Ireland is one of those places that make London a bargain destination, when I was living in London, Irish friends used to tell me: England is quite good value.. Yes Ireland is expensive, it is widely known to be the rip-off country so you'd better be prepared.
Mountains, lakes, sky, ocean and history.. Ireland is a mesmerizingly beautiful country with many attractions and full of picture-postcard sceneries and Dublin is a very vibrant city despite its size. However Ireland can be a little challenging for the budget conscious travelers.
Please note that if you are traveling from Europe, you have your budget airlines and lots of cheap airfares to get to Ireland but this is only the start of your journey. So let's see if cheap Ireland vacations are possible at all!
Ireland Basics:
Language: English and Gaelic in some Western regions.
Time: GMT and time saving between the end of March and the end of October- GMT+1.
Population: 4.5 million (6.2 including Northern Ireland)
Area: 27,133 sq mi (32,599 sq mi including Northern Ireland)
Currency: Euro (Sterling in Northern Ireland)
Climate: Generally mild and temperate oceanic and lots of rain that makes the countryside very green.
*The information on this page generally applies toRepublic of Ireland, as Northern Ireland is part of United Kingdom, different prices apply.
Cheap Ireland Vacations Tips:
Dublin is the most costly city in Ireland for eating out, hotels and fun so if you are on a small budget, you are better off spending most of your time outside Dublin.
Consider a tour package deal if you want to discover Dublin as well. Tour vacations will allow you to see many different parts of Ireland and you will be paying less than you would pay separately for your airfare, hotel, food and car rental.
Some national museums are free in Ireland, such as National History Museum, Museum on Kildare Street for Medieval and Viking History and Museum in Collins Barracks.
Hotels are quite expensive in Ireland. You will find many family run bed & breakfasts and a lot of them are full of character and charm.
Most magnificent churches in Ireland will let you in for free. I was impressed by Our Lady of Lourdes and St Ann's Churches.
Dublin is a relatively small city and you can discover its many attractions and architecture by walking around, so discover Dublin on foot.
Pub meals at lunch time are reasonably priced. Lunch in general will cost you less than dinner, look for lunch specials and check out the menu boards. It is possible to have an entree, main and a dessert to 10-15 Euros in some smaller restaurants and cafes.
Grab some fish and chips, sandwiches or wraps from cafes or small stores and sit in a park or by the river and enjoy the Irish scenery.
If you are a student, bring a valid student ID, this way you will cut costs by up to 60%.
Get a Heritage Card! It costs 21 Euros for adults, 8 Euros for children and 16 euros for seniors and gives you access to over 70 sites including prehistoric sites, parks, castles and historic buildings. You need to see some of these amazing scenic and historical sites and the heritage card is a great money saver, paying entry fees separately would cost you so much more.
Last but not least for your cheap Ireland vacations.. There is a big gap between eating out, buying drinks or food from small shops and big supermarkets in Ireland. Just like the UK, big supermarkets such as Asda- Walmart, Sainsbury's and Tesco offer great deals on food, alcohol, souvernirs, electronics and your daily needs.
