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Some say the heart of Dublin beats in the neighborhood of Temple Bar. See chapter 6.
Foldout map, plus detailed maps throughout
Exact prices, directions, opening hours,and other practical information
Candid reviews of hotels and restaurants,plus sights, shopping, and nightlife
Itineraries, walking tours, and trip-planning ideas
Insider tips from local expert authors
Jack Jewers has directed films for the BBC, reviewed publications for Time Out, and contributed to several guidebooks, including previous editions of Frommer's Ireland. He also co-wrote Frommer's Ireland Day by Day. Jack grew up listening to his great aunt's tales about living in Dublin during the Civil War. She once leaned out of a window during a late-night battle to tell the gunmen to keep the noise down—people were trying to sleep. Born and raised in England, Jack proposed to his Irish-American wife at a spa in County Kerry. She said yes. That spa gets a great review in this book.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great Information, Well Organized,
By
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Frommer's Ireland 2010 (Frommer's Complete Guides) (Paperback)
I bought three travel books to prepare for a trip to Ireland and found this Frommers guide truly valuable. Excellent map, very well organized, excellent details. I have now used it to book accomodations, special tickets to events and plan a driving tour.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
The Emerald Guidebook,
This review is from: Frommer's Ireland 2010 (Frommer's Complete Guides) (Paperback)
When planning a trip to any location it is always a good idea to consult and bring a guidebook. I personally use guidebooks because they assist in the planning of the trip as well as point out all the best locations I otherwise might not have visited. When I am searching for a travel book I want the publication to meet certain criteria. The guidebook should point out both sight seeing hot spots as well as mention less popular locations. Travel guides should also review local restaurants and hotels. Lastly, a guidebook should provide historical background as well as inform the reader of cultural traditions. Frommer's Ireland 2010 meets all of these requirements and more.
What sets the Frommer's Ireland 2010 apart from any other travel guide is in the first 100 pages. In the beginning of this book is information that helps you plan your trip to Ireland and make the trip as easy as possible. There is a "best of" section, Irish History, and even help with planning your trip. The first chapter is titled The Best of Ireland. In this section there are 15 categories that list the top of what Ireland has to offer on everything from Best Picture-Postcard Towns to Best Castles to Best Family Activities. This is the perfect way to begin a guidebook. Before the reader delves into the different regions and towns they are told some key locations they might want to consider. Each hot stop has a brief description and a page number that corresponds with its section in the guide. This is a wonderful jumping off point for the guidebook and gets the reader to start planning his or her trip, which is sometimes the most difficult part. Following the "best of" is a chapter about the country of Ireland. Initially the book discuses the current state of Ireland from its economic troubles to the civil war that nearly broke out again. The largest chunk of this section however, is the history of Ireland. This 14-page account of Irish history dates back to around the late 8000s B.C. with the first settlers to the area after the ice age. Moving ahead the section touches on the first signs of colonization, the importance of the Celts, Viking invasion, Oliver Cromwell, the potato famine, and Irish rebellion. This chapter is concluded with a summery of Irish pop-culture and run down of the dos and don'ts of eating and drinking in Ireland. In my mind the most important and helpful attribute to this guidebook is chapter 3: Planning Your Trip. This chapter details information to help travelers determine when is the right time to travel to Ireland based on price and weather. A calendar of events is also listed to give reader insight into which festivals or traditions will be happening when. Specific documentation needed to enter Ireland is also listed. For instance if traveling from the United States and staying in Ireland for less than three months only a passport is required, not a visa. This chapter also discusses how to get to Ireland and how to navigate once there. Suggested airlines are listed depending on country of origin. From the United States Frommer's suggests Aer Lingus, Continental Airlines, and American Airlines to name a few. However, traveling from London, British Airways and Aer Lingus are mentioned. The book also notes that flying from London to Dublin is one of the busiest routes in Europe and the airlines have stiff competition, which means "fantastic deals." Frommer's suggests having a car in Ireland, but warns of high rental prices and even more shocking gas prices. The guide does admit the ability to see Ireland on your own schedule and get out of the city is well worth the cost. Some basic driving tips and laws are listed as well. Sometimes planning a trip is the most difficult part of traveling. Frommer's "Suggested Ireland Itineraries" chapter is