Premium #14413

Bright Beachy Vibes in Bangor by the Sea.

House • Ards and North Down Northern Ireland United Kingdom

6 Guests

4 Bedrooms

4 Beds

2.5 Bathrooms

2 Car spaces

Primary home

Exchange types accepted

Simultaneous

Non-Simultaneous

Non-Reciprocal

Hospitality

                                    Hospitality Description: I’ve really enjoyed previous hospitality exchanges. I can be quite flexible with accommodation here.
                                

Statistics

Listed May 2022

General Overview

Our home is open plan downstairs with a lovely bright and airy feel to it. Built in 1928 it’s been modernised and extended over the years. It’s location is ace- just a short stroll from Ballyholme beach and village in one direction and from all the amenities in Bangor town on the other. Its in a very quiet residential area with very little passing traffic. It’s a very comfortable family home with everything you might need. Most of all it’s a happy home!

The Space

Downstairs/ Ground floor ;Entrance hallway with downstairs loo that runs into an open plan diner/kitchen with 2 adjoining  living/ family rooms. Out the side entrance from kitchen there is a utility room , my beauty/ massage room (workspace) and cinema room. 
From the dining area,  the patio sliding door opens onto a sunny south facing enclosed backyard with outdoor seating area and optional hot tub. You need to pre book the hot tub-we rent one a few weeks in the year. 
Upstairs you will find 4 bedrooms. And 2 bathrooms. One main with bath the other en suite with walk in shower. 
One king size master bedroom, one spare double room and 2 children’s rooms both with single beds.

Guest Access

I regret that our house would not be suitable for wheelchair users as it is quite old and has stairs and the doorways would be too narrow.

Notes

We have long taken down our stair gates so this maybe a problem for families with young toddlers. Although we do have a travel cot for babies. 
Our very friendly dog will stay with her minder so don’t worry you won’t have this responsibility! She is energetic and young and needs plenty of exercise and play. Unless of course you would like to do a pet swap or have some pet plans then please just ask. Also just to note our dog is hypoallergenic and doesn’t shed any hair.
I have a cleaner once per week so I don’t expect any big cleaning like making up beds, mopping etc.

Features

Show all features including those not in this home

Fridge

WiFi

Bed sheets

Oven

Towels

Washer

TV

Heating

Hair dryer

Microwave

Iron

Dishwasher

Smoke alarms

Workspace

Coffee machine

High Speed Internet

Garden / yard

Bathtub

Deck / patio / courtyard / terrace

BBQ

First aid kit

Fire extinguisher

Balcony

Fireplace

Toys

Covered porch / verandah

Bikes

Home cinema

Hot tub

Standup paddleboard

Kayak

Travel Styles

Long term

Weekend

Adventure

Budget

Family

Romantic

Sport and leisure

Foodie

Relaxing

Eco

City

Village

Beach

Water

Culture

Hiking

Cycling

Last minute

Good public transport

Golf

House Rules

Suitable for infants under 2

Suitable for children ages 2-12

Pets not allowed

No smoking

Allergens

Cat free

Smoke free

Low allergen

Dates of Availability

This member has chosen to hide this section from Non-Premium members.

