A Hotel Review of Hyatt Centric The Liberties Dublin

August 26, 2022

Hyatt Centric The Liberties

Dublin, Ireland

When looking for a hotel for my cousin and I in Dublin, I wanted a room with 2 beds and a decent location in the city. That was actually harder to find than I thought, without a huge price tag. Overall, I was really happy with the Hyatt Centric and I’d stay there again.

LOVE

Cool Design – This hotel is basically brand new and the design is modern and cool. I really liked the look of the hotel in general in both the common areas and in the rooms.

Service – I went down one of the mornings while my cousin slept and had a Zoom call for work. The staff was really helpful in finding me Zoom call spot. They also were really kind and helpful with everything we asked.

Lattes at the Bar – The hotel is a little off the beaten path in central Dublin and when I was up early, there weren’t a lot of coffee shops nearby open so I was pleasantly surprised that the hotel could make me Oatmilk Lattes at their bar and that was a really nice touch each day.

DIDN’T LOVE

Location is Just Ok – This hotel is in The Liberties neighborhood of Dublin and it’s a little outside the city center. While for us it wasn’t really an issue, it definitely was at least a 10-15 minute walk to get to most of the restaurants and well known areas of the city like Temple Bar or Grafton Street. It wasn’t as central as I would have liked, but if you’re ok walking and the weather is decent, it’s fine.

NOTES TO KEEP IN MIND

This hotel is a good option if you’re looking for a lower price point than hotels nearer to Grafton Street and the more central areas of Dublin. It’s also great specifically if you’re looking for rooms with 2 beds as most of the rooms I found in the more central area only had one queen or one king.

Photos via.

Traveling to Ireland?

See all of my posts on the country!

Must See Spots in Northern Ireland

August 23, 2022

Outfit Details:

Ann Taylor Puff Sleeve Sweatshirt (similar) | J Crew Navy Vest (similar) |

Zara Purse (sold out) | Anthropologie Wide Leg Jeans (similar)

After a first visit to Northern Ireland a few years ago, I was pretty familiar with the more-often visited areas of this part of the country but this trip I ventured a little further into Northern Ireland into a lot of very local spots. After a second and deeper visit, here are my must see spots in Northern Ireland and the areas that you just have to see when in this part of the world.

Belfast

I actually really like Belfast and it’s quickly become one of my favorite cities in the UK. It’s got a somewhat grungy vibe but feels like a very cool little sister to some of the more famous UK cities. From restaurants to shopping to site seeing, Belfast has it all!

Giant’s Causeway

This gorgeous stretch of coastline on the Northern part of the country is well worth a visit. You can book your ticket upon arrival and then walk down to the coast. It’s gorgeous and has a really rich history with stories about giants, plus you get really beautiful views of the landscape here. Don’t miss their gift shop either! There are some really cool and unique items in there.

Bushmills

This tiny town a few minutes away from Giant’s Causeway is always a favorite stop of mine – particularly lunch at the Bushmills Inn which is so picturesque!

Kilkeel

This trip we visited a lot of areas that my great-grandfather was from and he grew up along the Eastern coastline near Kilkeel. This part of the country was alive in the Summer months and the coastline was breathtaking as we drove the ring road down into Ireland and back to Dublin.

Warren Point

Another famous city, known commonly as a stronghold of the IRA, this is right on the border of Ireland and Northern Ireland and in fact, you can look out over the water and see Ireland just on the other side. A beautiful coastal town, Warren Point was such a cute spot to make a stop in on your drive.

Traveling to Northern Ireland?

See all of my posts on the country!

A Hotel Review of Jurys Inn Belfast

August 19, 2022

Jurys Inn Belfast

Belfast, Northern Ireland

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When my cousin and I went to Ireland, we had only one evening in Belfast and I wanted a hotel that was really central and easy to see the city on foot from since we didn’t have a lot of time there. This was a good selection for the price, though I definitely think I preferred the Fitzwilliam Hotel we stayed at on our last trip and it’s right next door.

LOVE

Good Location – The hotel is really centrally located in Belfast and easy to get to, as well as to explore the city from. It’s also easy to get to when driving into Belfast and when leaving to get on the highway.

Good Price – The price was the main reason I picked this hotel over the Fitzwilliam and for a lower price point, this is a good option in Belfast.

