The Montenotte Hotel in Cork are now holding a 1 week Twitter sale.  The Twitter price will be less then any other price for the Hotel on websites including their own. 

The sale is for Sunday/Thur to end of Dec. 

1 Night stay €55

2 Night stay €49 per night.

3 Nights or more €45 per night.

I think they best way to do an offer is to have very little restrictions and if there are any be upfront if there are any restrictions. So here is the low down.

Offer is for Room Only & does not include the Oct bank holiday Sunday & New Years Eve.  All other dates midweek are open but we reserve the right to close a date for the offer if we are close to filling up.

For now the offer is midweek as the Hotel has a lot of weddings happening at weekends in Sept but if this sale is successful we will look at offers for weekends.   The Oct/Nov school holidays might be a good time to visit Cork?

The Hotel is 4 star with a great view of the City.  Check it out www.themontenottehotel.com

To book just call 021 453 0050 and mention the Twitter Sale.

We now know who will be in this years All Ireland.  Are you looking for a good deal?   Have you found a good deal and want to pass it on.  Let us know.

To start the ball rolling I will give my selections.  I do not work for any of these Hotels.

Prices checked on booking.com

Hurling – Sat 05th Sept

The Mercer – 3 star hotel in central Dublin.  Have stayed here before.  Basic but if you just looking to put the head down €98.10 at the moment for a Double room.

3 star Maldron Hotel Smithfield  – Used to do work for this hotel.  Nice fresh Hotel near city centre. €109

If its down to price.  3 star Bewleys Lepardstown €79.  It is about a 15 min walk from the last LUAS stop Sandyford.

Football – Date checked Sat 19th Sept

The prices for the Football look a bit more expensive.

One Hotel that gets my eye is the 4 star Hilton Hotel on Charlemont Sq for €119.

If you are going for price the 3 star Days Hotel Parkwest for €39 is cheap as chips but maybe not ideal for the trip to the game?

In Ireland peak & non peak times can be fairly consistent.  There really is 2 types of business Hotels go for.  Leisure & Business.  All Hotels will try to get both markets but will have a majority of one

 Leisure – Simply people taking time out for short or long-term breaks.

 Business – Again simply booking a Hotel for business reasons.

 Leisure peaks

 The 2^nd week of July until the week before the kids go back to school is the peak time for Irish leisure hotels.  After that other busy periods are 

Easter

School Holidays

May/June

Bank Holidays

After Christmas day to 1^st week Jan.  

 In between these periods leisure hotels will try to get business at weekends and try to get individual business travellers.

 Business peaks.

Usually the opposite of the leisure peaks.  For example Easter & Midterm holidays can be quite for business Hotels.  Just after Christmas up to the 1^st week of Jan can be very quite for business hotels and the best time to get an offer.  Cities such as Dublin can get a lot of leisure business from international travellers during the summer.  

 I still believe you can always get a great deal no matter what time of year if you look around.

All Hoteliers use it a lot but sometimes there are terms we dont know and maybe a bit embarrassed to ask.

Hotel speak

Occupancy – How full a hotel is.  A 100 bedroom hotel has 70 rooms sold so it has reached 70% occupancy.

ARR – Average Room Rate.  A 100 bedroom hotels has sold 50 rooms at €100 each.  The average room rate achieved for this date is €100.  ARR should always be calculated less VAT.  13.5% in Ireland.

RevPar – Revenue Per Available Room.  This is a key number for hotels.  A 100 bedroom hotel has sold 50 rooms for a night at €100 per room.  The revenue achieved for all the available rooms is €50 per room.  RevPar includes sold and unsold rooms.  A room unsold for a night can never be sold again.

Budget – The budget is set before the year starts

Forecast - Forecast can be changed througout the year.

3rd party sites – Websites such as hotels.com that generate bookings for a hotel.

Allocations – An agreement with usually a wholesaler to give then a set amount of rooms each night.

Wholesalers – Traditionally these would get a price from a hotel and the package it up with say an airline journey.  GTA would be an example.

Tour Series -  A regular agreement for a period of time with for example C.I.E tours to provide rooms.

G.D.S – Global Distribution Systems.  Used by Travel Agents to make bookings.  The main 4 are Sabre, Gallleo, Amadeus & Worldspan.

Corporate Rate - An agreement with a business to give them a preferential price.