just the solution for any unsure planner. This section gives a brief description of each region as well as lists seven full itineraries. Each itinerary has step-by-step instructions with specific routes and maps. These excursions range from one to two week trips to the best family itinerary to how to hit the best pubs in Dublin in one day. These trips can be followed explicitly or adjusted to fit specific needs. Either way it is a great resource. Preparing of the trip is important, but the real "meat and potatoes" of this guidebook is its descriptions of Ireland. The guidebook is well organized, which is a very important aspect especially when traveling and often required to retrive information in a very short amount of time. The entire country is broken down into ten regions each with its own chapter. Each region is then broken down further into cities or towns. The towns each have a description of the area, how to get there, essential sight seeing, shopping, outdoors adventures, where to stay, and where to dine. The description of each town is honest. For instance, when giving an overview of Kinsale, the area is described as an artsy small town with numerous galleries and award winning pubs and restaurants. This statement is followed with the bad news, "the secret is out: This is a tourist town, so add parking problems, crowds, and tour buses to the list of qualities making up the cities ambience." The brief account of the town also describes major historical moments. Kinsale was the location of the Battle of Kinsale in 1601, a turning point in Irish history. It also mentions that just off the cost lies the Lusitania, a ship traveling from New York to Liverpool in 1915, which was sunk by a German submarine. This attack ultimately brought America into World War I. The guidebook aids travelers in getting to the town as well as how to navigate it. For Kinsale the book lists that the Bus Éireann provides daily service from Cork City, the largest city nearby. It also notes where the pick up and drop off point is. Suggestions on the best ways to get around each area are listed. For instance the best way to navigate Kinsale is by foot, but a number for Kinsale Cabs is listed if a taxi is needed. Several notable sights are listed in each section with those most worth seeing starred. There is a brief description and review of each location along with contact information, admission prices, and hours of operation. Listing the sites in such a way makes it easy for a traveler to see what each area has to offer. Starring specific locations is very helpful as well because it makes deciding which locations to visit a bit easier. Sports and outdoor pursuits is an interesting and pleasant addition not found in many guidebooks. This section lists places and companies that provide outdoor activities such as bicycling, fishing, golfing, sailing, whale watching, and so on. It is a nice addition because it appeals to more active travelers. Outdoor activities are also a nice alternative to standard museums and castles. Lastly each section lists where to stay and where to dine. Restaurants and hotels are listed as expensive, moderate or inexpensive. The same star system is used to differentiate between higher quality establishments and make decisions easier for the traveler. Each restaurant and hotel has a review, contact information, pricing, and hours of operation. One of the most intriguing aspects of the Frommer's guidebook is how universal it is without being vague. The book tries to appeal to all travelers by simply listing establishments and sites any person could enjoy. By doing this, the book is not one sided or uninteresting for any of its readers. It is then up to the traveler to decide which sites to visit and hotels and restaurants to try. The Frommer's guide is also set apart by its tone. The book has personality. For instance the guidebook uses the term "not to beat a dead horse" when warning readers yet again to not rent a car in Dublin. Comical terms such as these are a refreshing break from numerous facts, reviews and tips. The guidebook may seem expensive at $22 US, but it is well worth the price. The book is plentiful with information on numerous towns as well as very helpful with trip planning. There are also several maps ranging from full color maps of the entire country to subway maps to maps of specific cities and towns. Frommer's guides can also often be found for much less than list price, such as online at barnesandnoble.com for $17.16. When I travel I always carry a guidebook on me. This is a habit I picked up from my father who has trusted in the Frommer's brand for every trip we have taken together. With over 54 years of experience and nearly 300 guidebooks Frommer's is a brand you can rely on. Whether traveling to Ireland or any other location in the world, there should always be a Frommer's guidebook at hand.
14 of 40 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
Not good for Kindle,
By
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Frommer's Ireland 2010 (Frommer's Complete Guides) (Paperback)
Yeah, don't buy this for Kindle. Sucks, maps are worthless. Does not translate well to Kindle. Better to have the book in hand. Not a good idea putting it on Kindle. Also, Amazon won't give you money back in any easy fashion if you don't like your Kindle purchase.
Bummer....
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