DIDN’T LOVE

Blah Design – The design of the hotel was fine, but it was very underwhelming. The lobby was much better designed than the corridors and rooms.

NOTES TO KEEP IN MIND

Easy parking on the street next to the hotel for Saturday eve/Sunday – We arrived on Saturday evening around 5pm and the street parking on the small dead-end street right next to the hotel only had 1 hour left of paid parking and then was free on Sunday. If you’re arriving on Saturday evening, this is a good parking option as I don’t believe the hotel has parking.

Photos via.

Traveling to Northern Ireland?

See all of my posts on the country!

A Hotel Review of Sheraton Athlone

August 16, 2022

Sheraton Athlone Hotel

Athlone, Ireland

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My cousin really wanted to go to Sean’s Bar in Athlone (supposedly the oldest bar in the world) so we planned a night in the city and I found that the Sheraton was the most central, fairly large and modern hotel to choose from. I really enjoyed our stay here and would highly recommend it.

LOVE

Modern Design – The hotel is modern and designed well from the lobby to the rooms. It’s simple, but clean and modern.

Good Location – The Sheraton is really centrally located in Athlone and once there, it’s easier to walk everywhere you want to go. It was also easy access in and out of the city while driving.

Good Restaurant and Lobby – We ate dinner at the restaurant while staying there and the food was great. I also worked in the lobby and it was comfortable and convenient.

Connects to Mall – The hotel is connected to the big shopping mall in Athlone which has a Starbucks and lots of other things, which made it really convenient to grab food or shop if you need to while there.

DIDN’T LOVE

Nothing! – We had a great stay!

NOTES TO KEEP IN MIND

Parking Garage – The hotel has its own area of the shopping center parking garage and they will validate your parking upon leaving.

Photos via.

Traveling to Ireland?

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What to Eat While in Ireland

August 11, 2022

If you know me personally, you know I love to eat. The joke always is while traveling, all I do is stop to eat and I love experiencing new foods around the world. And Ireland is no exception! I happen to love pub food so the food in Ireland is right up my alley. If you’re headed to Ireland for the first time and not sure what to try while there, here is what to eat while in Ireland and leave happy!

Guiness – You can’t leave Ireland without a Guiness! This dark beer is actually my go-to beer even at home but while in Ireland, you have to try this dark stout made famously in the Emerald Isle.

Scones – I love British and Irish scones and it’s something I try to enjoy every time I’m in that part of the world. While I’m dairy-free in my daily life, and there is definitely dairy in scones, I try to limit myself with them but a great scone is pretty hard to beat!

Irish Stew – Whether sunny or rainy, I can’t resist a beautiful, delicious Irish Strew. Made usually with lamb and vegetables, this thick soupy stew has a home-y feel that is so unique to Ireland.

Sticky Toffee Pudding – My all time favorite dessert in this part of the world, Sticky Toffee Pudding is one of those things that never really jumped the pond and I have no idea why. Made from dates, this incredible dessert is so good and if it’s on the menu, I’m always ordering it.

Sausage Rolls – We had a family lunch one day while on our trip with some of our relatives that live in Northern Ireland and when we sat down to see sausage rolls on the table, I immediately grabbed several. Irish sausage wrapped in delicate puff pastry, these are one of my favorite things to eat. I get them at my local British pub near my house in Portland but there is nothing like them in Ireland or the UK if you’re there.

Irish Breakfasts – At home, I’m not a big breakfast person but when in Ireland or the UK, I can’t help but dig into a big Irish or English breakfast plate. The roasted tomato, the beans, the way the eggs are fried in Europe… I love it.

Irish Tea – You have to sit down and have a few cups of Irish tea while in Ireland! And even if you’re dairy free like me, they have oat milk everywhere. I make my tea with oat milk and a little sugar and it’s easy to just sit for hours sipping tea and enjoying the view!

Traveling to Ireland?

See all of my posts on the country!

A Hotel Review of The Savoy Limerick

August 8, 2022

The Savoy Limerick

Limerick, Ireland

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I will say I had a hard time finding good boutique hotels in Ireland during my trip with my cousin and I’m not entirely sure why that is. In Limerick, the options were pretty limited so I opted with a well known hotel brand, The Savoy. Overall, I was pretty disappointed with how dated the hotel was and didn’t love the cit of Limerick overall.

