good holiday in dublin

[Blue Angel]

This is a question for the jackeens (but others can chip in ) what is a good place for a holiday for a week or two in the Dublin environs. I am hoping to take a lady friend with me and I want her to have a nice time as she is only learning to trust me slowly after disastrous carryings on with her last boyfriend some time back who was a bit of a bastard to put it mildly. That said, can anyone suggest somewhere nice and quiet and peaceful but not too far from the city centre. I have about a grand to spend on this to give you an idea of budget we are working within. I would normally stay with my aunt in Mayo but her husband died a few months ago and I don't think she would be in the mood for a young couple on top of her right now - I don't know Dublin at all well so suggestions are very much appreciated from Setanta and other Dubs.

[An Fear Dubh]

I do not live in Dublin but I know plenty who regularly frequent it on short breaks. My first question is the city centre location essential? As I know a few have booked into either a B&B or the Marine Court Hotel in Bray. It is close to the dart (train) and a short trip into the city centre, the draw back is getting from the city centre after 11pm. As some services stop around that time. But Bray offers nice walks and the Hotel does have entertainment itself, also good facilities and regularly feature in the norther newspapers offering mid week specials. But this is getting close to high season and such offers disappear, and prices rise. So the hotel might be on the expensive side, but there are B&B across the road from the hotel. Also from Bray Wicklow and Glendalough are not too far away. Are you traveling by car?

[Blue Angel]

Hi, I am not sure if we would be travelling by car FD as I am not allowed to drive myself as I am a mild epileptic and my friend is foreign so we are not sure her license would be valid - it might possibly be as it was issued in Cyprus originally. Another option is that I have an aunt who is a half-sister to my father who runs a small hotel in Dublin, but we don't want to take the mick out of her by appearing to ask for reduced price rooms and also as she is only my father's half sister from my granfather's first marriagea nd much older I know her only slightly.

But thanks for the advice I am about to go talk to my lady friend and we shall what she would like to do as I want her to have the final say in this as it is supposed to be a treat to try and cheer her up and a chance for me to actually visit relatives at some point and introduce her to them. As she is part Egyptian, part Cypriot and her father Muslim and mother Christian this should raise a few interesting hackles among the er less socially aware members of the family

[collina]

Why not stay in one of the satelite towns like Drogheda? there is plenty to see, its much cheaper and only half an hour into Dublin by the motorway. The Entreprise takes about 35 mins from Drogheda station. Its also quieter if ya want some peace. There is loads to see in Louth and Meath

[An Fear Dubh]

I think if you are not going by car, then the dart or luas system is your boundry limit. I think you need to shop around and look for deals, the problem is the time of year where few good deals are available. You might also look at the coach deals, as they sometimes offer a bit of both. A couple of days in Dublin centre and a couple outside Dublin and day trips and evening entertainment is part of the package or optional. When without your own transport this offers a easy option.

[earl]

You could always get all high-brow and do a Joycean Ulysses tour o' Dublin. There are day tours from Dublin to Wicklow too.