Julie
Santa Barbara
Doing a long road trip around Ireland and Northern Ireland. We are stopping in Lisdoonvarna instead of Galway (for the music!). Then we have one night in between that and Belfast. Looking at staying a night in either Sligo, Donegal, or Londonderry. Any recommendations are greatly appreciated. Thanks!
Derry/Londonderry is a small city, easy to cover in a day. Do not miss the tour of the Walls, very good and not too long. The night life is great, with great music in a lot of the bars. Very good value for eating out and enjoying a drink. A very friendly City. We enjoyed Browns In the Town restaurant, which offers a fantastic fine dinning experience. We stayed in The Everglades four star hotel last Saturday and the room and breakfast was £80 for 2 people, £40 without breakfast. We really recommend you drive to Belfast via the Causeway coastal route. It is amazing, not to be missed. On that route you could stop in Bushmills village and other small villages on the way back to Belfast.
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LOVE Donegal! The Abbey Hotel is where I stayed when I was there. It's an adorable if slightly outdated place with the most helpful staff you'll ever meet.
Distance wise, it has to be Sligo or Donegal as a natural halfway stop. I suggest Sligo. Go to Strandhill and have a seaweed bath and relax before the rest of the drive.