LOVE

Good Location – We were just passing through Limerick and arrived late and left fairly early the next morning so this was an easy location in the city to stay.

Easy Valet Parking – We valeted our car to save time in the morning and since we were leaving early the following day, the hotel just kept our car out in front of the hotel, which did make it very convenient. The cost was 30 Euros for the valet service and overall, it did make everything a bit easier that night, not having to find parking elsewhere.

Good Service – In the morning before we left, I woke up earlier than my cousin and went down to the lobby to get some work done. When I got down there and they saw I was working, they offered to open up the executive lounge for me which was a really nice gesture.

DIDN’T LOVE

Run Down and Really Needs a Renovation – The hotel is really dated and feels like an upscale hotel out of the 80’s. The design needs a major makeover and it was one of the things that I expected more from The Savoy brand. Also while searching for photos of the hotel, it definitely did not look in person how the website makes it look – a huge issue in my book!

NOTES TO KEEP IN MIND

Restaurants and shops are not open late in Limerick – We found it very hard to find open restaurants and shops in Limerick past about 8pm. Since we arrived late, we wanted to have dinner and there were only a few places still serving food. So if you plan to arrive later in the evening, have a plan for food.

Photos via.

Traveling to Ireland?

See all of my posts on the country!

Must See Spots in Ireland

August 3, 2022

As this was my second time to Ireland, I was more familiar with the country and had a better idea of what to expect. However, for most of the Southern part of Ireland, I hadn’t visited that yet so this second trip was a nice mix of places I’ve been and places I hadn’t been before. Overall within the Republic of Ireland, there are a wealth of gorgeous places to see and visit and it’s hard to even pick the top spots because a huge part of the beauty of Ireland is just the landscape, driving through. But if you’re headed to Ireland trying to figure out the must see spots to visit, here is my list of the must see spots in Ireland and places that I think are well worth visiting.

Mount Juliet Estate

This gorgeous hotel and golf estate in County Kilkenny, about an hour and a half from Dublin, is spectacular. We only stayed here one night but I’d love to go back and make a vacation out of it, just staying here for a few days. The grounds of this estate are gorgeous and the hotel was one of the best I’ve stayed in. I can’t recommend this spot enough, even just to drive through while in the area or stop for a meal.

Adare

When I think of Ireland, I think of little countryside towns and Adare is exactly that. A gorgeous, charming town about 20 minutes outside of Limerick, Adare has lovely little restaurants and pubs, great shopping and is the perfect town to wander around. While lot big, it’s the perfect little stop over on your road trip through the country.

County Limerick Countryside

We drove one day from Limerick to Adare, then on to Galway and through the County Limerick countryside and that’s a beautiful area of Ireland. That drive through back roads and rolling greens hills was one of my favorites as far as scenery. We tried to stay off the main highways as much as we could so that we’d get to see the backroads of Ireland and it’s definitely worth it on the shorter stretches to do that.

Dublin

Of course, Dublin has to be on this list. I love Dublin and after my second time there, I can definitely say that it’s a city worth visiting. There is so much to do in Dublin but my favorite thing is just to wander and take it in. The city has great restaurants, great shopping and is beautiful year round. Our first time to Dublin we went in late November and while cold, the city was decorated for Christmas and was gorgeous. This second time was peak Summer and the city was alive in the warm weather. No matter what, Dublin is a must see.

Galway

Of all the places we drove through on this trip, other than Belfast and Dublin, my favorite smaller city was Galway. This beautiful little city on the Eastern side of Ireland was packed with charm and had so much character. I loved walking the high street here, eating at a pub and just wandering through this beautiful place.

Traveling to Ireland?

See all of my posts on the country!

A Hotel Review of Mount Juliet Estate

July 27, 2022

Mount Juliet Estate

County Kilkenny, Ireland

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When I was booking hotels for my trip to Ireland with my cousin, I wanted some place the first night that we arrived that would be a little bit of a treat. When I found the Mount Juliet Estate, I knew it was perfect but truth be told, I didn’t even realize just how incredible this place really was until we arrived. While I just thought it would be a nice hotel, the entire estate ended up being a place I know I’ll want to go back to spend more time in the future and I can’t recommend it enough.

LOVE

Comfortable Bed – We had a room with 2 queen beds and it was not only beautiful but the beds were so comfortable. We stayed in the Hunter’s Yard Hotel and the entire building was beautiful and so lovely.

