Something Special About Spike Island

Hostels have a reputation for being the accommodation of choice for the micro-budgeted, and if you have an image in your head of hostels full of young, tireless travelers who don’t mind going long stretches without showers or food, you’re partly right — though only partly. Today, hostels serve all kinds of independent travelers who cherish flexibility, and many hostels are adding more facilities to accommodate couples and families.

Some Irish hostels offer community kitchens, and many sleep people dorm-style, with anywhere from four to dozens of people per room (some have single-sex dorm rooms while others are coed). However, more and more Irish hostels have been adding double and family rooms, and even private single rooms, so you may not need to share a room with other travelers.

Hostels provide a blanket and pillow, and some beds have sheets, but to be safe, bring your own sleep-sack two twin sheets sewn together. Because your personal belongings most likely sit at the foot of the bed, you may wonder how safe your luggage will be in a hostel. Theft is not a major problem, but it is something to consider. Many hostels provide security lockers (ask when you reserve if it’s important to you), but if not, take some precautions: Make your luggage as difficult to get into as possible by, for instance, stacking bags on top of one another, with the most valuable at the bottom. Also, bring your wallet, passport, other important personal belongings to bed with you, and under no circumstances leave important documents or money in your room.

As for bathrooms, think of high-school gym restrooms cold tiles, a row of small sinks and toilets, and shower stalls. You may not love it, but you can get the job done in it.

If you are from the United States, Canada, the U.K., Australia, New Zealand, or an EU country, all you need to legally drive a car in Ireland is a valid driver’s license from your country of residence.

Your personal auto insurance most likely doesn’t extend to rental cars in Ireland except if you have a MasterCard Platinum or Gold card in the U.S. or a Visa Gold in Canada (in both cases you’ll still need to present the car rental desk with a letter of authorization from the credit card company). You must get a Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) with your rental car (this is usually included in the price quoted). This insurance reduces the renter’s financial responsibility in the case of an accident.

The car rental companies also offer additional liability insurance (if you harm others in an accident), personal accident insurance (if you harm yourself or your passengers), and personal effects insurance (if your luggage is stolen from your car). Definitely consider the additional coverage (ask your car rental agent for more information). Unless you’re toting around the Hope diamond (and you don’t want to leave that in your car trunk anyway), you can probably skip the personal effects insurance, but driving around without liability or personal accident coverage is never a good idea. Even if you’re a good driver, other people may not be, and liability claims can be complicated.

If you plan on taking the car into Northern Ireland, be sure to inform the rental company, and ask whether additional insurance is required.