Please sign in to post.

Bed and Breakfasts and Covid

Posted by (Missoula, Montana) on

For those who have traveled in Ireland the past two years or so and have stayed in B&Bs, how much difficulty did you have securing a room for one or two people? I'm hearing from one host for my upcoming trip that the pandemic has permanently shuttered many B&Bs. A few months ago, I contacted a couple of tourist offices about the effect of Covid on B&Bs, but never heard back.

The last time I was in Ireland was 2007 (and many times prior), and B&Bs were ubuquitous. We easily got a room by just knocking on a couple of doors or making two or three phone calls. Back then, over 2,000 were listed in the ITB Guidebook. Today's print version has just over 700, with an unknown number of others publicizing only on the Internet or perhaps not at all.

I'd appreciate hearing of your experiences and what you're finding on your travels.

Posted by
39 posts

David,

Following this discussion.

Your experience with B&B's in the past is the same as ours. And this time around, we are having challenges. We'll be in Dublin the last weekend of June and I cannot find a B&B in Dublin or north (Malahide) and east (Howth, Sutton Cross). We won't have a car so I'm looking for a location on a rail line and something with water view would be nice.

Beginning to regret that great fare on Aer Lingus!

Therese

Posted by
508 posts

Therese,

Thanks for chiming in. Wish it were better news for all. Another B&B owner wrote to say that he doesn't think that many B&Bs have permanently closed. Now with two replies on either end of that spectrum, I have to think about tossing the proverbial "go-no go" coin.

Since I bicycle, I have less flexibility than do most and have now initiated Plan "B" - e-mailing B&Bs along my route with the thought I just may have to go against the grain and reserve most every night as much as I can. Fortunately, after many similar trips I know the country, the roads, towns and villages quite well and that in Co. Donegal tourists are few and far between, thanks in part to the absence of train service and the remoteness of the county.

This topic has been automatically closed due to a period of inactivity.