Commercial Rate- Term used to describe a special price given to an individual business person.

Leisure business -  Individual people that stay in the Hotel for leisure.

Market Segments – This is how categorize their business.  Corporate, Leisure, Tour would be in a separate segments.  This enables Hotels to see how each segment grows or declines each year.

Know some more?  Drop me a comment.

Donncha O’ Caoimh & friends will be holding a photowalk around Cork on sat the 26th of Sept.  The Montenotte Hotel & the Boardwalk Bar & Grill are very happy to play a small part in the day.

The Montenotte Hotel will provide refreshments and give access to the roof.  The Hotel has one of the best views in Cork City.  Later the crew can enjoy Corks newest place to meet & eat.  The Boardwalk Bar & Grill.  The Bar & Grill will also have use of a speedboat so 4 lucky people can take some shots of the Harbor. 

The Hotel is offering 3 free rooms and 17 discounted rooms.

Why is the Hotel & Restaurant involved?

I play a small role at the Montenotte Hotel as a Consultant.  When I worked for D4 hotels I was amazed at the power of social networks during the €20.09 sale.  I feel they way Hotels market their offerings has become very stale.  We seem to always fall back on the same old tricks.  Bland Radio ads.  Pay for Click & the old reliable box ad on the Indo. 

I spoke to Damian Mulley and asked him how we could be different.  Both the Montenotte Hotel & the Boardwalk Bar & Grill feel they have something worth seeing.   Damian spoke to Donncha and the Photowalk day was planned.

We also would like to pick the best shot of the day and add it to the Hotels website?

We are sure we will look at out best on the day.  If we are not then I am sure the crew will let you know.  That is the way this works.  Upfront and honest.

For more info on the walk go to http://inphotos.org/towering-over-our-heads/ 

For more about the Hotel & the Boardwalk www.themontenottehotel.com & www.theboardwalkbarandgrill.com

Have decided to stay at home in for the hols this year.  Am heading to Donegal for the 1st time in 30 years.

It is a long drive from Kinsale to Bundoran but I am looking forward to it.  The weather is not good but you holiday in Ireland you take what you get. 

Breakfast at home was the usual coffee & 2 cigs.  Sorry but that is just me.  Am starving now so stop at Yeats Country Inn at  Curry in Sligo.   Looks like it does good business from passing holiday makers.  A meat and 2 veg kind of place.  You can get meal for €9.90.  Honest food if not spectacular.

Arrive at Atlantic Point Apartments Bundoran.  Am a bit nervous as could not find any reviews of the place.  Get a nice welcome.  Ask them if they busy and they say this week not as busy as last week.  This should be the height of the season.  Apartment is fine and I think good value for €399 & €6 per night for ESB at this time of year.  My Mother onboard and says RTE TV in Donegal not as good as RTE TV in Cork.  It maybe a long week.  Thanks God Winning Streak comes on.

I go into the Grand Central Hotel to watch the Golf.  The last time I saw this place in the flesh it was on fire 30 years ago. A very sad night for many people.   I cannot stop thinking about that night & how strange it feels to be here now.  I was just 18 and on holiday with 2 friends camping. 

A handy crowd in the Hotel and I am very impressed with a pint of larger for €3.80.  A guy starts to sing so they turn off the golf and I make my way home.  A bit tired tonight.  Hit a chipper on the way back.  Cannot remember the name.  €8.35 for Fish & Chips.  Costly enough I think as the fish looks like it came straight from Sellafield nuclear plant.

I hit the sack and as I lay in bed I think on how Richard, Frank & my own lifes have taken many twists & turns in the 30 years since we came camping here.  Some good and some not so good.  Am in almost daily contact with Richard but have not spoken to Frank for years.

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Day 2

Get up & look out the window.  Not a day for sitting on the beach but a great day for drying as they used to say.  Need some stuff so head down town. 

Notice the Market Square shopping centre so head in.   It looks very new.  Like a lot of places around the country most of the shops spaces have not been taken.  Other then Supervalue its looks empty.  I hope an upturn comes soon.  Behind these empty shops lay peoples hopes & dreams.  There was a time when I was a bit of a be grudger.  Today I really admire people who take a risk (not all) and try to start a business.  Head into Supervalue and get what I need.

Decide to get in car and just head north.  Not sure where.  As I drive on the main road north I see a sign for Lough Derg.   Call it divine inspiration I make a sharp turn right.   After a very scenic drive Patrick is back at Lough Derg again.

