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Posts Tagged ‘B&B’

B&B standards

Posted in Home, tagged , , , , on June 5, 2019| 7 Comments »

We had an interesting conversation recently with BnB guests.

Our guests were travelling for business which they do a lot to the more rural parts of Ireland.  This means that they stay in many Bed and Breakfast establishments, as hotels are often not an option.

The highlight of their stay here…. cotton sheets, real coffee and wild flowers in the bedrooms!

They told us that normally they get poly sheets and instant coffee!  This, of course, makes me think that the tea would probably be TEA BAGS!!!!!

Good grief… what is happening out there?

We don’t get away too often, but seriously, this just brought me back to 1980’s B&Bs.

We’ve never joined any of the B&B associations, or gone for any accolades.  Since starting this journey we’ve just gone with our own instinct and how we’d like to be treated.  Sometimes, of course, it does mean a lot of work.  I know not everyone is into ironing sheets (and towels), but I LOVE freshly ironed sheets on my bed, so why wouldn’t a guest like that?  Ironing sheets also gives me an excuse to indulge in my guilty pleasure…… watching quiz shows/cookery programmes on TV.

Another guest also commented recently that our orange juice was the best.  Guys, I just squeeze fresh oranges… not difficult at all.

What has been your best, or indeed, worst B&B experience?  Or is there something that you would love to see Bed & Breakfasts provide?

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So much to do..

Posted in Home, Uncategorized, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on July 2, 2016| Leave a Comment »

in and around our area over the summer.  It truly is the #MagicalMidlands 🙂

Many of our B&B guests stay here as a stop off point on their way west, on their way to Kerry, or en route back to Dublin having been west or south.  Not many of them actually come to stay and spend time in the Midlands, and yet, when we do convince them to come and stay more than one night, they are generally ‘wowed’ by just how much there is to do within an hour’s radius of here.

I thought I’d share just a short list of what’s happening in our neighbourhood over the coming months…. it just might convince you to come visit and stay awhile.  You don’t have to come and stay with us, but it would be nice if you did!

11th – 24th July : Galway Arts Festival :  there is so much on offer over the 2 week period, it really is best you take a look yourself 🙂  Distance from us ….. 1 hour

Lorrha Countryfest Poster (5)

Sunday, 17th July : Lorrha Country Fest : the first ever country fest in Lorrha GAA Club featuring Entertainer of the Year – Mike Denver.  Distance from us … 5 minutes walk!

17th – 23rd July : Clay Pigeon Shooting World Championship at Esker Shooting Grounds.  Distance from us ….. 30 minutes

25th – 31st July : Galway Races… always worth a day trip.  Distance from us …. 1 hour (although traffic is crazy that week, so possibly longer!)

Friday 29th July – Friday 5th August : Birr Vintage Week : Vintage Week has been running for over 40 years, and has so much to offer… perfect destination for families.  Distance from us ……. 15 minutes

Sunday 14th August:  Tullamore Show : Ireland’s largest one day agricultural and livestock show.  Distance from us about 55 minutes by car.

17th – 21st August:  Terryglass Arts Festival : this is a lovely festival with lots of interesting arts and crafts happenings.  Distance from us…. 15 minutes drive.

20th August : Heritage and Forage : As part of Heritage Week 2016, our local community is organising a walking tour of our village, Lorrha and the surrounding area… collect food on your walk, and enjoy eating it at the end.  Of course, there are lots of other activities in the area for the entire week.  Distance from us …. 5 minute drive

27th and 28th August : Irish Game & Country Fair, Birr.  If you are in to shooting, hunting, angling, outdoor pursuits… this is the place for you.  Distance from us….. 15 minutes

15th – 18th September:  Shorelines Arts Festival :  this is described as a boutique arts festival.  It has so many great events happening over the weekend from literary to arts to food.  Well worth a visit.  Distance from us ….. 10 minutes by car.

20th – 22nd September : The National Ploughing Championships, this year taking place in Screggan outside Tullamore.  If you haven’t ever been, you should put it on your bucket list.  It is quite amazing.  Distance from us …. normally 55 minutes, but traffic will be crazy.

12th – 16th October : Offline Film Festival :  Birr is the venue for this film festival for both movie goers and movie makers.  Distance from us ….. 15 minutes

If I’ve forgotten any local events, I do apologise… but please feel free to let me know and I will add them to the list.

If you are planning to come to the Midlands well this list may just help with the planning.  However, you don’t have to come for the festivals and events… it is always a nice time to visit us … we’d love to see you here 🙂

 

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Being a BnB

Posted in Home, tagged , , , , , , on August 10, 2014| 12 Comments »

It’s been just over a year since we started out on the AirBnB road.  It has been interesting.  It has been fun.  We’ve learnt lots along the way.

We’ve had people from all over the place …. from USA, Canada, Australia, UK, Ireland and Germany.  My geography of both the USA and Canada is certainly improving!

We’ve met strangers who have left as friends.  We’ve met other AirBnB hosts.

We’ve shared many stories, many bottles of wine and lots of food.

We worried initially about informing our US guests that our rooster was called ‘Obama’ – he’s a rather handsome rooster.  We need not have worried…. they find it highly amusing 🙂

Obama - the rooster

Obama – the rooster

Our US guests do find it most unusual that we live on an ‘unnamed’ road (yes, folks that’s what it says on Google Maps!).  Unfortunately, there is absolutely nothing I can do to rectify that.

There have been many discussions about the rain…. how do we know when it is going to rain?????  We’ve explained that our forty shades of green is the result of our forty different types of rain.  All guests arrive laden with rain coats, rain hats and umbrellas and are intrigued that I own none of the above!!!

We’ve had impromptu cookery lessons…. showing visitors how to make pancakes, poach eggs and make Irish soda bread.

ta da! I've made Irish Soda Bread

ta da! I’ve made Irish Soda Bread

We’ve had lots of enthusiastic volunteers to help with the pigs.

Meeting the pigs

Meeting the pigs

We’ve received the most beautiful gifts from guests.

Painting by Celia Lauve

Painting by Celia Lauve

We always knew being a B&B would involve work, and it does.  Gosh, there’s an awful lot of housework.   It is a constant round of cleaning. I have perhaps become a little obsessed with the weather and trying to get bedlinen and towels washed and dried, and keep floors washed and clean.

Would we recommend doing the AirBnb thing?

Overall, our answer would be yes.

  • Doing it this way is definitely more secure – you have your guests verification before they arrive – and they too can check you out.
  • Be prepared for some early morning starts….. we’ve not had too many of those thankfully.
  • We offer the additional option of an evening meal which does I think add to the guests experience of Irish hospitality.  It also requires organisation and planning in the kitchen.
  • We’ve managed to entertain lactose intolerant, nut allergy folk and vegetarians.  Managing to convert two of the vegetarians to meat eaters has to have been a highlight 🙂
  • The various animals about the place seem to have taken to it too….. the dogs love all the attention and the pigs and hens have behaved mostly, so there’s been no mad dash to get them back to pens when we should be cooking dinner!

Have you used AirBnB?  Someday we will get the chance to get away and will try it for sure 🙂

And, wow!  Just had news that one of our B&B guests has bought a property 2 miles away following on from her stay with us.  How exciting is that?

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