DayOut.ie spoke recently with an American couple who were holidaying in Ireland. Here's what they really thought...
1. "Ireland is far too expensive". Outlining just one example, the couple advised that on a visit to a well known establishment in Howth, Co. Dublin, they were horrified at the charge of €14 for a single hamburger. "Lunch the other day cost us €35, we spend that on a dinner when we go out at home".
Our American friends stressed that these were also Irish portion sizes we were discussing and not what they were used to! We were reminded that a hamburger "twice the size" costs about "$7.00 back home".
2. The cost of food, drink and accommodation were highlighted as being a major turn off for any return visit by our American friends. They wanted us to know however, that they thought we had a beautiful country and they weren't even put off by the weather - "we didn't come to Ireland for the weather - friends told us what to expect. We wanted to see Ireland as many of our friends and family have roots here. We spent some time in Dublin and also in the west of Ireland. Citing another example, we were told "You guys pay the equivalent of $6 or $7 for one bottle of beer, in the States we get 5 of the same bottles of beer, in a bucket of ice, for $7.50"
3. The rate of exchange was also highlighted as a major draw back of holidaying in Europe. When asked if they would recommend Ireland to their friends back home, they said "yes, but we're gonna tell them to bring lots of money!. You guys are just gonna scare people away with prices like these"
Having beaten us up about our prices, we asked our travellers what could be done to attract more American visitors to our shores? The final say "lower your prices - a lot!, or change over to the dollar!
Have your say - do you agree that Ireland is too expensive for visitors? Let us know your comments...
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Just came back from visiting a friend in Dublin (from London) and couldn't believe the prices people were charging. Sure London is expensive, but Dublin is worse (if not in rent at least in every other aspect) This seems particularly strange as Dublin is about 1/15th the size of London. It seems like a small town in comparison. It is understandable why London and NYC are expensive: they are huge cities with a long established rich population and scarcity of space. Yet, both cities are (bar the rents) now significantly cheaper than anywhere in Ireland, which is insane. I certainly won't be coming back. I was only for four days and staying with a friend, so at least my costs were down a little bit. I would say food is about twice the price you'd pay in London (supermarkets), up to three times the amount you would pay in places like Germany. This makes no sense. On the upside though I must say that the Irish are the friendliest people I have ever encountered.
I recently moved to Ireland from South Africa, and since the move, many family members have visited. The same thing comes through again and again - that we'd pay at least half the price for better food in Johannesburg! and having moved here, i can confirm that everything - rental, petrol, electricity, healthcare here is way too expensive. just where is all that money going to?
We've just got back from 2 weeks in Ireland and won't be going back - not because we wouldn't want to but because we can't afford it. As a family of five, plus parents, none of could believe what we were being asked to pay. 6 Euro per adult to look at cliffs which should be free! We were charged 34 euro for a family ticket to Kylemore Abbey and only three rooms plus an audio room were open!! Our food bill out there for two weeks was probably over double what it would be at home and we couldn't even contemplate eating out. Irish prices will kill off the tourist trade which is such a shame :-(
It's not just an exchange rate issue, we visted Honfleur, France early June 09, and a 3 course meal, including Moules Mariniere as a starter, was about 15 -16€, and of course a pichet of wine for about 6€. Visited Bantry in July and Moules (where they grow them in the bay) just for starters were 12 to 13€ alone, with another 15€ or more for the main course - no thanks we ate in at our cottage. And a lot of that food came from the UK as we were advised by the owner to bring as much as we can in the car - including toilet rolls (!!) which seem to be twice the price in Ireland!
Unfortunately the prices in Ireland are now way beyond most holiday makers ability to pay! Sadly much of this hyke in prices is fuelled by pure greed and unfortuantely the lesson won't be learned until it is just too late... I have cut my trips home down to 1 a year from 4 a year and even that is a challenge with your prices!
Ireland is absurdly and unjustifiably expensive. Talking to a restauranteur in my local town I asked him why he had increased his prices, each of the last three years? His answer was that if he wanted to end up with the same income as 2006, due to the shortfall in tourist numbers, he would have to find the money somewhere. With business owners adopting policies driven by such illogical thought processes, small wonder our tourism is in such dire straits. Three years ago this same restauranteur had replaced every Irish member of staff with people from the Polish, Latvian and Lithuanian communities. Greater profits for him, singularly no long term benefits to the community. We have become a very greedy nation with a lack of notional values, an unpalatable thought but sadly very true.
Yes, very expensive, esp the rental car when you want to get an automatic so that driving on the left isn't further complicated