has Ireland ever had a reputation for being a good value for money holiday destination? It’s always been cheaper to fly abroad than stay here.

29 comments

  3. Maybe for Americans who are used to whacking 20k on a family package holiday it might seem more affordable, can’t imagine any EU countries seeing us as affordable.

  4. Definitely showing your age here. I don’t consider myself old and I clearly remember the times where foreign travel was a luxury

  6. The Irish hospitality industry is all about hoping staff don’t know their worth or rights and being sickly sweet and polite to customers while being opportunistically greedy with tourists, local or foreign.

    I’ve spent more money on a weekend in Killarney than I did in Paris.

    I’ve been slagged on here for saying I was in hospitality for 25+ years but I know all the tricks, excuses and PR used. There are of course genuine operators trying to get by, with sincere pride in what they do.

    Then there are chancers using all manner of excuses to charge extortionate prices.

    It won’t change until people refuse to pay such prices, but what are the chances of that?

  7. It probably was once upon a time.

    But as someone posted earlier this week- its cheaper to holiday in the Caribbean for two weeks than rent accommodation in Dublin.

  8. “value for money” , they’re having a laugh really. Is there one thing even which is of “good value for money” when visiting Ireland? Or living here for that matter..

  15. I use Dublin as a gateway to the rest of Europe. Fly relatively cheaply to Dublin, spend one day in the city, then Ryan Air it anywhere in Europe for peanuts.

  16. Problem is not enough irish people are frugal enough so we just get ripped off. Myself included I spend like there’s no tomorrow half the time,

    You go to most of mainland europe and they are the biggest misers you’ll ever meet in comparison. (gross generalisations I know but you get my point)

    But that’s the norm over there so companies can’t get away with the rip off…

  17. Fáilte Ireland on about very expensive costs rentals for cars but i hardly ever hear them mention the rip-off prices in the hospitality sector that would not only put tourists off but local people as well.

  20. Go to Germany: everything seems pretty cheap. Buy whatever you want, be grand.

    Go to Switzerland: everything seems about the same as here. What’s all the fuss about?

    Suppose that says it all.

  21. A few months back I flew half way across Europe for the same price as a Bus Eireann bus to a town 70km from Dublin. You can’t make it up

  22. Car rental was affordable in Ireland if not exactly a bargain. Can’t tell you the extent of sticker shock on my most recent visit. Companies trying to recoup their covid losses in one fell swoop. Cheaper to buy a car and sell it again if you plan on being there for any length of time.

  24. I remember road trips up and down the country for 30€ a night in random B&B when I arrived here just when the tiger died. (2008)

  25. Room prices have soared as the government is renting entire hotels and hostels so as to house refugees and all sorts.

    This is of far more concern to the long term perception of our tourism industry than the price of car rentals.

    I just did a quick search on hotels.com for June 9 – 10 in Dublin.

    Travelodge in Rathmines is €197/night.

    Feckin’ B&Bs are €200/night.

  27. How anyone chooses to stay and holiday in Ireland is beyond me. Complete and utter rip off, food is shocking for the most part and weather is terrible. Can go to Spain for a week for what it costs to stay in a hotel here for a weekend.

  29. >it’s always been cheaper to fly abroad than stay here

    Tell me you’re a child with no knowledge of Ireland pre Celtic tiger without telling me

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