There are a lot of fanatical looking people going around in T shirts saying the Lough Derg walk?  Fanatical but in a friendly fanatical way.  Everyone is asking me if I am going to do the walk.  I dont know if this is because I look like I need help or because I am overweight.  I ask how long it is and am told a 5 hour round trip.  I decline.  I see a building so go in.  Is this the Interpretive centre?  I have cash & am ready to spend.  The guy at the desk asks me for my name.  I ask why.  It is just in case I don’t return from the walk.  I AM NOT DOING THE WALK & should they not have a bit more faith?

Like a right plonker I ask when the next boat trip to the island is.  He has space next Wednesday for a 3 day retreat.  €50 for 3 nights including boat trip.  I look at the broacher and see I am expected to do 9 acts of contrition and stay awake for 24 hour periods.  The last time I did that I was a lot younger & prefer not to discuss it.  I would have loved to got on the Island.  From the shore it looks an amazing place.

Feeling hungry now so we stop in a lovely looking village called Pettigoe.  I have mentioned my Mother is on toe with me.  My Mother & Father without fail traveled every year.  My Dad passed away last Oct & I made a promise that I would take her away for a week during the summer.  She did not forget.

My Mother insists that she is paying for this meal.  We head into the Pettigo bar & restaurant.  I am worried as I know what is in store.

The Half a Dinner Scam

My Mother & her 3 sisters have perfected the half a dinner scam down to a fine detail.  What they do is hit an establishment and as they are getting their dinner is ask for a Half a Dinner as they say they would never eat a full one.  Once they have an agreement they will get a half a dinner they follow up with will it be a big half a dinner.  Try to refuse 4 toothless grannies.  Now the half a dinner becomes a full dinner at half the price.

As we order dinner here it comes.  I would only like half a dinner she says.  Nooooooooo.  I can see by the bemused face of the waitress the half a dinner scam has not hit Donegal yet.  I intervene and say give her a full dinner & she can let what she does not eat on the plate.  My Mother looks at me as if I am some kind of wimp.  I don’t think when she offered to pay she had expected to pay for 2 full dinners.

Anyway the pub itself was a lovely place.  A 3 course meal was €18.50. When I say 3 course it was like what you get at home.  Soup, Dinner & HB ice cream.  I liked it.  Value?  Just like the village itself, on the border.  I would not have paid more for it.  The staff were very friendly & helpful.

That night we head into Bundoran town.  I drop herself into the slot machines and I go for a pint.  I head into the Emerald Bar.  I am sure I was in here 30 years ago singing rebel songs.  I have moved on but the pub has not.

Do go – If you have had 20 pints that day & are a bit worried about getting served the 21st.

Don’t go – If you need to see Glasgow Rangers play on T.V

Head across the road to Brennans bar.  Now this is the kind of bar I love.  It looks like it has not changed since the day it opened.  I can only see a tap for Guinness, Smithwicks & Carsberg.  I have a chat with a guy from Tyrone.  I tell him they will beat Cork next week & he tells me Cork will beat them.  It is just they way we do things in Ireland

Do go – If you want to see a real Irish pub.

Dont go – If you drink West Coast Cooler

Bundoran is what Bundoran is.  Kids games, slot machines & bars.  There is a market out there for this.  I still remember fondly my holiday as a kid in Ballybunion Co Kerry.  Both are very similar.  On a less positive note Bundoran is one of the most badly littered towns I have seen for a longtime.  I know they are numerous fast food joints & councils have to cut back on services.  Tourism is what this town is all about.  The litter lets the town down in a big way.

On a more positive note.  I cannot ever remember meeting a Donegal person I did not like & yes I have met Damian Blake.  So far this week I have found people to be very friendly.

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Day 3

What a beautiful day.  The sun is shining at last.  I look at the map at maybe my visit to Lough Derg is effecting me.  Glencolmcille is calling out to me.  Get in the car & we head north again.

Once we get off the main road the drive to Glencolmcille is amazing.   Up & down mountains.  We pass many beautiful looking villages.  I don’t know what it is about Donegal but there seems to be a lot of very interesting looking churches.  There is something special about traveling in Ireland when the sun shines.

