Accomodations, etc., in Republic of Ireland

A couple of friends are coming to visit next month, and they want to do quite the grand tour of Ireland. They're looking for accomodations in Dublin, the area around Tralee and the Dingle Peninsula, and Cork. Anybody have any suggestions?

I think they're barking mad to try to do all of this in nine days, but that's not really my problem!

Elynor, if you don't mind waiting til this evening I'm sure my DH will have some ideas.  Are they looking for hotels or BnB's or do they have any preference?

I have stayed in Isaacs hostel in Dublin before and it seemed nice; also a great location.

Elynor, if you don't mind waiting til this evening I'm sure my DH will have some ideas.  Are they looking for hotels or BnB's or do they have any preference?

No hurry! I'm going to be away the rest of the week anyway. I haven't been told whether they have a preference, but I would guess B&B's. I will relay any and all suggestions and they can make up their own minds!

Kenmare Lodge Hostel is very handy for the Dingle Peninsula and Ring of Kerry.  We booked our room for 50 Euros (private double, ensuite).

Just remembered, does anyone have any opinions on bus vs. train for getting from Dublin to Belfast?

Well, the bus is cheaper, and IIRC, travel time is about the same either way.  The enterprise train service that does the Dublin/Belfast route is pretty nice.  Seats on both the busses and the train are pretty comfortable.  The bus leaves Bus Aras depot in Dublin; the train leaves from Connolly Station.  I think both services end at the Europa in Belfast.  It's been a while since I've done the Belfast/Dublin route, but I think the busses run more services between the two cities than the train.

Are your friends flying into Dublin and then travelling to Belfast?  If so, the bus to Belfast stops fairly often at Dublin airport.  If that's the case, it may save them a trip going into the city center to get the train.

They're flying into Dublin and spending a couple of days there before heading up to Belfast, so I presume they'll be coming from the city centre or thereabouts. Thanks for the info!

In Dublin, Bewley's Hotel is supposed to be really nice, and all rooms are 99 Euro. Any of the hotels in Temple Bar/along the Quays are nice. Can't remember the name of the one I stayed in. There's a Best Western near Heuston that I stayed in -- the people there were really nice, and the room was inexpensive.

In Cork, I stayed in the Royal Hotel, I think. There were lots of nice little hotels in the City Centre.

Discover Ireland and the Irish Tourist Board have a hotel booking service that was invaluable to me while I was there.

If they are flying into Dublin and want to go to Belfast straight from the airport, they want to get on the AirCoach bus to Belfast, it's cheaper than Ulsterbus and more comfortable. It will drop off in front of Jury's hotel (across from the Europa). They won't want to take the train from the airport because that will involve getting a taxi to the train station and a lot of bother they won't need.

If they are staying in Dublin and then going up to Belfast, it will be easier for them to get the Enterprise train from Connolly Station which will take them to Belfast Central Station (across from St Georges Market and the Hilton). It's a comfortable ride (esp if they can take it mid-morning/afternoon on a weekday when it's not so crowded).

They should look at the Irish tourist board and Ireland.com websites for ideas about travel and places to stay in Ireland. Very helpful resources.