Any suggestions about accommodations for this race? Suggestions or advice about it in general?
Great venue, the locals really get behind it. Accommodation can be a bit tricky, but there’s lots of small hotels and B&B, and caravan sites nearby.
The course itself is generally good. The sea swim can be a challenge (it was nearly called off when I last did it) but ordinarily it’s OK. Bike is hilly and windy, but generally honest. Run threads through the tiny town before heading out to the bypass. Undulating, and a lot of turns, but good fun, especially as the day draws on and the supporters get drunker.
Weather wise it can be changeable. I’ve seen reports of heavy rain and strong winds, but when I did it it was mostly sunny but v.windy. In fact, in retrospect, expect a lot of wind. It’s a given. Don’t expect a fast time, but it does draw the euros in to get their knoa spots nice and early.
I really enjoyed the experience and would do it again, especially since it meant I could take the wife and kids with me as a holiday.
I did this race in 2012 and used FBM Holidays which is a company based in Tenby - www.fbmholidays.co.uk
We stayed in a two bedroom apartment overlooking the run course and it was very good.
Also I recced the bike course a few months before and stayed in one of the hotels on the sea front by the finish chute (Atlantic hotel?) which was ok but a bit dated. Owners really friendly.
I would certainly recommend the race itself. The swim was fantastic and the sea very calm on the day i did it. The bike course was, for me, brutal and really took a lot out of me. Constant ups and downs. Short sharp hills. The run is pretty hilly too but I had a good run and loved the crowd support down in the town.
I done the race in 2013. Didn’t sign up until Maybe the May/june time so accomodation in tenby itself was sparse and expensive. Stayed at bluestone, which is a center parcs concept holiday lodge. Maybe 20 minutes outside tenby. Reasonably priced, loads of space in lodge for bike and kit and comfortable. Would stay again.
I had my stay booked through Nirvana at the hotel close to the finish with a great sea-view and location. The bonus was even that it was in the cobblestone uphill stretch just before the last sprint towards the finish so you know when you’re flying by that you’re almost home. It was a great location since when you’re done, showered and have refuelled, you can just stand outside your door and cheer on those who are still on-course. The location also makes the morning walk to transition and from there to the beach short and easy. In Wales, everyone walks the 1-mile in 1 group from transition to the beach-start under the anthem. It is definitely something I would recommend since this is the biggest cheering crowd I’ve ever seen at that early morning-hour. Gives you wings for the start 
The accommodation wasn’t cheap by Euro-standards, but normal for UK-standards, especially in a small tourist-village like Tenby. The rooms where small, but clean and quiet. All-in-all, it doesn’t matter that much since you’re not likely to spend much time in your room anyway.
I obtained my KQ here in 2014 in my first I-race and my race-report is on here somewhere. I would strongly recommend larger tires (25mm at least) with normal pressure (90-95psi) and thick arm-pads. The 2nd part of the loop has some terrible road-sections where you’ll really appreciate the tires and arm pads and there are very few fast stretches for top-speed. The crowds do get loud but it makes you smile and pushes you on. I think it is rare to see crowds along the full bike-course. You’re never alone. The run is something different with the crowds altogether. Also for you family, they can spot you a few times along the run-course whilst not having to run many miles themselves.
Swim-tips:
Learn to deal with short and steep waves. If the wind is on-shore again, this is what you’ll get
Bike-tips:
Head-winds will be yours to deal with as well as never ending climbs with almost no chance of regaining speed on downhill’s. But, downhill skills are crucial as they help you eek every little bit of free speed. There are 2 reasonable steep climbs, don’t overdo it because the crowds cheer you on. You’ll do it anyway and think back of these words later (think Alpe d’Huez TdF crowds)
Run-tips:
Learn how to run uphill easily and how to run downhill like a bat from hell. Everyone slows down uphill, but most people don’t take the full benefit from the downhill sections. There are 2 that are reasonable steep, learn how to run these at very high speed (3:00/km speed and faster). I have close the gap on a few runners this way as well as put some distance between myself and others that probably are faster then me on the flats.
I’ve enjoyed every single minute on-course and whish you a lot of strength in training and even more joy during the race !!!
