Tips for Families

With its castles, parks, zoos, and playgrounds, rural Ireland is ideal for family travel. The big cities -- Dublin and Belfast -- are slightly less hospitable, if only because of a scattering of child-unfriendly hotels, limited kid-oriented activities, and high prices.

Out in the country, though, most hotels and guesthouses have family rooms, most restaurants welcome children (children are even allowed in family pubs -- those that serve meals -- during the day), and there's plenty of space for them to run off a bit of energy.

Your first goal will be to find truly child-friendly places to stay. Hotels that say they welcome small children and hotels that really provide for them are, sadly, not always the same. To sort the wheat from the chaff, one of the most helpful websites is www.irelandhotels.com. Click on "Detailed Search," then "Browse Properties" to search using a wide range of options (including kids' meals, day nurseries, and so on).

Given 24-hour advance notice, most airlines can arrange for a special children's menu. If you're renting a car, be sure to reserve car seats if your kids are small -- don't assume that the car-rental companies will have extras on hand. Throughout the island, entrance fees and tickets on public transportation are often reduced for children 11 and under. Family rates for parents with children are also commonplace. In this guide, a "family" rate, unless otherwise stated, is for two adults with two children. Additional charges are often made for larger families.

Some hotels, guesthouses, and B&Bs provide babysitting, and many others can arrange it. (Although, just like back home, don't assume this can be done immediately.)

Familyhostel (tel. 800/733-9753; www.hihostels.com/web/family.en.htm) takes the whole family, including kids ages 8 to 15, on moderately priced U.S. and international learning vacations. Lectures, field trips, and sightseeing are guided by a team of academics.

Recommended family travel websites include Family Travel Forum (www.familytravelforum.com), Family Travel Network (www.familytravelnetwork.com), Traveling Internationally with Your Kids (www.travelwithyourkids.com), and Family Travel Files (www.thefamilytravelfiles.com).