The scheme, known as the “Golden Trekker” applies to train travel in Ireland on the Iarnród Éireann (Irish rail) network.

Golden Trekker Tickets take the form of a four-day Trekker ticket, or a sequence of four-day tracker tickets for longer stays, providing senior visitors with unrestricted rail travel within the republic of Ireland.  Each four-day Trekker ticket is worth at least €100 ($140) per person.

The scheme makes Ireland vacations even more affordable for seniors. Any of our selfdrive Ireland vacation packages can be purchased excluding the rental car and you can get around using your free rail pass and take a bus or taxi to your hotel.
Alternatively choose from our list of hotels near Irish train stations to make that vacation even more convenient.

To get your Golden trekker ticket you must contact your local Tourism Ireland representatives:

For visitors from the USA the process is:

Call Tourism Ireland on 800 SHAMROCK (1-800-7426-7625) at least 48 hours prior to your arrival in Ireland, and provide the following information:

- First and last name
- Date of birth
- Passport Number
- Date you wish your Golden Trekker Pass to commence (each pass is valid for four days. If you intend to travel for longer periods, you have to apply for more than one pass.)
- Country of residence
- Email address and/or Postal address
- Origin of first rail journey

Once you have provided this information, your Tourism Ireland agent will process your application for a Golden Trekker, and a confirmation will be delivered to you in time for your trip to Ireland.

 For visitors from other countries visit www.discoverireland.com for details.

The index also shows that Killarney hotels are the most expensive rooms in the country while the cheapest are in County Waterford. The largest percentage fall was in Galway where prices were highest in 2008 but fell by 24% in 2009.

The changes by town/city are set out in the following table:

You can download the full report at hotels.com:
http://www.hotels.com/press/hotels.com-hotel-price-index-ireland-2009-h2.pdf

For quality control purposes, we have been gathering information on the properties we sell since our foundation over 10 years ago. Properties are rated on 7 distinct criteria: hospitality, accommodation, food, exterior, facilities, location  and value.
We have always displayed this information on the individual hotel page on our website, but we have never published a ranking showing the best hotels……until now:

The hotels with the highest ratings on our website are:

#1 Lough Eske Castle, County Donegal

#2 Glin Castle County Limerick

#3 Dromoland Castle, County Clare

#4 Westin Hotel, Dublin

#5 Waterford Castle, County Waterford

#6 Adare Manor, County Limerick

#7 Markree Castle, County Sligo

#8 Carrig House, County Kerry

#9 Ashford Castle, County Mayo

#10 Mount Juliet, County Kilkenny

Congratulations to Lough Eske Castle, a new hotel only open  a couple of years, for achieving a level of consistency of quality and service that has propelled it to the top of the list.