The Grounds are Amazing – We spent our first afternoon and evening exploring the grounds on bike and this whole estate is stunning. From the beautiful Manor House to the horse stables and everything in between, I feel like you could explore for days here and still not see everything.

Amazing Service – When we arrived, we went to the Manor House as I actually thought that was the only hotel on the property. We arrived a little before check in time and the man that greeted us helped me check in early and then actually came over to the other hotel with us, showed us around and helped us with our bags and was so delightful without being overbearing. Every person at the hotel was incredible during our time there and it felt like great service without it being showy.

Price is Amazing for What You Get – We arrived thinking this hotel was going to be nice but we were blown away by what we encountered for the price we paid. It was very reasonable and even more so once you arrive and see this place. I would happily book a week there and be quite content.

DIDN’T LOVE

No Counter Space in Bathroom – My only complaint at all was that there was such a tiny amount of counter space in the bathroom that it was hard with 2 people to put items in there. But other than that, I literally have nothing else bad to say.

NOTES TO KEEP IN MIND

Rent Bikes and Go See the Horses – The property has bikes you can borrow, so we grabbed a couple and headed to the Equestrian stables. Upon arrival, we went in and just asked if we could see the horses. The person there was so excited and said, “Of course! Just head on in!” We spent the next while just petting the horses in the stable and it totally made our whole day.

Outfit Details:

White Converse Low Tops | Barbour Yellow Jacket (similar) | Anthropologie Wide Leg Jeans (similar)

Hotel Photos via.

Traveling to Ireland?

See all of my posts on the country!

How to See Ireland in 7 Days

July 22, 2022

Outfit Details:

Madewell Long Sleeve T-Shirt (similar) | J Crew Navy Vest (similar) |

Zara Purse (sold out) | Anthropologie Wide Leg Jeans (similar) | White Converse Low Tops

Last year, my cousin and I started planning a trip to Ireland. First, we’ve wanted to do a trip together for a while and second, we have a decent amount of family in Northern Ireland and we wanted to go see where our family is from and meet some of our relatives. When I started planning the itinerary for our trip, I wanted to see more of Ireland than I did on my last trip, which mostly consisted of Dublin and Northern Ireland. So this time, we basically saw about 3/4 of the island, driving each day and going through a number of cities and stops. If you’re looking for an itinerary for a trip to Emerald Isle, here’s how to see Ireland in 7 days.

Day 1

Arrive in Dublin and pick up your rental car. Buy the full insurance package as Ireland’s roads are tiny and you never know!

Drive to Waterford and have lunch and explore. Then head to the Mount Juliet Estate and spend your afternoon and evening at this gorgeous estate up in the hills. Their restaurant, The Hound is delicious!

Day 2

Drive to Cork and explore the city center. Shop at the English Market, wander the high street on St Patrick’s Street and grab lunch in a pub.

Next, drive to Blarney Castle about 20 minutes outside the city center. Now I will say this was a little touristy for me and kissing the Blarney Stone was a little traumatic, so I have this here on the itinerary only because it’s such a famous tourist spot in Ireland.

Finally, drive to Limerick for the night. While Limerick was definitely not my favorite city in Ireland, it was a good stop over for this itinerary and a good spot to spend the night.

Day 3

Start your day with a drive to Adare, a beautiful little Irish town only about 20 minutes from Limerick. Wander through the town, shop and eat and you won’t be disappointed. This place is pure Ireland.

Then head to Galway. This beautiful Irish town was one of my favorites and a perfect place to wander, have lunch and maybe stop for ice cream before you go!

Finally, drive to Athlone for the night and grab dinner there before heading to the famous Sean’s Bar for a pint of Guiness in the oldest bar in the world.

Day 4

Today, head to Northern Ireland to start your explorations there. Drive North to Belfast and enjoy the scenic drive as you cross the border into the North. Right now (as of Summer 2022), the border crossing has nothing stopping you from driving one side to the other. Though there are talks of making the Irish border different in the future, so make sure you check before you drive.

There is so much to see and do in Belfast but I would suggest exploring on foot and enjoying a pub dinner and drink at Robinson’s.

