Why 2026 Is the Summer of the Irish Staycation: Bring the Whole Group to Kerry
More Irish holidaymakers are choosing to leave the airport behind and rediscover what is waiting closer to home.
New research from Bank of Ireland predicts an increase in summer staycations during 2026, as spending on air travel falls and travellers become more cautious about the rising cost and uncertainty of overseas trips.
It is not difficult to understand the appeal.
There are no airport queues, luggage restrictions or early-morning departures. You can pack the car, gather the people you actually want to spend time with and head somewhere that feels completely removed from everyday life without ever leaving Ireland.
For families and groups of friends, that somewhere might just be Kerry.
The Irish Staycation Has Changed
A staycation no longer means settling for less.
Increasingly, people are looking for breaks that offer space, connection and memorable experiences rather than simply another hotel room. They want to bring several generations of the family together, reconnect with old friends or celebrate an important occasion without dividing everyone across different rooms and buildings.
That is where a large self-catering house comes into its own.
At The Lake House Kerry, groups of up to 26 people can stay together under one roof. There is room to gather, eat, celebrate and relax, while still having enough space for people to take a little time to themselves.
Instead of meeting briefly in a hotel lobby, your group has an entire house to enjoy.
A Group Holiday Without the Airport Hassle
Organising an overseas group holiday can quickly become a full-time job.
Everyone has different flight options, luggage allowances, budgets and travel dates. A missed connection or cancelled flight can disrupt the whole plan before the holiday has even begun.
A group staycation in Kerry makes things much simpler.
Guests can travel in their own time, bring what they need and arrive ready to enjoy the weekend. There is no pressure to fit your belongings into a cabin bag or negotiate the cost of airport transfers for a large group.
Once everyone arrives at The Lake House, the holiday begins.
Your Own Private Pub in Kerry
One of the features that makes The Lake House Kerry different is its original private pub.
The bar is exclusively for the use of the group staying in the house. It gives everyone a place to gather for a drink, play pool, put on some music or catch up properly without worrying about finding enough seats for a large party.
There is no last bus home and no need to separate the group across different venues.
The pub is part of the house, so the evening can unfold naturally. Some guests may stay at the bar, others might move into one of the lounges, while another group gathers around the dining table.
It is your house and your weekend.
More Time Together and Less Time Organising
The best group trips are rarely remembered because of a complicated itinerary.
They are remembered because everyone sat around the same table for dinner. Because somebody started singing in the bar. Because cousins who had not seen one another in years stayed up talking. Because a walk, drive or swim turned into the story everyone repeated for the rest of the weekend.
The Lake House Kerry is designed around those moments.
You can cook together in the kitchen, arrange local catering, explore the surrounding area or simply enjoy having nowhere else you need to be.
There is plenty to see and do nearby, but there is also nothing wrong with staying at the house and enjoying the company you came for.
Discover a Quieter Side of Kerry
The Lake House is located in Tuosist on the Beara Peninsula, close to Kenmare and surrounded by the landscapes of the Wild Atlantic Way.
This is a quieter and less hurried side of Kerry, with mountain roads, lakes, coastal views and small communities that still feel distinctly local.
From the house, your group can explore Kenmare, drive through the Beara Peninsula, visit nearby beaches, take to the water, enjoy local food or head further into Kerry and West Cork.
Discover Ireland describes Kerry as an ideal escape for its coastal drives, mountain landscapes, towns, beaches and outdoor experiences. Yet some of the best places are found away from the busiest routes, where there is time to stop and take everything in.
The Lake House gives you a comfortable base from which to explore it all.
A Better Way to Celebrate Together
A large group stay in Kerry can work particularly well for:
Family reunions
Milestone birthdays
Anniversaries
Wedding accommodation
Friend-group getaways
Hen and stag weekends
Retreats and team gatherings
Multi-generational family holidays
Rather than organising separate hotel rooms, restaurant bookings and transport every evening, you can bring much of the experience into one place.
Breakfast can be relaxed. Dinner does not need to finish when the restaurant needs the table back. Nobody has to leave the conversation early because they are staying somewhere else.
You have the freedom to make the weekend your own.
Sharing a House Can Offer Better Group Value
The cost of an Irish break is understandably important.
When the price of a large self-catering property is divided across the full group, it can offer much better value than booking numerous hotel rooms, particularly when you consider the shared facilities available.
Your group has access to the kitchen, dining spaces, lounges and private pub. You can decide which meals to prepare yourselves, when to use a local caterer and when to head into Kenmare.
It gives the group more control over the overall budget without reducing the quality of the experience.
The Kind of Break People Need in 2026
Fáilte Ireland’s recent research found that Irish travellers increasingly value short breaks that allow them to pause, reconnect and step away from the pace of daily life.
That feels particularly relevant this year.
A good break does not always require a flight or a tightly planned week abroad. Sometimes it means gathering your favourite people, driving west and giving yourselves a few uninterrupted days together.
At The Lake House Kerry, the scenery is dramatic, the house is full of character and there is space for the whole group.
The only difficult part may be getting everyone to agree on who is first up at the pool table.
Plan Your 2026 Group Staycation in Kerry
Summer staycations are expected to be popular this year, particularly for larger groups looking for the right dates and enough space to stay together.
The Lake House Kerry accommodates up to 26 guests and is available exclusively to one group at a time.
Visit www.lakehousekerry.com to explore the house, view the gallery and enquire about your preferred dates.
Your group holiday may be much closer than you think.
