Galway Uncovered

Galway is the gateway to Ireland’s west and the cutest city I visited in Ireland. That’s not to say the others weren’t quaint but Galway has a little something that made me wish I had longer. Galway isn’t just quaint, it’s cool.

I was staying in the uber chic The g Hotel, designed by renown milliner Philip Treacy, aka creator of the bold hat Princess Beatrice wore to the Royal Wedding. Bright bold colours, plenty of spots and stripes, and stunning images of his amazing headwear in each room.

The g Hotel is the only 5-star property in Galway and amid the history and heritage of this town the high-tech, it pops. Have a cocktail in the crimson pink lounge where the psychedelic black and white carpet will make your head spin, have breakfast beside the car hood that’s now a painting of Marilyn Monroe or watch day turn into evening at the main lobby lounge, where you’ll sit under 100 silver balls that reflect the street scene outside.

If you want to get out and explore the city, the hotel is just a 10 minute walk into the heart of Galway. Start at Eyre Square where the streets are pedestrianised and follow your nose past pubs and shops along the cobblestoned streets.

Expedia’s Aussie travellers make the most of Ireland’s warmer months, choosing to travel from July through to September when wandering through the quaint towns and historic villages doesn’t require too many layers of clothing.

As always when I travel, I pick the brains of the hotel concierge on where to go for great music and good food. In Galway there were so many places to try that I my map was covered in circles. With so many pubs offering live music, we went on a mini pub crawl sipping wine (I’m not a huge Guinness fan) and tapping our feet in one place after the other.