Something Special About Spike Island

Taking advantage of discounts and group rates can cut your costs substantially.

• Always ask for discount rates. Membership in AAA, frequentflier plans, trade unions, AARP, or other groups may qualify you for savings on car rentals, plane tickets, hotel rooms, and even meals. Students, teachers, youths, and seniors are also often entitled to discounts. Ask about discounts; you may be pleasantly surprised.
• Take advantage of group and family prices. For travel packages and admission to individual attractions, group rates are a fantastic way to save money, and you don’t necessarily have to travel with a busload of other people to get them. Sometimes, a group is as few as three people, so always ask. You and the folks behind you may even be able to form a makeshift group to get the discounted price. Most attractions in Ireland offer significantly reduced family rate. These memberships usually entitle you to discounts ranging from 5 percent to 30 percent.
• Check your frequent-flier accounts. Not only are your favorite (or at least most-used) airlines likely to have sent you discount coupons, but most car rentals add at least 500 miles to your account.
• As with other aspects of planning your trip, using the Internet can make comparison shopping for a car rental much easier. You can check rates at most of the major agencies’ Web sites.

Perhaps you’d like a fusion meal, featuring ingredients and cooking techniques from all over the world? Following are my favorite places to dig in.

Mermaid Café (Dublin): Fresh Irish ingredients and innovative dishes characterize the menu at this buzzy, warm, modern restaurant.

Nimmo’s Wine Bar (Galway): The inventive dishes here make use of herbs and spices from all over the world to complement the flavors of the fresh main ingredients. The restaurant overlooks the River Corrib and has a cozy, eclectically decorated interior with a nautical bent.

Out of the Blue (Kerry): In a sea of seafood restaurants, Out of the Blue stands out, offering some of the freshest fish in town in a cheerful, Mediterranean-style restaurant.

Packies (Kerry): You can’t go wrong with any of the dishes at this hip and lively restaurant, from the simple crab claws in garlic butter to the adventurous plaice with orange, lime, and cilantro.

Ristorante Rinuccini (Kilkenny): Open the door and slip into Florence at this romantic Italian restaurant. Excellent homemade pasta.

Parmesan tartlet studded with raisins. In addition, service is some of the most gracious and attentive in Ireland.

The Wild Geese (Limerick): Dishes at this candlelit restaurant, all made with local ingredients, are daring, modern, and absolutely delicious, such as the onion-and- Zen (Antrim): Though I’ve tried to rein myself in, you’ll probably notice my passion for sushi as you read this guide. Boy, was I happy to find this excellent
restaurant, where delicious Japanese dishes (sushi and others) are served in ultra dramatic surroundings.

Zucchini (Clare): Fantastic service, beautifully-prepared inventive dishes, and stylish surroundings should make this Ennis newcomer a star.