Arrive in Glencolmcille.  It is situated at the end of a mountain.  It reminds me a lot of the many villages around the Beara Peninsula in W Cork & Kerry.  After a walk around we head into the Village Cafe.

The Village Cafe is spotless and there is a nice bright feel to the place.  1 breakfast & a chicken salad (& 2 teas) come in at a reasonable €14.70.   I notice on the window it says the Cafe is open until 3am Fri/Sat.  I wonder is that to accomodate people on the way home from the pub.  Surely the pubs do not stay open this long?  Yes it does remind me of W. Cork.

On the way back we stop in Killybegs.  Again the sunny day makes a town such as Killybegs look even more special.  There is cruise liner in the harbor and town is busy with tourists.   Have a coffee and on the road again.

Donegal Town

Make a stop in Donegal Town.  It is after 6pm so some shops are closing up.  One of the 1st shops I see is Yutopia.  A sex shop in Donegal?   There is a sign on the window saying legal highs.  I think about it but I just don’t know.  It is a bit like when they launched the legal brand of Poteen.  It is just not the same.  I decide not to go in as even though I did say it was late, it is not that late.

I would have liked to stay a bit longer in Donegal Town.  It looks interesting and i would say has  a lot of history behind it.  I like  my history.  We get 2 Cornettos and spend an hour enjoying the evening sun in the town square with locals & tourists alike.

Just go out for a few chilled pints in Bundoran tonight.  Drop into the Chasing Bull pub.  Town is very quite tonight so it would be unfair to do a review of the bar but I feel with a crowd it would be rocking.  I have also noticed that this year in Kinsale the town is very busy during the day and not so much at night.  Is this the year of the day tripper?

Make the mistake of getting a burger on the way home.  As I chew the meat I am reminded of my old friend John Bernard from Sligo.  He once told me of a bad steak he got while in New York.   Was it bad John Bernard I asked?  Was it bad Pat he replied.  You could pull a tractor with it.

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Day 4

Get up and look out the window as usual.  Not as good as yesterday but still a nice day.  Hear it is pouring rain in Cork. Have my coffee & 2 cigs.

I often wonder if I ever became famous would something’s be weird.  What would I do if I was asked to do a day in my life on the Sunday Times mag.   Get up at 9am.  Hit the bog.  Then I have my coffee and cigs.  Watch Deal or no Deal in the afternoon & then go for a pint later.  Not quite proper I think but at least it is real.  Do these people really exist?

I have never been to Leitrem.  I cannot even remember if I have met anyone from there.  It is time to do both.

Not long into the journey we are in County Leitrem.  Even though Donegal is very near the landscape feels a bit different.  While Donegal has a wild beauty this is a more lush meadow feeling.  It is as stunning as I hoped it would be.

Manorhamilton

Arrive in Manorhamilton.  This would be just a regular town if it was not set on the 4 mountains valley.  Just think lush green landscape.  Well worth a visit to this area.  I am not sure where we are going so go into a local shop for a map.  The only map they have is of just Leitrem and at a cost of €8.   I decline.  As Leitrem is small county I reckon that could work out at €2 a town.  As part of my mission on this holiday is to give my own personal stimulus package to the N.W part of Ireland I get two 99s instead of the map.  I know she appreciates this even though it is hard to tell from her face.

Do the ring from Manorhamilton to Dromahair and back.  Wow stunning countryside.  There were times when the sun broke from the clouds and I cannot put down in words how lovely it looked.  Go there for yourself.

On the way back to Bundoran see a sign for the Mervin Hotel Kinlough.  Just on the Leitrem side of Bundoran we will stop here as the many signs on the road say food served all day.

Ok the Mevin is open and we go inside.  Only for the young lady cleaning the place it was empty.  It was more of a Bartel then a Hotel.  Am sure if fills up later on.  I ask if they are serving food.  All they do is sandwiches.  Food served all day?  Ok a sandwich is food but come on. In their defense there is probally not much demand for more then a sandwich.  We order 2 chicken salad sandwiches & tea.

As we wait I wonder what type of people stay in a hotel such as this.  I would say it has been here for a while & will probally outlast some newer hotels.  The bar has a 1970s look & feel.  The sandwiches arrive and they also have a 1970s look & feel.  Straight from the fridge I would say.  Even as a hotelier I find it hard to complain when someone is pleasant and she was pleasant.  If someone is rude then that is another matter.  Ask O2.

