Accommodation

It's been almost two weeks since I arrived in Ireland and I promise to myself that I would update the blog. So, here's a new post :)

In Ireland there are lot of B&B (Bed and Breakfast) that are family houses that have rooms for rental where, as the name implies, you can sleep and eat your breakfast. I'm sure there are lot of sites on the Internet were you can find an Irish B&B. I used Ireland B&B Network. Since a B&B in the city center is more expensive, I've decided to stay in Swords, a small town 13km of city center in the same place (Seamount House) I stayed when I'd came for my interview. It's a 3 star B&B, the cheapest I've found (30€ a night with bathroom outside the room) and the people are nice and friendly.

Unfortunately, they didn't had a room for the night I would be arriving and so I had to search for another B&B to spend a night. I stayed at Abbeyglen Cottage. It's a 4 star B&B, with a different quality... that comes with a price: 42€ a night with full Irish Breakfast.

It was very nice. The owners were extremely friendly and helpful and I would gladly stay there the full week if there wasn't the money constraint :\

Both B&B had wireless, so I could use skype everyday and look for a room in a shared house (daft.ie). It can take a while to find a place to stay. Houses in Ireland are VERY EXPENSIVE. A room in a shared house can be 500€ + bills. In my case, it took me less than a week to find a room as I'm not really picky. I pay 250€ + bills, it has wireless and it's near the work (15 to 20min walking). How did I do this? Easy, it's a shared house with 4 other persons, only one bathroom with shower, my room has (at most) 6m² with a single size bed. The house's street is also not the prettiest...

In Ireland, in the first month one must also pay a deposit (usually the same amount as the monthly rent). The deposit is return at the end of the rental if everything is ok with the house. If one leaves the house earlier than what it's the contract you'll loose the deposit (unless you find someone to replace you). In my case, another good thing is that I don't have to stay a given time. I say a month earlier that I want to leave and it's enough.

Just next to the street of the house I'm staying there's a very nice park :)