Image from www.dublinlive.ie
In light of the updated travel abroad restrictions, it is unlikely us students will be able to jet off after final year exams or leaving cert students to experience the classy atmosphere of Magaluf, unless you fancy a €500 fine and don't mind paying €1800 for 2 weeks mandatory quarantine upon arriving back in Ireland.
With that in mind, I have decided to write this blog with potential staycation ideas for this unfortunate cohort of people. So if you happen to fall into this bracket, perhaps one of the destinations I will discuss will somewhat cater your needs. I know the beaches of Killarney are a far cry from the beaches of Mallorca but such is the world we live in at the minute…
Image from www.visitwarrenpoint.com
So without further adieu, the way I will frame this blog is by looking at 3 suitable destinations in Ireland which are student-friendly. So what fits the criteria of ‘student-friendly’? Well firstly, the ideal accommodation should be somewhere secluded whereby playing music into the early hours of morning is deemed acceptable. Secondly, it should accommodate 8-12 people and have a large fridge and kitchen table for the essential drinking games. As well as that, additional features such as hot tubs, barbeques and garden furniture will be up there on the priority list. Then, when suitable accommodation is acquired, the surrounding area will be considered. High up on this checklist will be any nearby outdoor activities such as beaches, golf, hiking trails, or even footgolf. At least by focusing on outdoor activities, we are less likely to face disappointment should further restrictions be imposed! I will then look at nearby pubs and restaurants, this may be slightly ambitious but one can dream.
- From Santa Ponsa to Salthill...
Santa Ponsa is a long way from Salthill, in terms of distance, liveliness and weather (just ask Theresa Mannion) nevertheless, I will attempt to present what could be a viable alternative. Finding the right airbnb is a crucial starting point to any staycation and it can prove quite a tricky task with large groups so bare with me. Just when you think you’ve found the perfect place like this airbnb in Galway which fits 16 people, has a hot tub in the garden, large table and a 3 minute walk from Eyre Square, you realise it is completely booked out until 2023, so we move on… Nevertheless, after some digging you will eventually find a place like this one in Mayo. I know I said Salthill but the golden rule in this game of staycation-hunting is that compromises will have to be made. So maybe what I should have said is from the ‘West of Mallorca to the West of Ireland’. So what are the surroundings like? Well to begin with it is located directly on the beachfront. Secondly, nearby Westport has lots to offer with activities such as boat trips. So if you fancy a cruise along the Wild Atlantic Way, look no further than this first proposal! And the icing on the cake for this gem in the West is Towers Bar in Westport which overlooks the port and has a large outdoor dining area.
Price per night: €95
Image from www.airbnb.ie Image from www.towersbar.com
2. From New York to Cork…
Again, I understand the stark contrast between these 2 places but we will make it work! Cork is the largest county in Ireland and has the second biggest Irish city population after Dublin. Some even call Cork, the real capital of Ireland but sure we’ll leave them to it once they provide us with a nice airbnb for our travels. If you are planning on travelling with a group of 8-12 people and a nice beach and golf course is high up your priority list then look no further than this Airbnb located on Harbour View Beach. Situated just 20 minutes from the iconic Old Head of Kinsale golf course, this location couldn’t be better. Furthermore, it is 10 minutes away from the well renowned Garretstown Beach which is the home of a popular surf school providing lessons and equipment hire for surfing, body boarding and stand up paddle boarding. So having ticked the ‘student-friendly’ airbnb and the outdoor activities off the list, it is now time to analyse the nearby pubs and restaurants. The place that came out on top here was the Pink Elephant bar. This restaurant is said to have magical views overlooking Courtmacsherry bay and also has plenty of outdoor dining space! If you are into fresh seafood, apparently this place serves the best in the land. And to top it all off, this place is only a 5 minute walk from the selected Airbnb so don’t worry about the struggle of booking an 8 seater taxi home!
Price per night: €320
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Image from www.airbnb.ie Image from www.pinkelephant.ie
3.From the Costa Del Sol to Donegal...
Yes I know I am stretching it with the titles here but again back to the golden rule, we have to compromise! Researching Airbnb’s in Donegal is actually quite enjoyable as there are endless amounts of options. However, I have managed to narrow it down to just one! This Airbnb in Laghey accommodates 8 guests and is located 350 metres from the beach. The surrounding area of this Airbnb is what impressed me most. If you are an adventurous group, you are just 20 minutes from well-renowned Bundoran which has an endless amount of water sports on offer at great prices. As well as this, you have Donegal Golf Club at your doorstep if you are that way inclined! To top it all off, the fabulous Glenveagh National Park is just 40 minutes away where you can do an endless amount of outdoor activities from as basic as a walking trail to cycling, fishing or even a tour of the Castle! Perhaps this option is more likely to interest the final year students who are not solely interested in somewhere to get drunk with their friends but actually want to see some of what Ireland has to offer. Finally, in terms of bars and restaurants, this Airbnb is located just 10 minutes from the vibrant town of Donegal where the list of options is endless. Nevertheless, I have narrowed it down to one which is Quay West Restaurant. Much like the previous two restaurants I recommended, Quay West also overlooks the Wild Atlantic Way with a large outdoor dining area.
Price per night: €225
Image from www.airbnb.ie Image from www.donegalgolfclub.ie
So there we have it, 3 viable alternatives to keep in mind when filling the car and hitting the m50 this summer. Of course this is far from ideal but with the right company and a good Airbnb, we can still enjoy what our little Island has to offer!
Unfortunately I do have to conclude this blog post by stating that you should adhere to government regulations with regards to covid-19 travel restrictions. However, I have no doubt that we will be given out to by Ryanair staff for having excess baggage before being wedged onto their plane soon!
Image from www.ryanair.com
Do you have any other suitable recommendations for student holiday destinations in Ireland that you think should be included on our list? Leave us a comment below
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