Would loved to have seen more of the County.  Another time

Back in Bundoran and for the 1st time I see people swimming in the sea.  God what is it about kids in that they never feel the cold.  More power to them.

Head down town later.  Drop into the Railway bar.  Again it is the kind of bar I love.   A real old style Irish Pub. Have a breif conversion with a guy from N Ireland.  I cannot understand what he is saying and he cannot understand me.  I am sure we did not have a row.

Go into the bar next door.  Cannot remember the name.  It is that kind of bar. Get talking to Cavan man.  He says Neil Tobin gave Cavan people a tough time and they are not mean.  I apologize on behalf of Cork people. 

Just had a sandwich today so drop into Mr Ts chipper on way home.  I have to say the grub on offer here is 1st class.  Best chipper I have come across for a longtime.  The fish just melted in my hands. 

In Mr Ts I came across my Cavan friend again a bit worse for wear.  He was trying to get a discount off the price as he was waiting 15 mins.  Come on lads ye cannot have it both ways.

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Day 5

Not a bad day as I peak out the window.  Was looking at TV3 weather last night and a lot worse.  Do these guys even check.  It is going to be a Donegal day today.  Check the map and a place Ardara catches my eye.  We hop in the car and off we go.

Ardara

Once off the main road the drive to Ardara is very pleasant.  Just keep an eye out for wandering sheep on the road.  Arrive in the town.   What a great town.  Clean and very much on their game tourist wise.  The Owentocher River enters More bay here.  We pop into the local tourist office.  Once inside we find a nice Cafe full of tourists.  A quick stop for a tea & blueberry pie.  Ardara is well known as an area for the manufacturing of homespun tweeds. 

I head in to one of the tweed shops.  There are sales all over the place.  A sign of the summer. I need to release some of my personal stimulus package and I think I can make a difference to the tourist season here in Ardara.  At the back of the shop you can see people making various items for sale.   I spot a nice shirt & take a fancy to it.  A very friendly lady gives me a hand so off I go to pay for it.  Thinking this is a similar operation to my local bakery in Kinsale I ask when the shirt was made.  I am not sure she replies as it came from Inchigeela in West Cork.  My carbon footprint has now gone sky high.  I tell myself I have now helped Donegal & West Cork tourism.  We have a laugh & talk about the quite tourist season.

While I was in the tourist in the tourist office I saw a brochure for the Finntown railway.  My heart skips a beat.  I have always loved trains.  A 20 min drive up a mountain we arrive in Finntown.

It is 4.05pm but the 4pm train is still at the station. No change here then.  Get 2 tickets (€8 each) and all aboard for somewhere.  The journey is around 4 miles roundtrip and takes 25mins.  You get as near to the shore of Lough Finn as possible.  Special is the only word to describe it.  Well worth €8. 

Operational from 1895 until the 1940s I am amazed at the vision of the people who created this line.  When I think of the major difficulties even relatively simple infrastructure projects have endured over the last few years.  The money wasted?  Could the present shower build the Finntown railway now.  It would end up on stilts.  Since the introduction of new trains on the Cork/Dublin line it now takes 2 hrs 45 mins.  This is 10 mins more then before the new trains.  Give me Finntown rail anytime. Well done Finntown.

A quick stop at Jims Cafe Glenties for a snack it is back to Bundoran.

Tonight I drop in to Brennans bar again.  I really liked this place last time.  Get talking to Mrs. Brennan. She tells me the bar is 109 years old & has not changed in anyway since the family opened it.  All we do here is pints & conversation she says.  It works.  The pub has a nice crowd in tonight.

For the past few nights I have a pre arranged routine with my Mother.  She goes into the slots for an hour and a half and I collect her. We then go for a drink.  I arrive at the slots 10 mins early as usual.  There is no sign of her.  I ask the cashier did he see her.  He says she left over 20 mins ago.  I feel panic setting in.  I have the keys and it is raining. We have had a drink in a nearby Hotel on a few nights.  I head over there.  I see her in the company of 2 ladies. 

Breed & Madge are from Leitrim.  Breed had spotted my Mother looking a bit confused and asked her to join them and have a drink.  I am very grateful for this.  This is what makes Ireland something special.  I know there is a lot of serious stuff we need to deal with from our history & rightly so.  I do think that most people in this country are decent.  I think it is important that we do not lose sight of this. 