Neighbourhood

Our neighbourhood is great everything is on your doorstep. You don’t have to drive here. 
Ward park is our local park and just 3 mins walk to the pitch area or the playground. You must feed the ducks and watch all the babies in spring time. They also have an aviary here with more exotic types of birds and hens. You will find our local library in Ward Park they host many community nights like poetry receitals. If you like tennis you can borrow our rackets and play tennis in the free courts here- towards the pitch end. Also during the summer there are free gigs on every Sunday afternoon at the band stand- pack some drinks and a picnic and take our folding chairs. You will also find the bowling pitches here in Ward Park. There is also a weekly Saturday morning park run here. And the annual Belfast Marathon usually happens around May time. 
The tourist information centre is located in the old tower down on Bangors sea front. Next to the pub called The Rabbit Rooms. 
You will find great coastal paths for hiking or biking going in both directions from Bangor to Belfast and Bangor to Donaghadee. These give you great sea views and rich wildlife diversity. People are friendly and like to stop and chat. 
Asda is closest supermarket I walk through Ward park. Asda car park has a local farmers market every Wednesday morning. 
Main Street and high street you will find shops, many coffee shops, barbers, restaurants, pubs. 
Bangor Train station is 15 mins walk.
Our area is famous for art and community events check out the local Boom studios https://www.boomstudios.org.uk/ or Seacourt Prints. More recently there is a walking tour of all the beautiful painted wall murals in Bangor. Music is big here and we are so lucky to have The Open House Festival with hosts a wonderful selection of musicians, comedians and shows. The strong arts community is undoubtedly one of the best things about living in Bangor and I help out during the busy summer season. The Old Courthouse has been tastefully renovated and is a fantastic new venue here in Bangor hosting local and international artists and musicians with many events for free; check it out  https://courthousebangor.com/ and it is the year round venue of the https://openhousefestival.com/ plus don’t forget the free gigs every Sunday afternoon in Ward Park throughout July and August. There is also a very busy traditional Irish music Fleadh fest https://ardscce.co.uk/ that happens here over 2 weeks in June with events on locally. One of these is The Folk In A Boat which I highly recommend it’s where local storytellers take you for a sea trip and sing and tell you local folklore- I took my boys last summer and it was a definite  local highlight. Other local boat trips to various islands ( like Copeland Island ) are also available. 
You will also find Copelands Gin Distillery in the quaint and scenic Donaghadee fishing village, just  a short driving distance along our peninsula. The family run pub/restaurant Pier 36 is one of the main locations where the popular Hope Street drama is filmed.

Getting to my home

Bangor Train station is 15 mins walk.

Nearest airport

Belfast City airport (BHD) is local to us about 15 mins drive 
Belfast International (BHS) is about an hours drive away.

Getting Around

Everything locally is within walking distance. Parks, beaches, shops. 
We have bikes too. 2 adults, 2 kids. 
Bus stop is just 3 mins walk and the main bus centre is located beside Bangor train station (15 mins walk). A train from Bangor to Belfast takes 30 mins and they run very regularly. 
A taxi rank is located outside the train station and there are local cab firms. 
If touring further afield like up the North Coast to the Giants Causeway a car would be ideal but day tours are available both by coach and taxi. 
Also a car is ideal for exploring our own coastal peninsula.

Map of Approximate Location

People Like Us Local Guide

I would love to make some new pals through PLU! I can give you a good guide on much of Ireland especially Waterford and Dublin as well as my current abode. Always up for a drink/ coffee/ chat !
Martin the boys Dad is golf mad and would be only too delighted to give you a round or 2 on our local courses.
Lee my partner is a well known local musician who plays around Ireland.

Feedback

Non-Simultaneous exchange 7 nights Jul 2026

Ann Verified

6 exchanges60 nights7 feedback

We had a wonderful holiday in Bangor staying at Sarah's beautiful home. Sarah was always available to offer support and we were very happy to meet her and the two boys before we left. We would definitely recommend an exchange with Sarah and look forward to returning again in the future.

Non-Reciprocal exchange 3 nights Jul 2026

Nicki Verified

4 exchanges16 nights6 feedback

We had such a lovely weekend stay at Sarah's beautiful home in Bangor! From the first contact Sarah was so great to deal with and couldn't have been more helpful, giving us lots of great tips on things to do and leaving fishing nets for rockpooling and a picnic basket for us. These really enhanced our stay! Sarah's house is cosy, comfortable and beautifully decorated, we felt instantly at home and loved coming back and using the hot tub every night. It's in a great location a few minutes walk to a gorgeous park where we loved feeding the ducks and going to the summer concert picnic in the park. Also very close to Bangor town and beautiful beaches. Don't miss nearby Groomsport and Donaghadee. Very handy for Belfast but there was so much to do locally we didn't even venture in this time. Thanks to Sarah for her hospitality and this great weekend.

Non-Reciprocal exchange 3 nights Mar 2026

Carolyn Verified

7 exchanges34 nights7 feedback

Sarah has an amazing location in Bangor. A 10 minute walk to the train station and easy walk to the beach or restaurants. Her home is welcoming and so is Sarah! As a professional masseuse we took advantage of the opportunity to relax and unwind when we arrived in Ireland. Would highly recommend this exchange for anyone visiting Ireland.

