Rather than me trying to co-ordinate payments for deposits and arrange rooms etc., it would be better if those wishing to stay in Barholm could book directly with the hostel. All the relevant information is below.

Date:
Friday 28 February - 3 March 2003

Hostel information:
Barholm Budget Self-catering Accommodation
http://www.barholmportaferry.co.uk/

11 The Strand, Portaferry, Co Down, N. Ireland, BT22 lPF
Telephone & +44 (0)28 427 29598 Fax +44 (0)28 427 29784
Email Reservations & Inquiries: info@barholmportaferry.co.uk

£12.00 GBP per person per night
Self-catering with fully-equipped kitchen, or meals can also be booked with the caterers for an extra charge.

Room 2 - sleeps 3/4 (3 single beds, visitor bed if required)
Room 3 - sleeps 2 (double bed, visitor bed if required)
Room 4 - sleeps 1 (single bed)
Room 5 - sleeps 4/5 (two single beds, set of bunk beds, visitor bed if required)
Room 6 - sleeps 1 (single bed)
Room 7 - sleeps 2/3 (one double bed and one single bed if required)
Room 8 - sleeps 3 (one double bed and one single bed)
Room 9 - sleeps 3 (one double bed and one single bed)
Room 10 - sleeps 1 (one single bed)
Room 11 - sleeps 7/9 (three single beds, two sets of bunk beds and two visitor beds if required)
Room 12 - sleeps 5/7 (three single beds, one set of bunk beds and two visitor beds if required)
Room 13 - sleeps 4 (one double bed, two single beds, visitor bed if required)
Room 14 - sleeps 4 (two single beds, one set of bunk beds)

Information from the previous thread:

Map:
multimap

To: Ireland from: USA, Europe, rest of the world.
Fly to Dublin or Belfast via London - Belfast City airport 30 miles (48Km) Belfast International 50 miles (80Km) from Portaferry.   
Both airports have regularly bus services into Belfast city centre.

To: Portaferry from: Belfast
Follow the A20 through Newtownards, Grayabbey, Kircubbin then Portaferry.   

To: Portaferry from: Dublin
Follow signs for The North/Newry, then through Downpatrick to Strangford - a 5 minute ferry crossing then takes you to Portaferry.

Ferry Crossings from Strangford - a half-hourly service runs every day, except Christmas Day - only very extreme weather conditions affect crossings.
Times are as follows: - for departures from Portaferry ADD 15 minutes.
First Sailing - Mon-Fri 07:30 Sat 08:00 Sun 09:30
Last Sailing - Mon-Fri 22:30 Sat 23:00 Sun 22:30

Airlines:
Buzz
British Airways
Easyjet
aer arann
British European
Ryanair
BMI (Bristish Midlands)
BMI Baby
Go
Aer Lingus
Sceptre Tours - as Claymore mentioned

Ferries:
Irish Ferries
Stena
Ferrybooker - an online ferry booking company

Buses:
Translink, the main (or rather, the only) transport company in N.I. runs Ulsterbus, the N.I. bus company.
Ulsterbus timetables
Belfast has 2 main bus stations: Europa (Glengall Street) and Laganside (Donegall Quay). To the best of my knowledge, Laganside is still the one that serves Portaferry.

There aren't any trains. N.I. has about 2 train tracks. Neither go anywhere near the Ards Peninsula.

The area:
Strangford Lough
Starngford Lough (more of a tourism twist)
Some Portaferry info

Accommodation:
Barholm hostel
The Narrows (upmarket guest house)
Fiddlers Green - my local drinking spot, and they do B&B
GoIreland's page