4 Stars Hotels in Ireland

County Carlow
BALLYKEALEY MANOR HOTEL
MOUNT WOLSELEY HOTEL SPA & COUNTRY CLUB
RAMADA HOTEL AND SUITES AT KILLERIG
TALBOT CARLOW
THE LORD BAGENAL INN
County Cavan
CABRA CASTLE HOTEL
CAVAN CRYSTAL HOTEL
RADISSON SAS FARNHAM ESTATE HOTEL
SLIEVE RUSSELL HOTEL GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB
County Clare
ARMADA HOTEL, Spanish Point
BALLINALACKEN CASTLE
CLIFFS OF MOHER HOTEL
GREGANS CASTLE HOTEL
HOTEL DOOLIN
LAHINCH GOLF & LEISURE HOTEL
OLD GROUND HOTEL
SHEEDYS COUNTRY HOUSE HOTEL
TIR GAN EAN HOUSE HOTEL
VAUGHAN LODGE
WOODSTOCK HOTEL
County Cork
AMBASSADOR HOTEL BEST WESTERN
BAY VIEW HOTEL
BLARNEY GOLF RESORT
CARLTON HOTEL KINSALE
CARRIGALINE COURT HOTEL & LEISURE CENTRE
CASTLE HOTEL
CHARLEVILLE PARK HOTEL
CLARION HOTEL
CORK INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT HOTEL
GARRYVOE HOTEL
IMPERIAL HOTEL WITH ESCAPE SALON AND SPA
INCHYDONEY ISLAND LODGE AND SPA, Clonakility, West Cork
JURYS CORK HOTEL
LONGUEVILLE HOUSE HOTEL
MARITIME HOTEL
MARYBOROUGH HOTEL & SPA
MONTENOTTE HOTEL
ORIEL HOUSE HOTEL LEISURE CLUB & SPA
RADISSON SAS HOTEL & SPA CORK
ROCHESTOWN PARK HOTEL
SEAVIEW HOTEL
SILVER SPRINGS MORAN HOTEL
THE RADISSON SAS HOTEL, CORK AIRPORT
TRIDENT
County Donegal
AN CHUIRT, Gweedore
BALLYLIFFIN LODGE & SPA
CARLTON REDCASTLE HOTEL & SPA
CASTLE GROVE COUNTRY HOUSE
GREAT NORTHERN HOTEL
HARVEYS POINT COUNTRY HOTEL
MILL PARK
RADISSON SAS HOTEL
RATHMULLAN HOUSE HOTEL
ROSAPENNA HOTEL AND GOLF RESORT
SANDHOUSE HOTEL, Rossnowlagh
SHANDON HOTEL SPA AND WELLNESS
VILLA ROSE HOTEL, Ballybofey
County Dublin
BROOKS HOTEL
BURLINGTON HOTEL
CARLTON HOTEL DUBLIN AIRPORT
CASTLEKNOCK HOTEL & COUNTRY CLUB
CITYWEST GOLF HOTEL
CITYWEST HOTEL & GOLF RESORT
CLARION HOTEL DUBLIN AIRPORT
CLARION HOTEL DUBLIN IFSC
CLARION HOTEL DUBLIN LIFFEY VALLEY
CLONTARF CASTLE HOTEL
CROWNE PLAZA BLANCHARDSTOWN
CROWNE PLAZA DUBLIN NORTHWOOD
FITZPATRICK CASTLE DUBLIN HOTEL
GRAND HOTEL
GRESHAM HOTEL
HERBERT PARK HOTEL
HILTON DUBLIN
Hilton Dublin Airport
HILTON KILMAINHAM
Jurys Croke Park Hotel
Louis Fitzgerald Hotel
MALDRON HOTEL CARDIFF LANE
MORRISON HOTEL
O CALLAGHAN ALEXANDER HOTEL
O CALLAGHAN DAVENPORT HOTEL
O CALLAGHAN STEPHENS GREEN HOTEL
PARK PLAZA TYRRELSTOWN
PLAZA HOTEL
PORTMARNOCK HOTEL AND GOLF LINKS
RADISSON SAS HOTEL DUBLIN AIRPORT
RADISSON SAS ROYAL HOTEL DUBLIN
RED COW MORAN HOTEL
ROGANSTOWN HOTEL & COUNTRY CLUB
Royal Marine Hotel www.royalmarine.ie
SCHOOLHOUSE HOTEL
STILLORGAN PARK HOTEL
The Beacon
THE CLARENCE
THE MORGAN
TRINITY CAPITAL
County Galway
ABBEYGLEN CASTLE HOTEL
ARDILAUN HOTEL & LEISURE CLUB
BALLYNAHINCH CASTLE HOTEL
CARLTON SHEARWATER C SPA & CONFERENCE CENTRE
CASHEL HOUSE HOTEL
CONNEMARA COAST HOTEL
COURTYARD BY MARRIOTT
GALWAY BAY HOTEL CONFERENCE AND LEISURE CENTRE
HOTEL MEYRICK
JOHN GLYNN’S CLAYTON HOTEL
LOUGH INAGH LODGE HOTEL
MENLO PARK HOTEL
ORANMORE LODGE HOTEL,CONFERENCE & LEISURE CENTRE
PARK HOUSE HOTEL
RADISSON SAS HOTEL & SPA GALWAY
ROCK GLEN COUNTRY HOUSE HOTEL
ROSLEAGUE MANOR HOTEL
ROSS LAKE HOUSE HOTEL
THE HOUSE HOTEL
THE TWELVE
THE WESTWOOD
ZETLAND COUNTRY HOUSE HOTEL
County Kerry
ARBUTUS HOTEL
ARD NA SIDHE COUNTRY HOUSE
BALLYGARRY HOUSE HOTEL & SPA
BALLYSEEDE CASTLE HOTEL
BROOK LODGE HOTEL
BROOKLANE HOTEL
BUTLER ARMS HOTEL
CAHERNANE HOUSE HOTEL
DINGLE SKELLIG HOTEL
DROMHALL HOTEL
EARLS COURT HOTEL
Fels Point
Kathleens Country House
KILLARNEY AVENUE HOTEL
KILLARNEY PLAZA HOTEL & SPA
LAKE HOTEL
LOCH LEIN COUNTRY HOUSE HOTEL
Manor West Hotel Spa & Leisure Club
MEADOWLANDS HOTEL
PARKNASILLA HOTEL
RANDLES COURT CLARION HOTEL
RIVERSIDE HOTEL KILLARNEY
ROSS HOTEL
SNEEM HOTEL
THE BREHON
THE KILLARNEY ROYAL HOTEL
THE MALTON