Non-Reciprocal exchange 2 nights Oct 2025

Elaine

4 exchanges26 nights6 feedback

I had such a lovely time staying in Sarah's gorgeous house with my family. We were on a short visit and I'd have loved to stay longer, the house is in a lovely location, is spacious, large, yet so cosy and warm. Sarah was so helpful, warm and friendly. We arrived late after a long journey and we were hungry and wanted to order food and even at the late hour that we arrived, Sarah went out of her way to ensure we were able to get sorted locally and even had a bottle of wine chilling in the fridge to accompany our food. There was so much to do in so little time, but I'd have happily stayed and just chilled out in Sarah's, it was so inviting. We didn't even get to the beach which was where I really wanted to go, but we had some lovely meals in Bangor, brought the children to Wards Park and before we knew it, it was time to leave. You will want for nothing in Sarah's - its clear she's an experienced exchanger because she has thought of everything. Thank you Sarah for sharing your space with us, I'd love to go back again sometime and explore the area some more. Best wishes Elaine

Non-Simultaneous exchange 7 nights Aug 2025

Gema Verified

7 exchanges86 nights11 feedback

We had a great week at Sarah's place. We had the opportunity to share several moments with both her and her mother, Averil, both of whom were lovely. We got to know the local life of Bangor, with a picnic and concert in the park where, in addition, Sarah had organized a meeting with another Spanish exchange family in Belfast, great coincidence! Sarah's house is spacious, comfortable, very well equipped and clean, it is located in a quiet neighborhood and with good access to the road to get to know the whole region. We liked Northern Ireland a lot and we have places pending, who knows if for another time. Thank you very much Sarah for this opportunity.

Simultaneous exchange 14 nights Jul 2025

Dorret en Thierry Verified

5 exchanges102 nights8 feedback

If you enjoy peace, stunning nature, and friendliness, then Bangor is the perfect place to go. Sarah's house is beautifully situated, and everything is easily accessible from there. It's a spacious and tidy house with everything you need. We used public transport (train & bus) for everything, which is also easy and rather cheap to do. From Bangor, you can easily reach Belfast in half an hour, where you can explore the city itself or travel on to other destinations (like Derry, or Dublin) Her mother was a real asset, taking us out for dinner and enjoying a glass of wine with her later in the week. For us, once again, this is what home exchange is all about: living like a local and meeting new people. That's definitely possible in and from Sarah's house.

Non-Simultaneous exchange 2 nights Jun 2025

Victoria Verified

7 exchanges72 nights11 feedback

Very grateful to Sarah for her hospitality and all the welcome details she had for us. Your home and area are perfect for getting to know Belfast and the surrounding area. Everything was very well prepared for our arrival. Thank you very much and look forward to your visit to Seville

Non-Simultaneous exchange 7 nights Jul 2024

Heidi Elvira

7 exchanges69 nights8 feedback

We had a great time at Sarah's house. They are a lovely and welcoming family! ❤️The boys had so much fun together! We went to a cool festival in a beautiful park nearby and got to experience some real Irish music!😍 The house was super tidy and clean and Sarah had even bought us breakfast, fruit and drinks! We went to a huge beautiful beach nearby. It was cheap to rent a car from Budget so we could get around. We ate so much delicious food and had a really good time. Anyone would be lucky to do a houseswap with this family! We cant wait for them to come to Norway next year! 🇧🇻

Sarah replied · 2 years ago

Thanks Heidi - and we can’t wait to visit either. Now it will feel like old friends! Boys are planning snowball fights already 🤣 xx

Hospitality exchange 8 nights Jul 2023

Anne Verified

5 exchanges45 nights5 feedback

Sarah and her two sons came to spend a week with my daughter and me in Marseille for Easter, and it was with great pleasure that we found them in their beautiful house in Bangor to spend a week together discovering the North of Marseille. 'Ireland. We shared moments of local life, such as the delicious Irish breakfast and also the music festival on Sunday in the park of Bangor, the walks in the bay, the demonstration and tasting of bread cooked over a wood fire... Sarah also made us discover the region with the Giant's Causeway under the sun! It's magical to see children who don't speak the same language communicate with each other in their own way, play together! Alice was even able to learn "rock painting" with Darragh Sarah was thoughtful throughout our stay and helped us a lot with planning our trip. We felt at home with her, and had the pleasure of knowing her mother. The "hospitality" mode is really wonderful, it allows you to become friends, because we share good times together, and we see each other several times. Sarah even accompanied us to Dublin and she organized a great birthday for me with the pub crawl with her friends, traditional Irish music, good atmosphere and "baby guiness" ;- I wish you to meet Sarah, she exudes a very beautiful positive energy, and I hope that I will have the opportunity to see her again soon!

