On our first Ireland road trip in October 2026, we stayed in Bundoran, Galway, Dingle and Dublin before an overnight London stopover. Our bookings balanced location, parking, points and how much time we’d actually spend in each place.
This is the booking companion to our 7-Day Ireland Road Trip Itinerary, covering where we stayed, the reservations that shaped our days, and what I’d repeat or reconsider. I’ve included what we paid in October 2026 to give you a starting point for planning your own trip, although room rates and ticket prices will vary.
This post may contain affiliate or referral links. If you book or purchase through one, I may earn a commission or credit at no additional cost to you. I only recommend services and experiences that fit what we actually used or found helpful.
Where we stayed in Ireland
These room prices cover two adults. Breakfast was included at Allingham Arms and Arden House; our Western Hotel booking was room only.
| Stop | Our stay | What we paid | Main booking consideration |
| Bundoran | Allingham Arms, Oct 11–12 | €140 (about $157) | Location and a spacious room |
| Galway | The Western Hotel, Oct 12–13 | €185 (about $208) | On-site parking |
| Dingle | Arden House, Oct 13–14 | €220 (about $247) | Value for a short overnight stop |
| Dublin | Hyatt Centric The Liberties, Oct 14–16 | 35,000 Hyatt points + €42 (about $47) parking | Points and parking |
Allingham Arms, Bundoran: I’d book it again
Our Deluxe Double booking included breakfast and a waterfront view. The room was spacious, with plenty of space for our luggage and Mitch’s surfboard.
The bathroom had plenty of counter space and a rack for drying towels or small garments. Being able to open the window for fresh air was another plus.
We had the buffet breakfast the following morning. Between the location, room and practical setup, I’d happily book Allingham Arms again.
Check The Allingham Arms Hotel rooms and current rates.
The Western Hotel, Galway: parking made the decision
I chose the Western primarily for its advertised on-site parking, and being close to Eyre Square made it easy to explore on foot after arriving.
Our Double Deluxe room cost €185 (about $208), without breakfast. Bathroom counter space was limited, but the location and parking worked well for our overnight stop.
The garage involved a little coordination: reception warned that cars could be double-parked and asked us to give notice if we needed ours outside the usual access hours. If Galway were on another itinerary, I’d consider staying here again.
Check The Western Hotel rooms and current rates.
Arden House, Dingle: a cozy, good-value overnight stay
I’d looked at Dingle Skellig, but with an arrival after dark and departure the next morning, I couldn’t justify spending more on a room we’d barely use. Arden House was a much better fit for that overnight stop.
Arden House was a little tricky to find using GPS, especially arriving after dark. We tried both Apple Maps and Google Maps. Google Maps got us closer, but neither took us directly to the guesthouse. I’d recommend checking the exact location before arriving rather than relying entirely on GPS.
Arden House was a lovely choice for the night. The receptionist was incredibly friendly and even walked us to our room, and breakfast was included in our €220 (about $247) booking.
Our room was cozy, but the wet-room-style bathroom had limited counter space. It didn’t spoil our stay, though I’d pay more attention to bathroom layout if staying for several nights.
I’d happily consider Arden House again for a similar overnight stop. For a longer stay in Dingle, I’d compare room layouts and prices before choosing.
See Arden House accommodation options.
Hyatt Centric The Liberties, Dublin: our points stay
We used 35,000 World of Hyatt points total for two nights in a King room. Parking cost another €42 (about $47).
This was probably my favorite hotel of the trip. The air-conditioning was welcome after some very warm hotel interiors, and the bathroom had a spacious enclosed shower and plenty of room for our toiletries. The front-desk staff were lovely, too.
Our two nights gave us a full Dublin sightseeing day. I might spend less time in Dublin on another Ireland trip, but this hotel still worked well for our first visit.
The underground parking was a little tricky to find in Dublin traffic. When we arrived, the gated entrance was just past the hotel entrance; we pressed the buzzer for reception to open it. From the garage, we buzzed reception again to get into the lower level of the hotel, then took the elevator up to the front desk. The hotel currently says parking is limited and first-come, so it’s worth checking the latest instructions before arriving.
Compare Hyatt Centric The Liberties, Dublin rates and points options.
Our rental car and the ferry we actually took
We reserved an automatic SUV through National at Dublin Airport for October 11–16. We ended up with a seven-seat automatic SUV, and our final bill was €571.39 (about $642), including the insurance, taxes and fees on our agreement.
If you want an automatic transmission in Ireland, book your rental car early. With the narrow roads and driving on the left, I was glad we had one less thing to think about.
Having a car let us reach smaller towns, check surf conditions and change stops along the way. We’d rent again, while allowing more breathing room between longer drives.