THE VALLEY SUITES
County Kildare
BARBERSTOWN CASTLE
CARLTON ABBEY
Carton House
Clanard Court Hotel
COURTYARD HOTEL
KEADEEN HOTEL
KILKEA CASTLE HOTEL
KILLASHEE HOUSE HOTEL & VILLA SPA
MAUDLINS HOUSE HOTEL
Moyvalley Hotel
OSPREY HOTEL & SPA
THE WESTGROVE HOTEL
County Kilkenny
HOTEL KILKENNY
KILKENNY HIBERNIAN HOTEL
KILKENNY ORMONDE HOTEL
KILKENNY RIVER COURT
MOUNT JULIET CONRAD
NEWPARK HOTEL
County Laois
CASTLE DURROW COUNTRY HOUSE HOTEL
PORTLAOISE HERITAGE HOTEL
THE KILLESHIN HOTEL
County Leitrim
ABSOLUTE HOTEL & SPA
CARLTON CASTLETROY PARK HOTEL
CLARION HOTEL & LEISURE CENTRE LIMERICK
CLARION HOTEL SUITES LIMERICK
DUNRAVEN ARMS HOTEL
MUSTARD SEED AT ECHO LODGE HOTEL
RADISSON SAS HOTEL AND SPA, LIMERICK
STRAND HOTEL
THE CARRIAGE HOUSE
County Louth
BALLYMASCANLON HOTEL
CROWNE PLAZA DUNDALK
THE D HOTEL
County Mayo
ARDMORE COUNTRY HOUSE HOTEL
CARLTON ATLANTIC COAST HOTEL
DAYS HOTEL CASTLEBAR
HOTEL WESTPORT, Leisure, Spa and Conference
KNOCKRANNY HOUSE HOTEL & SPA
MOUNT FALCON COUNTRY HOUSE HOTEL
NEWPORT HOUSE HOTEL
PARK INN MULRANNY
Ramada Ballina
STELLA MARIS COUNTRY HOUSE HOTEL
The Ice House Hotel
The McWilliam Park Hotel
WESTPORT PLAZA HOTEL
County Meath
MARRIOTT ASHBOURNE HOTEL
BELLINTER HOUSE
BETTYSTOWN COURT HOTEL
CITY NORTH HOTEL
DUNBOYNE CASTLE HOTEL & SPA
KNIGHTSBROOK HOTEL, SPA & GOLF RESORT
MARRIOTT JOHNSTOWN HOUSE & SPA
TRIM CASTLE
County Monaghan
HILLGROVE HOTEL LEISURE & SPA
NUREMORE HOTEL
The Hunting Lodge at Castle Leslie Estate
County Offaly
BRIDGE HOUSE HOTEL, SPA & LEISURE CLUB
COUNTY ARMS HOTEL
KINNITTY CASTLE HOTEL
TULLAMORE COURT HOTEL
County Roscommon
ABBEY HOTEL CONFERENCE AND LEISURE
KILRONAN CASTLE
County Sligo
CASTLE DARGAN HOTEL
CLARION HOTEL SLIGO
CROMLEACH LODGE COUNTRY HOUSE
DIAMOND COAST HOTEL
Glasshouse Hotel
Radisson SAS & Spa
SLIGO PARK HOTEL AND LEISURE CLUB
County Tipperary
Baileys of Cashel
BALLYKISTEEN HOTEL & GOLF RESORT
CASHEL PALACE HOTEL
CLONMEL PARK HOTEL
HORSE AND JOCKEY HOTEL
MINELLA HOTEL AND LEISURE CENTRE
County Waterford
ARLINGTON LODGE COUNTRY HOUSE HOTEL
ATHENAEUM HOUSE HOTEL
FAITHLEGG HOUSE HOTEL
The Fitzwilton Hotel
WATERFORD CASTLE HOTEL & GOLF CLUB
County Westmeath
Annebrook House Hotel
ATHLONE SPRINGS HOTEL
GLASSON GOLF HOTEL
HODSON BAY HOTEL
MULLINGAR PARK HOTEL
RADISSON SAS HOTEL, ATHLONE
SHERATON ATHLONE HOTEL
THE PRINCE OF WALES HOTEL
County Wexford
AMBER SPRINGS HOTEL & HEALTH SPA
ASHDOWN PARK HOTEL
BRANDON HOUSE HOTEL AND SOLAS CRA SPA
CEDAR LODGE HOTEL AND RESTAURANT
DUNBRODY COUNTRY HOUSE HOTEL
FERRYCARRIG HOTEL
KELLYS RESORT HOTEL
MARLFIELD HOUSE HOTEL
Seafield Golf & Spa Hotel
TALBOT HOTEL
THE CARLTON MILLRACE HOTEL
WHITES OF WEXFORD
WHITFORD HOUSE HOTEL HEALTH & LEISURE CLUB
County Wicklow
BROOKLODGE HOTEL AND WELLS SPA
GLENVIEW HOTEL
TINAKILLY COUNTRY HOUSE AND RESTAURANT

The majestic Ashford Castle, set on 350 acres, is located in the beautiful west of Ireland north of Galway and dates back to 1228.
Situated on the confluence of Lough Corrib and the River Cong, and once a summer home of the Guinness family, Ashford Castle has captivated visitors since being converted to a hotel in May 1939.

While the Equestrian Centre is over-rated, the 350 acre estate is renowned for having Ireland’s first Falconry School offering a rare opportunity to handle birds of prey and the grounds provide ample opportunity to wander and relax.

Dining at Ashford Castle is an unparalleled culinary experience. The George ‘V’ Room offers elegant dining amid period decor with a world-class menu.  For a more traditional and casual dining experience, Cullen’s Cottage is located within the grounds less than a 2 minute walk from the Castle’s main entrance.