S.
I did this last year and didn’t book accomodation until quite late. I used Nirvana and stayed at the Atlantic Hotel which was 50 metres from the finish line, really close to transition and the IM expo and the run section passes about 200m away through the town walls. They had other hotels available but this was best for me. Don’t expect it to be luxurious but they do good pre-race breakfast (they evenhad some home made IM shaped oatmeal cookies!) and they have a locked storage room where they keep all the bikes with plenty of room in there to make mechanical changes if its rainy outside. Satff were v friendly, as is the whole town to be honest, and it was great for me and the family as they could easily walk back to the hotel whenever they wanted. To be fair if you’re staying in Tenby itself, nowhere is too far to walk as it is a very compact town.
As for the race, I’d echo the sentiments of posters above.
Swim - 2 lap swim. Normally fairly calm as it is in a sheltered bay but in 2014 the wind, tides and swell were really bad. We were warned about it but still quite scary for someone like me who doesn’t have much experience of waves. I did the same swim in 63 minutes at the Long Course Weekend 2 months previous, my IM time was 15+ mins slower. It is easy to navigate though as there is an orange lifeboat station to aim for and then a huge rock on the beach. You have to climb up the cliff path and run 1km to T1 with your wetsuit, so don’t expect a fast transition time. Again, though its amazing to see all the support at 8:30am as you run through town.
Bike - Hilly and windy. I measured it at 2700m of climbing on my Powertap which seems about right. There are a really no sections where you stay too long in aero, it is very up and down with 90 degree corners at the bottom of steep descents. Three really steep hills stick in my mind and you have to do them twice - Narberth, Wisemans Hill (17%) and Saundersfoot. The first and last are thronged with people but especially Saundersfoot which is like the TdF - even had a bloke dressed as the Devil running along side me. Can be very windy on the first loop as you cycle through the sand dunes. Support in the surrounding villages is amazing. Make sure you get nutrition right as the aid stations are relatively sparse.
Run - Brilliant atmosphere through the town centre, but a very tough run with a lot of 180 degree turns. 4 hilly loops with the town centre part of it having lots of sharp turns and on cobbled streets. As with the bike I found it quite hard to get in a good rhythym due to this but having said that the support is amazing and you can see your family at least 6 or 7 times if they stand at the right sections.
All in all don’t expect a quick time, but expect one of the best IM atmosphere’s you will get.
For training just do some hills on the bike, lots of them !!!
x3 on Nirvana Europe. I am American and used them for IM Regensburg and IM Kalmar. Great company similar to Endurance Sports Travel here in the States.
Great race, as long as you’re not looking for beautiful weather and flat land.
It’s Wales in Autumn, so it will be windy and probably rainy. We definitely had both in 2012.
I booked my accommodation through Nirvana and stayed at Kinloch Court B&B, which is right behind transition. The B&B was good, folks were friendly, they made breakfast to order at stupid o’clock on race morning. The only down side was that the wifi only made it to my doorway, not actually into my room. I think the other rooms got better reception. Anyway, I’d stay there again.
Someone mentioned the steep climbs… they are actually steep. Really steep - but they are short. I rode with a standard double and a 12-27 cassette and would choose the same again.
Wiseman’s Bridge is less than half a mile with an average grade of about 9%, but at the steepest part hits close to 20%.
The hill at Narberth is similar on average, but might be a bit steeper at the steepest spot.
When I raced one of them had crowds and a drummer, one had crowds and a guy in a devil suit. I rode them both way harder than I should’ve and I loved it.
A couple of the downhill sections have some sharp turns with stone walls on the outside… at least one person ended their race in an ambulance by going too fast down the hill, in the rain, and not making the turn. Keep your eyes open - the descents are mostly short and twisty and you’re unlikely to make up any time on them, so just be safe.
And remember, the real hills start on the run… 
Have fun in Tenby. Check out the Ironman Wales threads over on TriTalk.co.uk for some good event specific discussion, notes on best chippy, etc.
Have fun in Tenby.
Just don’t try and drive your rental car to Caldey Island while you’re there.