The Bed and Breakfast System in Ireland- Page 2
The Bed and Breakfast System in IrelandNowadays many B&Bs accept VISA and Mastercard credit cards, and those cards affiliated to these brands. In the last two years the Town and Country Homes Association has encouraged it members to accept credit cards, and many have complied. If you wish to pay by credit card, you should check upon arrival. If the home does not accept cards, they can tell you where to find an ATM from which you can draw cash using your card and PIN.
In July and August, many reputable B&Bs are almost fully booked in advance for many dates. Some evenings we have had to turn away as many as forty people, having already found accommodation in other B&Bs locally for perhaps the same number.
However, you can usually reserve accommodation the evening before, by phoning ahead from the B&B in which you are staying. It might require several phone calls to find a home with the room you want.
For single occupancy, you would expect to pay about IR:5-00 or IR:6-00 more.
In an approved B&B there are not any hidden extras such as taxes, surcharges or extra for full breakfast. Often there are discounts which apply to children under ten years old who share a bedroom with their parents. Often too infants under twentyfour months of age are free of charge. If there is any doubt in your mind, clarify all of these matters before accepting the room.
The only extra charges that should apply are for telephone calls made at your request, for an evening meal or light meal with a separate price agreed, or for laundry done with a price agreed in advance. If you feel that you have been overcharged or are otherwise unhappy about the final cost please feel at ease about complaining in the local tourist office or writing to The Irish Tourist Board setting out the details of your complaint.
In Dublin city and suburbs the basic rates are about IR:4-00 to IR:7-00 more. The same is sometimes found in Cork city.
Single rooms are rare, and should be booked as much in advance as possible. During the peak season, it is especially difficult to get rooms for single persons.
Some B&B homes close to ferryports and airports accept guests on sailings or flights which arrive early in the morning. Those that do so use the term Morning Guests Welcome in their literature.
Where you see this term you will know that special provision can be made for early arriving guests. Some homes may require payment for the preceding night as well as the night of the date of arrival, and then they will keep the room vacant overnight in order to have it free for the incoming guest.
If you want to use this Morning Guests Welcome facility you must agree with the bean-a-tí in advance as to the time of your arrival at her home, and whether you will be served a meal on your arrival.
Some homes which do not offer the Morning Guests Welcome facility will make every effort to convenience early arriving guests who make advance arrangements. You should be conscious that the first priority is to serve breakfasts to the guests of the previous night, and while you will be able to leave your bags into the house, you will definitely not have immediate access to a bedroom. It is highly unlikely that you can take your room until after 11:30 am.
If you want to find out about homes in other areas, listen to the experiences of other guests in the home, and of the bean-a-tí (if the house is to your liking). Aim for homes which they found to be good. Your hosts will be happy to book ahead for you once you have selected the home you want at your next destination. Quite a lot of our business comes from word-of-mouth recommendations, and it is the best way for a satisfied guest to show his appreciation.
The routine of packing and unpacking each evening is a significant chore. We have observed that those of our guests who stay a few days at each of just a few locations are able to enjoy their vacation so much more than those who move every day.
So consider staying at one location for several nights, and use it as a base for exploring the countryside nearby. For this reason, arrive at your new destination early enough to inspect the room and the bed and bathroom especially, and see that the dining room and sitting room also are to your liking. If you don't like what you find, you still have time to move on and seek a better home that evening for your sojourn in the area.
(There is no better way to show a proprietor the high standards that our visitors expect - and are entitled to - than to vote with your feet! If you don't like what you see, explain your concerns to the proprietor, and leave immediately while you still have time to find alternative accommodation.) And if you don't want to speak out your mind, then just politely explain that you have a spinal condition and that the bed is too hard (if it is soft) or too soft (if it is hard).
Pack lightly, and wash as you go. Most bean-a-tí will wash a few things for you if you are staying for several nights - ask after you have settled in, but in plenty of time to allow for drying clothes in inclement weather - at least a full day before you are due to leave. And offer to pay for the service!
This section will be expanded further and we welcome your own tips on how to make your B&B holiday in Ireland more enjoyable and memorable. Thanks to ifjed@nmsua.nmsu.edu for the most recent inputs about clarity of pricing. Here is our email address:
e-mail:
avondoyl@iol.ie