Day 5

Start your day with a tour at the Titanic Museum just outside of Belfast city. For a touristy spot, I felt like it was a pretty good museum but go early before the crowds! Then continue on by driving North to Bushmills up by the Northern Coast. Have a leisurely lunch at the Bushmills Inn and Hotel, complete with Irish tea and sticky toffee pudding.

After lunch, head to the Giants Causeway. This beautiful natural spot on Northern Ireland’s coast is breathtaking and definitely worth a visit.

Outfit Details:

Ann Taylor Puff Sleeve Sweatshirt (similar) | J Crew Navy Vest (similar) |

Zara Purse (sold out) | Anthropologie Wide Leg Jeans (similar)

Then, jump on the highway and head back to Dublin. At this point, I chose to return our rental car at the airport on the way in and taxi into town so I didn’t have to deal with parking in the city but up to you!

Have a lovely dinner in Dublin and explore on foot for your first evening there!

Day 6

Today is all about exploring Dublin on foot! See the Temple Bar, shop on Grafton Street , take a tour and explore Trinity College’s Long Library, and wander through St Stephens Green and the River Liffey waterfront.

Day 7

Grab breakfast in Dublin and then head to the Guiness Stockroom for a morning tour! We went when they first opened and it took about an hour to get through it. While this was pretty touristy and I’m not sure it’s worth the price tag, if you like Guiness or are interested in beer, it might be worth it!

That afternoon, head back to the airport and take your flight home after an amazing 7 days in Ireland!

See all the places we stayed at in Ireland here! And in Northern Ireland here!

Traveling to Ireland?

See all of my posts on the country!

A Hotel Review of The Moxy DC

July 19, 2022

The Moxy DC

1011 K St NW, Washington, DC 20001

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I’ve been spending more time in DC as my cousin now lives there and with her apartment in the Logan Circle area, I’ve been trying out a bunch of hotels in DC within walking distance of her apartment. This trip in July, I tried out The Moxy and really enjoyed my stay!

LOVE

Modern Design – The Moxy hotel chain is known for its young and modern vibe, and I really enjoyed the design of the hotel. It’s really modern and the rooms have a lot of concrete and metal, but the industrial feel plays well with the hotel’s theme.

Location – The hotel’s location is great in DC. It’s right downtown so you have restaurants and shops close, it’s about a 20 minute walk to the National Mall and about a 10 minute walk to Dupont or Logan Circle. It’s easily walkable to most parts of DC from the hotel and an easy 15 minute car ride to Raegan Airport.

Close to Lots of Restaurants – I came in later on a Monday night and just wanted to grab some takeout and go to bed early and there are lots of restaurants right near the hotel. I grabbed sushi right across the block and breakfast from Tatte Bakery close to the hotel.

DIDN’T LOVE

Bathroom Light – The one issue I had with the room layout and design was that the wall separating the bedroom from the bathroom is opaque and semi-transparent, so when the light in the bathroom goes on, it lights up the whole room. It was fine for me since I traveling solo but it would be hard if there were multiple people trying to sleep in the room at night.

NOTES TO KEEP IN MIND

Great for 1 Person. While the hotel was great for me while I was traveling solo, I’m not sure I’d stay here with another person if Nick came with me. The room was pretty small, the bathroom light issue as I mentioned above would be annoying and I think I’d choose differently for both of us traveling. However, if it’s 1 person and a short stay, The Moxy in DC is a great choice.

Photos via.

Traveling to DC?

See all of my posts on the city!

Hyatt Centric The Liberties

LOVE

DIDN’T LOVE

NOTES TO KEEP IN MIND

Outfit Details:

Belfast

Giant’s Causeway

Bushmills

Kilkeel

Warren Point

Jurys Inn Belfast

LOVE

DIDN’T LOVE

NOTES TO KEEP IN MIND

Sheraton Athlone Hotel

LOVE

DIDN’T LOVE

NOTES TO KEEP IN MIND

The Savoy Limerick

LOVE

DIDN’T LOVE

NOTES TO KEEP IN MIND

Mount Juliet Estate

Adare

County Limerick Countryside

Dublin

Galway

Mount Juliet Estate

LOVE

DIDN’T LOVE

NOTES TO KEEP IN MIND

Outfit Details:

Outfit Details:

Outfit Details:

The Moxy DC

LOVE

DIDN’T LOVE

NOTES TO KEEP IN MIND

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