A trip to any country in Europe often does not come cheap, so if you are planning to go to one, make sure you plan ahead and lay out a budget plan. If your country of choice is Ireland, which is more expensive than most, here are some tips and a bit of advice to help you to enjoy your holiday as much as you can whilst staying close to your budget by grabbing a cheap holiday from Ireland.
The first thing one must consider is the fare. If you are coming from outside Europe, most probably you will be taking a plane and landing in one of Ireland’s 4 international airports. Consider booking your tickets in well in advance; there are numerous online flight booking agencies like http://www.lowfares.com and http://www.go4less.ie/, sites like these normally give some of the best rates. If you are a frequent traveler, register and subscribe to their latest news so you can receive notifications if they are selling their seats cheap. Travelling in a group is usually much cheaper than travelling alone or as a couple because you can avail of the bigger deals and split the cost.
If you have a lot of baggage, try not to book flights with Aer Lingus and Ryanair, Ireland’s major airlines, because they charge a lot of extras. These airlines tend to charge a lot for checking in baggage, food onboard, and Ryanair even charges you for the privilege of being the first passenger on board.
In Ireland, there are many types of lodgings available, from luxurious hotels to simple guesthouses. Consider booking in your accommodation in advance as it allows you to avoid the price fluctuation; again there are many online booking sites that offer great deals, such as goireland.com[i]. Guesthouses give the cheapest rates; for less than 50 Euros you can find a really great place to stay. Guesthouses are perfect if you’re not very particular with service, because guesthouses do not have a full time staff unlike hotels. But, most of the time all you want is a bed to sleep in and a spot of breakfast in the morning before heading to your next destination.
Although booking in advance has its perks, some may want the flexibility of choosing lodgings “on the road” rather than stay in just one place the whole time. A great option would be getting B&B vouchers or Bed and Breakfast vouchers. If you get a good deal on B&B vouchers, you can save a lot of money so make sure you do a lot of comparing before you purchase. First off, B&B vouchers are like gift checks that you can purchase from reputable sites like www.irishtourism.com. These vouchers are accepted in over a thousand B&B’s throughout Ireland, each one Irish Tourist Board approved. Depending on where you purchased, any unused vouchers can be returned for a refund.
B&B vouchers can be bought in packages and may sometimes include a rental car. Make sure you have an itinerary (even just a rough one) detailing which parts of the country you plan to visit and for how long so you can make sure that each place has some accommodation that accept B&B vouchers. B&B vouchers have their limitations when it comes to popular cities like Dublin, Kinsale or Killarney; hotels in these popular destinations often prefer credit cards.
In terms of travelling around Ireland, you can rent a car which is the most convenient option, but learning to use the public transport system can save you money. Taking the bus is the cheapest way and you have the choice of many more routes than either trains or trams. Taking the bus is also the best way to meet Irish locals and start a conversation where you can find out the best local tips. Biking in Ireland is also a good, cheap and a very healthy option, but make sure you have a good solid bike with good tires as the terrain can vary. You need a good pair of strong legs for this also as Ireland can be very hilly.
Once you are here, you should focus on the essentials and decide what you what to do in Ireland. If you are going to visit for the indoor attractions like museums or shopping, you can travel during the non-peak season. The weather may not be at its best but that won’t really matter much if you plan to stay indoors. If you plan to visit museums, purchasing the Heritage Card[ii] is a good option since it will allow you free entry to all the heritage sites.
Scout the internet for deals; visit local Irish websites to get cheap holiday deals from Ireland that cannot be found at online booking sites, try http://www.cultureheritageireland.com and download their Cultural Explorer Discount Pass [iii]for free.
When you are in Ireland, its best to dine in pubs or avail of early bird specials that are available in many establishments. Food can be very expensive so minimize dining out. Ireland has great fish and chips and various Chinese or Indian take-outs; these are cheaper options for dining out, especially in the evening, which can be very expensive. Using your credit card instead of changing your money for the local currency can give you a better rate of exchange. If you must change money, consider using the ATM as they may have better rates than many high street currency exchanges, although some may charge for the transaction so best to do it in larger sums.
Try not to consume the food and beverages in the hotel fridge. Purchase bottled water and other essentials in supermarkets like Tesco or Dunnes Stores.
Cheap holidays from Ireland are best achieved when you plan ahead and do your homework before embarking on your trip. Biodh turas maith agat!
