| Ireland, Gorgeous but expensive, even for little things. But if you are willing to do just a little homework, you can afford it. Okay so, let's start at the top, with finding the mythical cheap Ireland flight tickets.
Aer Lingus: Create a profile to receive their promotions and offers.
Google Alert: Create a Google alert for “Ireland Travel Deals” or “Ireland Vacation Deals”. Best matches will be delivered to your inbox daily.
Airfare Watchdog:. I recommend signing up for fare alerts from the closest large city to Dublin or Shannon, they will alert you when fares drop or sales happen.
TravelZoo Top 20 : Sign up to receive the Top 20 deals to your inbox. Quite often you’ll find great deals to Ireland listed.
Be Flexible: Check a few days before and after your preferred travel dates; ticket prices can vary by a hundred dollars or more.
Get a Package Deal.: Watch tour companies like the Aer Lingus Vacation Store, Sceptre Tours and Brendan Vacations for package deals. Often you can get flight, car & lodging for an incredible price.
Don’t lock yourself into one carrier: Unless you’re using frequent flier miles, or wanting to add to your miles, check all your options. Note: If you are planning to build your FF miles be sure your airline grants them if they book you on Aer Lingus. The last time we booked via American Airlines they put us on an Aer Lingus flight but did not credit the miles. Check partnerships.
If you’re traveling with children be sure to mention it; their flights are often discounted.
Book Round Trip; multi-city flights or one-way bookings are generally more expensive.
Book a Hotel and Parking Package: Parking in the airport lot typically costs a fortune; but a hotel and parking setup, where you get your vacation parking for free with a night's hotel stay is a grat budheting maneuver. I didn't realize how convenient it would be to not have to fight traffic because I'm already there, and I don't miss my flight either.
If you are thinking of renting a car; remember petrol is paid for by the liter in Ireland. A gallon of gas is easily $8-$10. Rent the smallest vehicle your family can comfortably use.
It was also a shock to me how costly food is in Ireland. . Okay, so, how do you save money on food?
Choose lodging that provides a “Full Irish” breakfast. Yes, it can be a lot of food but a hearty breakfast can fuel you through mid-afternoon.
Purchase local breads and cheese for a yummy afternoon snack.
Eat your evening meal unfashionably early. This one is good all across Europe, really. The early bird special catches the bargain - same good food, just less costly.
Plan a few picnics. You’ll find plenty of grocery stores as you travel. Grocery shopping is fun in Ireland- so many different items and brands!
If you have a self catering cottage plan to eat in more than you eat out.
As for your accommodations, you can certainly shop around for the best priced hotel room, but I'm very partial to bed & breakfasts, especially in Ireland. When I returned to my B&B soaked through from the rain, my hostess took one look at my cold, wet self and took me straight to my room, started to draw a bath and delivered tea and biscuits a few moments later. No matter how nice a hotel, you won’t get that kind of service there. No two Bed and Breakfasts are alike. One may be in a fabulous Georgian Manor, while another may be purpose built with spacious rooms and ensuite baths, and yet another may be an expanded family home with cozy rooms. But they all have one thing in common- a personal touch that can make your Ireland vacation magical. Not only is the B&B owner your host, they are also your tour guide, restaurant critic and insider into local activities. Something I’ve yet to try in Ireland- but have done elsewhere- is rent a self catering vacation home. A vacation rental’s downfall is that it keeps you in a single location for up to 7 days. If you choose this option you will be taking a lot of day trips, returning to the same place nightly, so you want to choose a house that is centrally located to the places you plan to visit and activities you want to pursue. The most enjoyable part of renting an Irish vacation home is feeling like part of the community. You’ll experience things you might normally miss- like grocery shopping, relaxing is “your own” garden and trying your hand at cooking Irish cuisine.
For families who like their space and don’t want to worry about disturbing others, a vacation rental is the perfect lodging.
Be in direct contact with the owner before securing the rental. Do not wire cash as vacation rental scams can happen.
Ask the owner for tips on day trips, shopping, good pubs and nearby events before you go.
Be aware that electricity is wired differently in Ireland and heat may come from a fireplace. Ask about these things- and know how to handle them when you arrive.
Now, let's look at discount cards or bundling options.
If you plan for 2.5 days (or more) in Dublin, the Dublin Pass offers entry into 32 popular attractions including the Dublin Zoo and Guinness Storehouse, queue bypassing in other locations, as well as free gifts and discounts. You can even add on discounted public transportation, including the fun hop on/hop off bus.
The OPW Heritage Pass can be a great money saver for families if you plan to visit sites owned by the Office of Public Works. The OPW card does not include sites in Northern Ireland, but does have some Dublin sites (so check it against the Dublin Pass if you are considering both).
The Cliffs of Moher and Bunratty Castle are not included in the OPW program. They are, however, Shannon Heritage sites. If you plan to visit both in a single day the Bunratty/ Cliffs of Moher joint ticket offer will save you quite a bit of money.
For independently owned locations be sure to check their websites for any savings.
If you are planning to stay in a single location for a few days find the village or county website to check for festivals. This is a great way to get the real flavor of Ireland- by playing with the locals!
And, lastly, here are some ideas for souvenirs.
Bunratty Mead in a stoneware jug is terrific . After the mead is gone, the jug looks great on a shelf. This will cost about $25.
Hand blown glass shops are great for big and little one of a kind trinkets. Costs vary by item but you can find a beautiful vase for under $50.
Children love the faerie coins - and the pewter faeries who came home with us to guard them. Pewter boxes can be found for under $10 each.
A really popular gift for family and friends are Butler’s Chocolates. Especially the Irish Cream or Whiskey laced varieties. A plus: they travel quite well. A box of chocolates can be found for about $15.
If you happen to visit Galway, a claddagh ring is meaningful and beautiful. (You can get them all over Ireland, but legend says they originated in the village of Claddagh in Galway.) Silver rings or necklaces will cost less than gold and costs will range from high to low depending on size and quality.
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