I read a prior post that said it may be better to not get a B&B ahead of time; to just show up and might get a better price. Did you ever have a hard time finding one that was available? I am going the first week of August. I am pretty determined to secure a B&B for our arrival date, but I guess I'm open to suggestions for the rest of the trip. .. .Thanks!
You might as well for the first so you're not fumbling around all pooped out.
Probably do it for the last as well so you'll be prepositioned for the getaway.
Otherwise, don't. Everybody seems to agree and I'm unanimous in what I may have said previously.
I agree with Ed. If it makes you more comfortable, book your first and last nights. Otherwise you really don't need to book ahead. It is not necessarily a money-saver, but it makes you a lot more flexible. You don't have to be in a certain place at a certain time, just stop wherever you are when you are ready.
I'm a planner so I liked knowing where I was going. I never felt driven to stay an extra night somewhere although I think I wouldn't have spent 2 nights in Kilkenny if I had the option. Of course, I didn't know that until I had walked around Kilkenny for 6 hours and realized we saw all there was we wanted to see.
I might try the "find a place on the go" and see how it works out. The further away your are from events and heavy tourist season the better for that. It's possible you could show up somewhere where a music festival starts the next day and you're sleeping in the car.
I just wanna know... how much time have you spent on this site, Nancy? Wow - 3500 Posts! Phew!
We have done both/booked first and last night and then no others in advance and we have also not booked anythng/it is so easy to find a B&B anyplace by just showing up/we just never waited until it was dark because by that time we were just too tired so we would usually stop around 4 pm and found B&B and then went out for dinner. Don't know if you have time to get it but the Irish tourist bureau publishes a book of about 2000 B&B's we have used but is not really necessary. Just show up at the door (a rated B&B will have a shamrock outside that shows they have been approved or inspected but doesn't necessarily mean they will be good). Just ask to see the room and if you don't like/ move on.
Maria, 3500 is nothing compared to many others on this site. I have been a member of this board, though, for several years. I enjoy seeing the questions that people ask and helping with their plans where I can.