The craic with Breed & Madge is 90.  Laughing non stop for 2 hours.  Madge tells me the last time she was in Cork was back in the 50s.  At 16 she had boarded a Liner in Cobh with cousin to go to America.  Her cousin went to New York & Madge to Philadelphia.  Celtic Tiger cubs take note.

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Day 6

I am very encouraged by the amount of well done messages I am now getting daily.  I seem to have touched the hearts of a nation. Messages such as the one I received from a Mr. Healy Rea in Kerry.  Well done Pat.  I only wish you could visit the ordinary working people here in South Kerry.  You Cork hoor you. 

With most of the cabinet on holiday and B Cowan sulking in his caravan I feel a massive responsibility on my shoulders. I am not sure where the Minister for Tourism M Cullen.  He also may not know where he is. Am I in charge?

As my campaign to save Irish Tourism grows I feel I need to get more professional.  I need a slogan.  I was very impressed with Barack Obama during his Presidental campaign.  I have it.  My slogan.  FECK WE CAN.

Today I wish to bring an All Ireland feel to my campaign.  I will cross the border to Co Fermanagh.  I am worried this will be seen as unpatriotic.  I think again and as Tourism is marketed as 1 Island off we go.

Head for Enniskillen.  Again as all days this week the scenery on the drive is magnificent.  I feel like we are driving trough a wood.  Arrive in Enniskillen.  The traffic is bad.  I follow the signs for the town centre and shopping centre.   Am stuck in traffic on the main street.  I cannot see any parking.  30 mins I am back where I started.  Sorry Enniskillen but not prepared to do it again. 

We feel disappointed we did not get to see Enniskillen.  Can we find another area of interest in Fermanagh.  We shout FECK WE CAN.

On the way back I see a sign for a Castle on the left so go for it.  As Castles go it is a small one.   Better then the Castle is the landscape.  Rolling Meadows.  I sit down for 20 mins and just take it in.

Later I see a sign for Belleek.  Is this not the pottery place?  Ok lets lake a look. 

Belleek

The Centre is very busy today.  As well as a shop there is also a small museum.  We spend an hour looking around.  I want to buy something.  I am not a pottery person and nothing catches my eye.   I cannot leave N Ireland without injecting some of my stimulus package.  We buy 2 cups of tea & 4 sausage rolls.

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Day 7

The last full day of my campaign to save Irish Tourism.  Have I made a difference?  I do notice people are smiling more since I arrived here.  We decide to take a proper look at Bunoran.  Have really just seen it during the night.

On my way down town I come across a damsel in distress.  She is at a nearby holiday complex & one of her kids has locked herself in the bathroom.  She is there for 2 hours now.  Can I help.  FECK WE CAN.  I try my best to push the door in.  At this stage it does not look good for me or the door.   The complex super now answers his phone 2 hours late.  He will be here in 5 mins.  I look again at the door.  Is there a need for me to be here now?  I say my goodbyes.

We take a walk down the beach promenade.  It is a very enjoyable walk.  Bunroran beach is a small beach.  It has a blue flag & it is a clean beach.  I had mentioned earlier in the week that Bundoran had a litter problem.  Since then it looks fine.  Maybe it is just a weekend problem.  Then again the weekends are its busiest time.  There are a lot of bins in the town.  Maybe it is a people problem.

Lunch time so we pop into the Hollyroad Hotel.  Lunch for €9.90.  We try it.  Great value.  You will not go away hungry from here.  A guy in a suit stops as he passes.  The General Manager I think.  He asks us if everything is ok.  Nice touch.  I think is the word out?  Do they know who I am.  The Hotel seems busy.  I love a busy Hotel.  It just feels right.  I over hear as I pass reception the price for the weekend. 2 night B&B & 1 evening meal €129 pps.   I know this is a lot  lower then what was the norm in Aug over the past few years.

Bundoran has grown on me.  I can see why people come here if they have kids.  If you want amusements, slot machines & pubs then this is for you.  I think it could do a better with some more for Adults to do at night time.  The Town the same with all seaside towns is having a tough year.   I hope it does better next year. 

Need to start packing.  A long journey back to Kinsale tomorrow.

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Ready to head home now.  Thanks to everyone for their feedback.  It was meant to be a review with a bit of fun.  Co Donegal and the nearby counties are a great place to travel.  Fantastic scenery and very friendly people.  

