Cigarettes and Alcohol...and Rollerblading

Advantages: A quite unique hillwalking experience...
Disadvantages: ...which is both a blessing and a curse

...a disapproving eye across the multiple misdemeanours committed on the road network. Radio Kerry even does the death announcements immediately after the 9am news and weather...'well, we do love a good requiem mass' as my landlady put it. But indisputably the biggest symbol of the Catholic faith is the one that rears 2510ft into the air on the Mayo coast near the town of Westport: quite possibly the most brazen landmark on the whole Emerald Isle...Ireland's Holy Mountain, St Patrick's Stack. Native Irish speakers know it as Cruach Phádraig. The majority know it as Croagh Patrick. And to one expatriate Englishman (sorry Dave), it's 'that fecking Reek'. The First Golden Cleric You'd have thought that 'being Welsh' would constitute a crippling obstacle on the path to 'becoming patron saint of Ireland'. But Maewyn Succat was made of sterner stuff...

greenierexyboy 28.02.2009 · Read review
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Review of Croagh Patrick, Westport, Ireland

Brilliant reviews for Boutique hotels

Advantages: Lots of honest reviews on interesting hotels
Disadvantages: Hotels can be quite expensive to stay at

...you can find your card. If it is not there (because you might have bought it second hand or someone might have stolen it!) then you can send your proof of purchase to the address supplied in order to receive another card. There is then a contents page which shows which regions they feature in all four countries (England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland) and the names of the hotels in each region. On the opposite page is a map which shows the location of all the hotels. On the next 2 pages there is an ?At a glance? section where it breaks the hotels down into several different categories including room rates, number of rooms, coastal retreats, spa stays and great gastronomy. This is good if you are looking for something specific from your get away because you can skip directly to the page without having to read about each hotel first...

wolfey59 20.09.2009 · Read review
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Review of Mr. and Mrs. Smith - UK & Ireland Hotel Collection - Juliet Kinsman

Doubletree, Hilton quality at affordable prices.

Advantages: Beautiful, clean hospitable hotel, bargain price
Disadvantages: Cant think of any

...I stayed here for 5 days in late November 2008. I would definately recommend. Doubletree is a Hilton hotel and you get what you expect from that brand here. There was a shuttle service from St Louis Airport, which was free, the car park was also free and they bake delicious fresh cookies behind the front desk, which they hand out liberally, also FREE. There was also an ATM machine and small selection of drinks, snacks and toiletries you could purchase. There was a nice bar with widescreen tv and very comfortable sofas and chairs. The was also a restaurant although I didnt use it. I booked through the American Airlines website ( AAdvantage members) and got the luxury room for $80 a night, which was around £45 based on the exchange rate when I booked which is outstanding for the hotel of this calibre. I was there over Thanksgiving...

lavender43 04.01.2009 · Read review
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Review of Doubletree Hotel St. Louis at Westport, Saint Louis

Irelands hidden treasure

Advantages: Stunning scenery, good craic, not touristy
Disadvantages: Slightly inaccessible

...When you think of holidays in Ireland, what do you think of? The beautiful green farmlands of Tipperary, the dramatic peaks and lake-pools of the Ring of Kerry, angling in the River Shannon, or enjoying the craic in the vibrant capital city Dublin? All of these are undoubtedly staples of an Irish holiday, but if you?re looking for something a bit more different ? why not try County Donegal? In my opinion, County Donegal has the most spectacular scenery in the whole of Ireland: hundreds of miles of coastline with the highest sea-cliffs in Europe, beautiful beaches, and inland there are rivers, glens and bogland hills, not to mention the more barren ?moonlike? stretches of Connemara. The Rough Guide to Ireland raves about the country?s second largest county saying: ?the demonically daunting peninsulas of the northern reaches are...

Maia 14.06.2003 · Read review
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Review of Donegal (Ireland)

The Culloden Hotel - N.Irelands only 5 star hotel

Advantages: Classy, beautiful surroundings and pure opulance
Disadvantages: Expensive and outside Belfast City.

