Something Special About Spike Island

Worried you won’t be able to afford your trip? Cut some corners in the lodging department with these tips.

• Stay in B&Bs. I can’t emphasize enough how wonderful the bed-and-breakfast experience is. Not only do B&Bs usually cost half as much as staying in a hotel in the same area, but you also frequently get a friendly insider perspective from the folks running these places.
• Check out self-catering accommodations. By renting an apartment or house (called self-catering accommodations in this guide) for a week or more, you can save money overall on accommodations (especially if you’re traveling with a group) and on food because you can prepare your own meals in the kitchen.
• Get out of town. In many places, hotels just outside the most popular areas can be a great bargain. You may be able to find a great deal just a short cab, bus, car ride, or walk away. And as an extra bonus, hotels that are off the beaten path may even offer free parking.
• Ask if your kids can stay in your room with you. Although many accommodations in Ireland charge by the head, some allow kids to stay for free. Even if you have to pay $10 or $15 for a rollaway bed, in the long run you’ll save hundreds by not booking two rooms. The ins and outs of tipping Some restaurants include a service charge (tip) of 10 percent to 15 percent in their bill, while others leave the tip up to you. The service charge is different from the VAT (13.5 percent in the Republic of Ireland and 17.5 percent in Northern Ireland), which is always included. Many restaurants note their service charge policies on the menu; if you can’t figure out whether the service charge has been included, just ask. If no service charge has been added, tip up to 15 percent. If a service charge has been added, but it is less than 15 percent, it is customary to leave a tip that rounds the charge up to 15 percent. Bartenders do not expect a tip for dispensing drinks.
• Share a bathroom. Rooms without a private bathroom are always cheaper.
• Skip the fantabulous views. Rooms with great views are the most expensive rooms in any hotel, but you probably won’t be hanging out in your room all day, so why pay the price?
• Never make a phone call from a hotel. The marked-up fees that hotels charge are scandalous. Walk to the nearest coinor card-operated phone for calls in and out of the country, or rent a cellphone.

Feel like sitting down to an elegantly prepared seafood entree? Or is meat-and-potatoes comfort food more your style? No matter what you’re craving, you won’t go hungry in Ireland.

Brown’s Bar and Brasserie (Derry): How does honey-glazed lamb with mint jus and a tomato, mint, and mozzarella tart sound? This sleek, modern restaurant has a menu full of dishes like these imaginative creations that take advantage of local ingredients.

Cayenne (Antrim): There’s a reason that all those decked-out folks are crowded into the entranceway of this restaurant: The fusion cuisine here is daring and luscious, featuring bold dishes such as an appetizer of cinnamon quail with carrot, honey, and ginger salad.

Fishy Fishy Café (Cork): Come here for sparkling fresh fish prepared beautifully and served in a bright, sea- and sky-blue room.

Georgina’s Bakehouse & Tea Room: Yes, it’s “just” a tearoom, but you’ll understand why I include Georgina’s in the Best Of chapter once you meet some of its baked goods face to face.

L’Gueulton (Dublin): Come at some obscure time (Tues night at 6:17 p.m., say) to ensure yourself a seat at this casually elegant restaurant, where the friendly staff serves up perfectly prepared dishes made with excellent fresh ingredients.

Man Friday (Cork): There’s no fancy footwork at this seafood-andmeat restaurant, just excellent ingredients cooked in a way that allows their flavor to shine, such as the black sole cooked on the bone. The interior is warm, romantic, and cozy, lit by lantern-style lamps.