Sarah replied · 2 years ago

Thanks so much Anne. I loved spending some relaxed days with yourself, Alice and meeting your lovely Mum in Dublin too! We have so much in common and of course it will be a pleasure to return to Marseilles or even Dijon next time. And your welcome back here in Ireland anytime xx

Simultaneous exchange 14 nights Jun 2023

Jill Verified

16 exchanges148 nights20 feedback

Sarah's house is lovely, clean, comfortable, and spacious for our family of 4. Everything is simple to use and easy to find. The kitchen is a joy to prepare meals in and is well-equipped. We enjoyed the front and back garden for playing, eating, and enjoying the sun when it came out! The beds are comfortable and we all slept well there. Bangor is a great town with everything you need - ice cream shops, large grocery stores, malls, and small specialty shops. The seaside is beautiful and dramatic, and we enjoyed the walks from Sarah's house to the beach (5 min) and the harbourfront (10 mins). Transit into Belfast and beyond was quick and efficient, and not far from Sarah's home. We had a great time meeting Sarah's family and staying in their home. Neighbours were super friendly and helpful, which made us feel very welcomed.

Sarah replied · 3 years ago

Thanks Jill was so lovely to get to meet my Canadian family! And I’m glad the wet July weather didn’t dampen the spirits too much! Until we meet again 🥂

Non-Reciprocal exchange 6 nights Jun 2023

Marta y Rubén Verified

4 exchanges40 nights5 feedback

We have spent some wonderful days at Sarah's house. She and her family are sweetheart. They have received us with great attention and affection, given all the instructions and suggestions about the house and the area. Communication has been fluid and Sarah has been willing to help us at all times. The house is very cozy and has everything you need to rest and enjoy wonderful excursions. It has been a real pleasure to meet you and to be in your house. We hope they come to visit us soon. Thank you 🫂

Sarah replied · 3 years ago

Thank you Marta, Ruben and family, such a pleasure to have your family here and I hope you have enjoyed the rest of your Irish travels 💚 keep in touch xx

Simultaneous exchange 2 nights Sep 2022

Jeanine & Joe Verified

37 exchanges384 nights70 feedback

Though this exchange was closer to home, it still felt like having a mini break beside the seaside. Sarah has a beautiful, spacious, cosy, bright home and we felt so comfortable staying there. We met her lovely mum who lives across the street. The location is fab, near town, the beach, Groomsport and Donaghadee. So many places nearby to see and spend time at. Nothing is far away. It was also fab to be able to bring our dogs for the weekend and Sarah was really accommodating and let my niece and her kids stay, who also enjoyed their stay. We were actually sad to leave! I highly recommend an exchange with Sarah. This part of Northern Ireland is full of rugged beauty and Bangor has a nice vibe to it for visitors.

Sarah replied · 3 years ago

Thanks so much for your kind words Jeanine and Joe it was a pleasure to swap with you guys and come back to a pristine house. I’m so glad that my first exchange experience was with you and you have certainly given me the exchange bug to do it all again!

Premium

Sarah

Hi I’m Sarah 51 and I’m a holistic massage therapist and luxury facialist. Maybe you would like a spa day during your stay that can be organised if I am here! I’ve  always loved to travel and you can see from all the silver stars on my world map in our living room that I’ve covered quite a lot of mileage! I’m originally from the deep South of Ireland (Waterford), I lived a few years in London , then Dublin for 14 years and now ended up in this lovely seaside town of Bangor in Northern Ireland. It’s a wonderful place to raise my boys - much more relaxed than city life and I love living here. I co parent my boys , Dylan 2014 age 12 and Darragh 2015 age 11, both football mad and they are the best of friends. ! We have a beautiful standard poodle who is the most affectionate dog ever called Regan. She fits in well with our active family. 
I have really enjoyed all 4 types of exchanges since joining. 
I want you to love Bangor and its surroundings as much as we do. And I love learning about different cultures and places. And admiring nice architecture.