introduction

There are four provinces of Ireland and Leinster is one of them that lies in the east of Ireland, comprises 12  counties and has the largest population of the four provinces.

surfing

Home to Dublin, the nations capital, the coast of Leinster isgenerally very silent due to it's close proximity to the west coast of the United Kingdom. Extreme swell activity predominately during thedeep winter (DEC-JAN) can send attenuated SW energy squarely into the Irish Sea with the south facing beaches and points of Waterford and Wexford profiting in spades.

travel

All the options are available in Ireland: plane, car, boat, bike, bus, tram, train, bicycle..what else?..taxi! So it's a matter of your personal choice. Ireland is beautiful for biking, but you will need a good bike for it, as road conditions are not always excellent.

Most trains operate to and from Dublin. Renting a car is very similar to the processes elsewhere and you will need a credit card in your own name and a full driver's license for a minimum of two years without endorsement. By the way, in many cases you will need to be 28 in order to rent a full size car.

where to stay

The largest city in Leinster is Dublin, also the capital of Ireland. If you are travelling to Leinster, the best place for accommodation would be Dublin. There are a huge number of youth hostels (around €20 per night ), bed & breakfasts (around €50 per person) and hotels (€80+).

For budget travellers,

• Donnybrook Hall is a 4 star hotel providing Bed & Breakfast accommodation in central Dublin
• Abraham House Hostel is a good budget hostel located a short walking distance from the bus stop.
• Almara Bed and Breakfast Dublin is an approved 3 star Bed and Breakfast accommodation with ensuite and standard rooms, guest lounge and complimentary tea and coffee and complimentary carpark.
• Ashfield House has basic accommodation starting at €13. Private and dorm rooms are available and usually clean and unusually large. The cost includes a croissant and orange juice for breakfast.

The Bunkhouse Hostel has a wonderful 24hr reception desk, non-smoking rooms, rooms/facilities specifically for the disabled, shared bathrooms, Irish breakfast, free Internet services and wi-fi/wireless LAN. Mid-range

For others, you can consider:

• Stillorgan Park Hotel is a four star AA accredited hotel situated in the prime location of Stillorgan on the periphery of Dublin City Centre. Facilities are quite luxurious, including spa, dining and a bar.
• Hilton Dublin is a pleasant and modern hotel with quiet rooms and excellent housekeeping. Tram station is right across the street so fairly convenient.
• Grand Canal Hotel is very convenient with the city centre and DART station 'Grand Canal Dock' just a few minutes walk away. Prices are reasonable and the hotel is still fairly modern.

Airport Hotels

There are a number of hotels located around the airport, for benefit of travellers,

• Carlton Hotel is a 4-star hotel that offers free bus transfer to the airport. It has a bar-food menu and a restaurant located on the top floor.
• Bewley's Hotel is an excellent 3-star hotel with a fixed rate of €89. Operates a free and frequent shuttle bus service to and from Dublin Airport.

what to pack

Pack warm and waterproof clothes, you won't regret it. Try to take mostly casual and comfortable clothing with probably one set of nicer clothing for more formal occasions.

All the gear if you plan to camp: a good sleeping bag and a waterproof tent that are good for low temp; special gas container u can use for heating food and water; a sturdy backpack or a cargo pack with a good daypack. Invest in a portable water filter or at least take some puri-tabs or boil the water. Definitely take along some bug repellent spray, sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses.

And of course, bring a camera, there're plenty of photo opportunities here to impress your mates with back home. And take a good protection for your camera from the sand.

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