We also bought a €22.50 (about $25) Shannon Ferry ticket online during the trip for our car and passengers, crossing from Killimer to Tarbert. At the Killimer ferry terminal, we found restrooms and a small gift shop selling souvenirs, snacks and drinks—a handy stop before getting back on the road. The break from driving was worthwhile. This was the car ferry we used—not the canceled Cliffs cruise.
One return-day lesson: our rental drop-off was at an off-airport depot, followed by a shuttle to the terminal. I’d check those directions before heading to the airport.
For more on what driving in Ireland was actually like—from narrow coastal roads to the lessons we learned along the way—read my Driving Ireland’s West Coast article.
What we booked ahead—and what we bought along the way
Book of Kells: We booked two €25 tickets (about $56 total) for 10 a.m. on October 15. Ours was a self-guided visit; we saw the Book of Kells and the Long Room but skipped the Red Pavilion. It was interesting, though a one-and-done visit for me. If you’d rather go with a guide, check the available guided tours of Trinity College and the Book of Kells/Old Library, and compare exactly what’s included before booking.
Guinness Connoisseur Experience: Two tickets for 2 p.m. that afternoon, costing $220.06 total. The small-group tasting was a worthwhile splurge for us, including me as someone who isn’t especially enthusiastic about beer. Make sure to choose the Connoisseur tour; it’s distinct from the other Storehouse options.
For a closer look at the tasting, what the experience included, and whether I’d book it again, read my Guinness Connoisseur Experience Review.
Doolin Ferry Co. Cliffs of Moher cruise: We had reserved this cruise ahead of time, but the company emailed us the day before to cancel because of high winds. They kindly offered us the choice of another sailing date, an Aran Islands ferry trip, or a full refund. Our tight itinerary meant we couldn’t easily move the cruise to another day, so we chose the refund. We visited the Cliffs of Moher from land and stopped in Lahinch afterward. I’d be interested in trying the cruise on a future Ireland trip, with the understanding that weather may still have the final say.
Cliffs land admission: We bought our tickets online on the way to the cliffs and paid €24 (about $27) for two. Our land visit still delivered the views we’d hoped for. You can check the official Cliffs of Moher booking website or app for tickets.
Dinner reservations: We reserved Fenton’s of Dingle and The Bull & Castle in Dublin. For other meals, I kept a shortlist of places I thought we’d enjoy without making every dinner a fixed commitment. Our food was one of the unexpected highlights of Ireland!
For more of our favorite meals, pub stops, and food surprises along the route, read What We Ate in Ireland.
Travel eSIM: Before leaving home, I purchased and installed a seven-day Airalo Europe unlimited-data eSIM for $27. Setup was quick and easy, and I had excellent coverage throughout Ireland and our London stopover, even in rural areas, with no noticeable speed issues.
I did have two minor connectivity hiccups. After leaving the Cliffs of Moher, restarting my phone restored service. When we landed in London, turning the eSIM line off and back on did the trick. Otherwise, it worked beautifully! Airalo even emailed me a reminder when my plan had one day remaining.
At $27, it was significantly cheaper than paying Verizon’s $10 daily international roaming charge for my plan throughout the trip. I’m planning to use Airalo again for Italy and have already recommended it to our travel companions.
Save 15% on your first Airalo eSIM
Planning an international trip? New Airalo customers can save 15% on their first eSIM purchase using the code below.
MYFIRSTAIRALO
Affiliate link: I may earn a commission if you purchase through my link, at no additional cost to you.
Enter code MYFIRSTAIRALO at checkout. Offer valid through January 3, 2028, subject to Airalo’s promotional terms.
What we’d repeat or change
I would absolutely book our hotels before another Ireland road trip. Knowing where we’d be sleeping each night took the stress out of finding a room on the fly, and the mix of accommodations worked well for what we needed at each stop.
I’d also rent a car again and take the Shannon ferry. Having the freedom to change our stops was a big part of what made this road trip memorable—even if some of the driving days were longer than we’d have liked.
The bigger change would be how tightly I planned the days between those bookings. I’d still do the research, but leave more room for a beach, a conversation, or an unplanned stop instead of feeling like we had to get to everything on my list.
Following our London connection?
We stayed at Hilton London Paddington for 72,000 Hilton Honors points plus £11.72 (roughly $16), choosing it largely because we’d be traveling with luggage and a surfboard. The Heathrow Express runs directly between Heathrow Airport and London Paddington, and the hotel’s entrance was only steps from Paddington Station. We paid £40 (roughly $54) total for two adults’ advance-booked Standard tickets for our airport journeys. That made getting into and out of London especially straightforward for our short stopover.
We also prebooked Heathrow departure Fast Track security for £25.98 (roughly $35) for two. It was worth it to us for peace of mind, although since we didn’t use the regular security line, I can’t say how much time it actually saved.
That combination worked well for our short stopover. On a longer London visit, though, I’d choose a hotel based more on our sightseeing plans than proximity to Paddington Station.