to play as much for their beautiful scenery as for their range of game play and quality of fairways and greens. Each one could provide a memorable highlight to any golf holiday in Portugal.
On a hot summer’s day the 6000 yard Estoril course is an enjoyable treat. The course requires skill around the 18 holes to navigate the well placed bunkers and difficult rough.
The Penha Longa course is finally playing host to the Portugal Open (in 2010) so has been receiving some recent modifications to tighten up the course design. Amateurs will enjoy the scenery around the course as some holes play through ancient ruins.
The south course in Quinta do Lago is the more mature of the two courses available to play at this resort. Some holes prove challenging due to the stark Atlantic Ocean breeze, while other holes are sheltered by lush vegetation and forestry. Given the courses maturity, the greens play exceptionally true and fast as one would expect.
The Oitavos Golf Club is a well architected course that makes the most of the surrounding countryside. It has played host to the Open and as a result the front nine and back nine holes require long tee shots and accurate second shots in order to avoid the bunkers that are dotted around most greens.
No trip to the Algarve would be complete without playing the Vale da Pinta. This is an interestingly designed course that is embedded within a natural valley. The fairways undulations make for some odd bounces which some would deem unfair but this does aid golfers playing short off the tee.
Given the range of courses in Portugal, and the proliferation of clubs in the Algarve, a top 5 list of courses will always be quite subjective. Hopefully this list gives you food for thought about your next golf break.
Looking for European golfing breaks? For the perfect golf holiday Algarve, Estoril and the other Portuguese regions have it all. Visit the Golf Holidays In Portugal Guide to learn more.
Doolin Hotels, Restaurants And Pub Menus – Four Recommend Places For Seafood Lovers
April 14, 2010
It is probably true to say that Irish cuisine is perceived globally as being bland. Thankfully, the wave of immigrants that helped buoy up the Celtic Tiger economy have also brought with them an appreciation of European, Asian and World cuisine that has prompted a restaurant boom.
Even the smaller towns and villages around Ireland are benefiting from this rise in restaurant numbers as each village sees the value this provides to local tourism.
One town of particular note, in gastronomic terms, is Doolin in the west of Ireland. For many years, visitors were only in Doolin for the traditional music sessions or to get the ferry over to the Aran Islands. But nowadays, Doolin hotels, pubs and restaurant are raising the standard of dining for the entire region.
In the village sits Cullinan’s restaurant. Their menu focuses on using the seafood & shellfish caught and delivered daily from the local harbor. The overall feel of the menu is one of classic Mediterranean spices and flavor combinations that complement the fish and legumes used.
A fine dining experience is available at Ballinalacken Castle Country House Hotel and Restaurant. Indeed there is a wonderful blend of the plush dining room dcor, the exquisite food, the panoramic views of Galway Bay and all set with the backdrop the 15th century castle which forms the backdrop to the hotel and restaurant.
Family groups in search of a no-fuss option will find the Aran View House Hotel restaurant a pleasing option. Diners can choose from the formal a la carte menu in the main dining room, the standard menu or the bar menu in the hotel bar. The style of good suits the country house dcor and is more traditionally Irish with stews, roasts and seafood options throughout.
Any visitor to Doolin should not however miss out on hearing some of the best traditional music sessions that this town is famous for. The best places to experience this is in the two main bars on the main street, McGann’s and O’Connor’s pubs. Both also provide regular hearty pub fare with the local seafood chowder being a firm favorite along with the obligator Irish stew.
Given that Doolin is a small Irish village in a relatively remote region, it is great to see the town has raised its game and now provides enough dining-out options to cater for families, couples and singletons seeking good quality locally sourced food. While it may never take Kinsale’s crown as the culinary capital, it will certainly be considered in the top 3.
Discover Doolin Ireland for yourself. For more information visit the Doolin Hotels Guide website.
An Introduction To Portuguese Golfing Regions
March 29, 2010
The Western European country of Portugal has been a favorite golfing destination for Europeans for many decades. Golfers from outside Europe will naturally be drawn to the surrounding countries of Spain (for the weather and championship courses) and the British Isles (for the rich golfing heritage) but it is perhaps time to give Portugal a second look.
In the past thirty years the Portuguese golfing industry has really taken off and is finally maturing with a number of regions containing excellent golf resorts and a high caliber of courses to play.
The main golfing holiday regions are centered on the Lisbon region in the south west, the Algarve region in the south, the island of Madeira and the Oeste region.
The Portuguese capital Lisbon and the Estoril coast provide a good mix of golf courses combined with the range of accommodation, dining and entertainment on offer in the capital. The IAGTO voted the region (in 2007) as the best European golfing destination. Highlights include the mature Aroeira golf club, the Penha Longa championship course, the tough links at Troia and the region’s most famous course – the windswept Praia d’El Rey.
The Algarve region, on the south coast of Portugal, offers the broadest range of courses to play and for many is the ideal base for a golf vacation. The western part faces onto the Atlantic Ocean so provides some great links courses to challenge any golfer (such as the Boavista golf club and the scenic hillside Parque Da Floresta course).
Of all its areas, the courses and range of hotels around Vilamoura are some of the most popular – quite justifiably given the beauty of the region and standard of courses and hotels that are available.
The island of Madeira is something different in terms of golf holidays Portugal has on offer. Its location, 500 kilometers west of the Portuguese coast in the Atlantic Ocean, is something that could put some golfers off.
The islands 3 clubs are all located in stunning hillside locations with steep cliffs marking out-of-bounds on a number of holes and it is this rugged scenery that shapes the architectural design of each course. If you want to play a broad range of golf then Madeira may not be the place for you. However, if you only intend playing a little golf in unique surroundings then this island could suit you.
Finally, the Oeste region marks a more recent golfing area which doesn’t yet boast the range of golf seen elsewhere, but what it lacks in championship clubs it makes up for in tranquil scenic countryside and charming villages. Of all the regions it is also the one place where a number of new courses are springing up with future developments expected in Sizandro Village, Vimeiro, Paimogo, Falsia del Rey and the Rainha Golf and Spa.
The cost of green fees is quite variable. For good quality golf green fees at 50 minimum for a round of golf. The average cost for 18 holes though would be closer to 75 to 90 a round.
Generally, a round of golf can be booked online with many courses and there are now various service providers online offering this tee times booking service, sometimes at a discount to the ‘turn-up’ fee (cost if you just walked in for a round).
Looking for European golfing breaks? For the perfect golf holiday Algarve, Estoril and the other Portuguese regions have it all. Visit the Golf Holidays In Portugal Guide to learn more.