...Set in beautiful gardens and forest the Culloden hotel is the only hotel in Northern Ireland which has gained 5 stars. An ideal place to stay for those who want to be pampered and stay in luxury. The rooms are classy with differing levels of luxury from double rooms with 4 poster beds to full luxury suites. I found the level of service exemplary , the staff always helpful and smiling, all giving you a feeling of relaxing in great comfort in surroundings that made you feel totally at home. The food in the restaurent was superb - near Michelen star level and the hotel bar was welcoming with good local musicians playing nightly. The atmosphere was one of relaxing in opulance. The only downside was that the hotel was about 8 miles from Belfast - fine if you wanted to stay in the hotel relaxing in the spa and being pampered but if you wanted...

cmarshall123 20.03.2006 · Read review
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Review of Culloden Hotel, Belfast

The Strand Palace Hotel

Advantages: Central location, clean
Disadvantages: Food, rooms

...We stayed at this hotel in London a little over a month ago now for two nights, we chose this hotel mainly because of the central location and because it was only a ten minuite walk from the show we had booked to go too. Check in was very quick - About ten minuites and the staff at the reception seemed very friendly. My first thoughts on the hotel was that it looked really clean and that it was nicely decorated and it looked modern. I was a little dissapointed with our room as it was very small and basic, our room had a double bed, tea and coffee making facilities, a tv with satellite and a small, basic en suite bathroom with a shower. The views from our room very very poor - A block of offices which made our room dark as they were so close. The hotel has two bars and two resturaunts, the bars were again nicely decorated...

kate44 03.05.2007 · Read review
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Review of The Strand Palace Hotel, London

The REAL Ireland

Advantages: Leprechauns, guinness, arse, feck, drink, girls
Disadvantages: Crime, violence, poverty, racism, sectarianism

...Top of the morning to ya! As an Irishman I know all that's worth knowing about the emerald isle and all the shenanigans that goes on there. I know there have been plenty of reviews by foreigners about my good country, but they can only give you a tourists view. The real Ireland lies beneath the shiny gloss and corporate lies. I'm here to unravel it for you. *What follows is called satire. If you have no sense of humour or just want real information on Ireland you shouldn't bother to read this. This disclaimer is a pre-emptitive strike against people who read the whole thing before commenting "I was expecting a nice review on Dublin."* 1. Myths and legends According to the Irish Tourist Board and Hollywood, Ireland is full of happy-go-lucky-leprechauns (see Darby O'Gill And The Little People). The idea of a mythological Ireland is...

kfingleton 18.03.2001 · Read review
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Review of Dublin (Ireland)

Hotel International

Advantages: Location, breakfasts
Disadvantages: Poor rooms

...I recently went on a cultural girlie trip with a friend to Paris. I was left to do all the booking. I was looking for a reasonable hotel, near a metro stop, which included breakfast. I came across the Hotel International on various travel sites and it seemed fairly highly rated so I booked us in for three nights. LOCATION: The hotel is located 6 Rue Auguste Barbier in the 11th Arrondissement. The nearest Metro stop is Garcourt which was a two minute walk away and it was a five minute walk to Republique which gives good links to other lines. It's not really central enough to avoid the Metro and walk to the attractions but it was located so close to a stop that it seemed ideal. PRICE: Prices vary depending on size of room and season. There are singles, doubles and triples available. We paid Euro254 for the whole time...

tartlette83 17.06.2009 · Read review
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Review of Hotel International, Paris

Bank of ireland

Advantages: Friendly staff
Disadvantages: Long Cues

...Bank of Ireland I have been a customer of bank of Ireland for some time now, and I have to admit I have never had any problems with the service. I have a basic saving account and a credit card with this bank - and I have been a loyal customer every since. I opened an account when I was 17, and they were very helpful as I had no ID, so they worked hard with me to get a way of opening an account for me, which I appreciated very much. This account is not a card account, just a savings account - meaning I had to physically go into a bank branch to withdraw or deposit money. I didn't mind as they had 3 branches in my area, which is very handy. I then became a student and was offered a student credit card with all these brilliant deals, so in fell into the trap unfortunately, and now I owe them 800 quid . That's one thing...

lesleyanne18 17.10.2007 (08.04.2008) · Read review
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Review of Bank of Ireland

Harbour Mill Apartments, Westport, County Mayo

Advantages: Location & scenery
Disadvantages: You can't always guarantee the weather (but then it is Ireland)

...For anyone planning a holiday in Ireland I would highly recomend The Harbour Mill Apartments,Westport,County Mayo we have stayed in these self catering apartments for the last two years and plan to again return this year. These apartments are designed to the highest standard and everything you can think of is included, satelite television, washing machine, dish washer, balcony with a magnificent view of Westport harbour, the list of little touches is endless. We chose the Harbour Mill Apartments for our honeymoon last year and found the staff very helpful and accomadating on our arrival, we arrived late in the evening and were given a complimentary glass of wine from the Wine Bar which is situated in the ground floor, also situated on this floor is a complimentary jacuzzi, steam room and sauna. We thorougly enjoyed our honeymoon and we...

portugal 04.03.2001 (14.03.2001) · Read review
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Review of General: Ireland