Ireland travel: Airfare from LAX, Great Western Greenway hotels

If you go

THE BEST WAY TO DUBLIN, IRELAND

From LAX, United, Delta, US Airways, American, British, Lufthansa and Aer Lingus offer connecting service (change of planes) to Dublin. Restricted round-trip fares from $659 to $1,214, including taxes and fees. From Dublin, there’s a direct train to Westport. The three-hour trip costs about $45 each way.

WHERE TO STAY

Knockranny House Hotel, Castlebar Road, Westport; 011-353-98-28600, www.knockrannyhousehotel.ie. This elegant hotel, set in a Victorian-like mansion on a hill, is nicely located near bicycle rentals for the start of a greenway ride. Doubles from $90.

Mulranny Park Hotel, Mulranny; 011-353-98-36000, www.mulrannyparkhotel.ie. With stunning views of Clew Bay, this 41-room hotel offers bike storage for cyclists on the Great Western Greenway. Doubles from $90.

Achill Island Hotel, Achill Sound, Achill Island; 011-353-98-45-138, www.achillislandhotel.com. This 26-room hotel, located at the short drawbridge that leads to the island, has free Wi-Fi and a nice in-house restaurant/pub. Doubles from $180.

WHERE TO RENT BICYCLES

Clew Bay Bike Hire, Distillery Road, Westport; 011-353-98-24818, www.clewbaybikehire.ie. The American and Canadian-born owners outfit bikers with helmets and saddlebags and will retrieve the bikes (and riders) at the end of the trail. Bicycle rentals begin at about $30 per day.

TO LEARN MORE

The best resource is “The Great Western Greenway” by Iris Galloway, which can be purchased at Clew Bay Bike Hire and other retail outlets in Westport. Also, go to www.greenway.ie.