I really enjoy staying in Irish Guest Houses, and Bed and Breakfast establishments; for me the hospitality, level of comfort and (usually) delicious breakfast just cannot be beaten.

Well, I certainly wasn't disappointed by Pax House. From the moment I arrived (extremely late, as my flight into Kerry had been delayed) John made me feel welcome. He insisted on bringing a pot of tea and just-baked fruit scones to my room ( so nice after a very long day's travel - 13hrs in total), even though he was just about to give some guests a lift into Dingle.

Location:
Pax House arguably has the best view of any hotel or b&b in Dingle. It is situated 1km from Dingle town on a peaceful hill overlooking the mouth of Dingle harbour, and with far-stretching views to the Iveragh Peninsula (Ring of Kerry). The walk along the rural lane down to Dingle town takes approx 10-15 minutes, possibly a bit longer on the way up.

Bedrooms:
My room had a double bed, fridge, tea/coffee-making facilites, hairdryer, television, plenty of storage for clothing, and immaculate, sparkling clean en-suite facilites. There were little vases of fresh flowers on the bed-side tables. Each evening when I returned, the bed-side lamps had been lit, bedcovers turned down, and there were more-ish home-made biscuits on the table.

Lounge:
There's a comfortable lounge for guests to use with large sliding glass doors onto the patio, also for guests' use. Games, books and a map of the Peninsula are provided.

Breakfast Room:
Oh - the views! Two sides of the room are lined with windows which not only let in a huge amount of light, but also give guests panoramic views across farm land and the harbour and beyond to the Iveragh Peninsula. For the first few minutes, I just sat in silence, absorbing the beauty of this place.

Breakfast:
Delicious! A selection of fresh fruit (on any one day there might be pineapple, melon, watermelon, strawberries, grapes) and stewed fruits (rhubarb, plums, pears); home-made yoghurt; cereals; toast; brown bread; home-baked scones, and of course hot dishes: full Irish breakfast; smoked mackerel; scrambled eggs topped with smoked salmon (my favourite); and omelettes; several fruit juices, and an endless supply of tea and coffee.
(Also, if you have any dietary requirements, John is most obliging.)

Now, all of the above will make a guest want to return, however, what makes this place really special is John. He's there every morning cooking breakfast, talking with guests, suggesting places to eat, things to see and do - and he has a great sense of humour! The atmosphere at breakfast each day was light-hearted and relaxed. Was I just extra lucky during my stay? Not sure, but I met some super people from all over Europe and America, and spent hours over breakfast (sorry John!) enjoying their conversation and company.

I was supposed to move on after a few days, but just couldn't bear to leave. Fortunately John had space, and I ended up spending a whole week at Pax House.

Oh! And before I forget - I must mention the delightful Rio - John's dog - always looking for a willing companion to play with.

Do stay at Pax House when you visit Dingle - you won't be disappointed!

We came across Pax House on our own while driving into Dingle. Fortunately a room was available. What a room! It had its own seating area and a patio that overlooked Dingle Bay. Our host John was most accommodating and made wonderful suggestions about restaurants and things to see in the area. We were welcomed with scones, jam and tea upon arrival and in addition, breakfast was fantastic. I had a traditional Irish breakfast, and my husband, an ex-Brit, chose mackeral which was something he has not had since childhood.

For anyone interested, they have a website,
www.pax-house.com. We couldn't recommend this place more!

My fiance and I stayed for two nights and the views and location were amazing. The service, accommodation and attention to detail from the host John were always above and beyond expectations. We truly miss the midday delights and couldn't wait to jump out of bed for one of the best breakfasts ever. John was always very informative and insightful and the pax house is in a perfect location to see the rest of Dingle. Thanks for a splendid time.

John, at Pax House was a great host - tea and scones on the balcony overlooking the bay when we arrived. Accommodated us well at last minute. Wonderfull breakfast. Lovely location. Interesting artwork and decor. Showed us where to see the sights. Best place we stayed in the area.