I have been lucky to have done my share of world travel.  Ireland has something that other places do not.  It is hard to say what , but it just has.  You can have a great holiday at a reasonable price if you look around for deals.

Thanks again.

Pat

What is the best Hotel deal in Ireland.  I am based in Cork so have taken a look here.

The Montenotte Hotel €59.  4 star Hotel.

Travelodge €59.  3 star Hotel.

Brookfield Hotel €59.  3 star Hotel

Date checked Sunday 06th Sept.  Sunday usually best price day for Hotels.

Only checked Hotels 3 star or higher for a 1 night stay & a double room.

Checked on booking.com

What is the best you have seen?

Update

Ok have arrived in Donegal for a weeks hols so have checked out here for the best priced Hotel in the county.  I have used the same criteria as before.

The 3 star Letterkenny Court hotel comes in at a very impressive €39 a night.  I used to work with them when they were part of the Quality hotel group.  Times have changed biigtime on price.

Best 4 star is the Villa Rose Hotel Ballybofey coming in at €69 inl breakfast.

Update 16th Aug

Leitrim

4 star Ramada Hotel & Suites Lough Allen €79 incl Breakfast.

Cavan

The 3 star Park Hotel Virginia €50 incl Breakfast.

Monaghan

Interesting. Of the 2 Hotels best price for the 5 star The Lodge at Castle Leslie Estate €90 incl breakfast.

Louth

The 3 star Park Hotel Dundalk €59

So far I have been impressed with the value out there. If you look you will find value.

Hotels have 2 main prices.

The RACK rate.  This is the highest price a Hotel can sell.  It is very rarely sold and you might see it is during very busy times such as maybe the Ryder Cup or the recent U2 concerts in Dublin.  

The main rate a Hotel will sell is the Best Available Rate.  This is the best price a Hotel can get for a stay for a particular night.

Some 3rd party websites claim you are getting up to 75% off the regular price of a hotel.  Not so.

What they do is base this discount off the hotel rack rate.  lets say the RACK rate is €400.  The hotels best available rate is €100.  Some sites will claim you are now getting 75% off.  Do you really think you are getting 75% off?

If you are booking a Hotel and the website is saying the normal price is €400 but we will give it to you for €100 it is best to use your common sense.

Horwath Bastow Charlton survey main points.

The number of Irish hotels has doubled in the past 13 years.

Current over capacity of 20%, or about 12,000 rooms for the anticipated demand levels of the next few years.

Last year occupancy levels declined by 6.2% to 63.58%, while heavy discounting saw average room rates fall by €9.44 to €88.25.  Not only were hotels selling rooms at an average 10% cheaper than in 2007, they were also selling fewer rooms.

The relatively small decline in sales however had a much greater impact on profit levels.  This was particularly so in luxury hotels where a 12% fall in sales led to a 45% fall in profits before tax.  The reliance of this sector on the domestic market also increased from 41.9% of guests to 47.7% last year.

Over the entire hotel sector the domestic market in 2008 accounted for 65% of total bednights, up from 53% in 2004.  There is obvious concern that the resilience of the domestic market will be severely tested in the next couple of years.

Falling activities resulted in payroll costs at Dublin hotels increasing again in 2008, reaching an unsustainable level of 41.6% of revenue.  This was almost 10 percentage points higher than hotel payroll costs in Northern Ireland.  Given the continued weakness in revenue, this metric is likely to see further deterioration in 2009.

2009 has been a great year so far for Hotel Bookers in Ireland.  Recent reports say the Average Room Rate Hotels get is down over 30% since 2007.   Good news for the booker.  

Everyone now agrees that there is over capicity in the Irish hotel industry.  We need to be honest.  Some Hotels that were built  in certain areas hit trouble during the boom.

One thing for sure is hotels have proved flexible price wise during the downturn.  I have not seen the price of a pint down 30% in my local pub.

So what is a fair price for a Hotel stay?  I would love to hear your feedback.  Please bear in mind the below.

Hotels pay 13.5% VAT on the price they sell to you.

One of the biggest expenses for hotels is cleaning bed linen/Towels.

Energy prices have gone up since 2007.  Room prices have come down.

Staff need to be paid.

Hotels are like any business.  They need to make a profit.

Let me know what you think.  Just ask you try to be fair and resonable.