At the airport this week I overheard a man saying how really expensive Ireland has become although he had a great time. He said paying $5 for a beer is commonplace.
Sure wish I had the opportunity to pick his brains but instead hope to pick "Fodorite brains"!
By the way, he said he'd been all over the country so no specifics were given.
I had a sinking feeling after listening to him since I'm going there with a friend in November.
Tell me this isn't so!
Elaine

Tis so.

Is that for an Imperial pint, a 1/2 litre, 12 oz?

I was in Ireland in May and it isn't cheap. Pints were 4 euros so he's right, about $5. Again, it is the value of the euro that makes it expensive. It takes about $130 to buy 100 euros.

It's true - got back a few weeks ago (trip report is here somewhere, with examples of prices) and the average cost for a pint of Guinness is around 3.75 Euro = about $4.50. Most pubs have a list of their pint prices at the door, and there's a fair bit of angst over there right now about the continuing trend of people forsaking their pubs for their homes (no fewer than three articles in one Independent that we bought...). It won't hurt to comparison shop your meals, and a fresh loaf of brown bread and some meat, cheese, and jam or other picnic-style food is always an option, I guess. Good luck, have a fun trip, and bring lots of money!

That being said, it isn't going to stop me from going to EU countries.

Last week was in Portugal and things were terribly expensive there too. In past Portugal was an inexpensive destination but since the Euro all places are more expensive than USA travel. I have been to Europe 20 or more tmes and this time I was really surprised at how expensive it has become.

It's sometimes a little tough to compare. Beer and food are not cheap, but lodging, for what you get, is pretty affordable. You can get a very nice room in a B&B that overlooks the coast for less than $100 for the room. You would be hard pressed to find a similar deal in the States. Gas (petrol) is much more expensive in Europe but that has been the case for as long as I can remember. Ireland used to be a bargain and now it isn't.

By the way, Budweiser is more expensive than Guinness. hmmmmm, touch choice.

Bill

-US pint is smaller
-you don't tip in a irish pub
-dublin is a fairly large, popular city
-tourists usually spend much of their time at the most popular/expensive pubs in the most expensive areas

in fairness, if you take all of this into account, the irish pint ain't so badly priced compared to a premium pint in the US.

Expensive?
Ireland vs New York....no big shock!
Ireland vs Amarillo? A few surprises!

A 4 euro pint is really not that big a deal. Remember -- prices in Ireland include the tax (very high tax btw) so 3.75 or 4.0 euro is exactly that and w/o tipping a $5 pint in Ireland is probably less than a large beer in most US restaurants.

Meant to add - the petrol is VERY expensive. But the cars are small and get good mileage, and the distances are short so you really aren't spending much more than you would on a driving vacation in the States.

also, to put it in perspective, you are probably much better off financially than most people in ireland and they go to pubs, eat, etc... a week or two won't kill you.

Honestly that sounds pretty comparable to what you might pay in a nice restaurant in the US esp if comparing to another tourist city. I'll bet we easily spend $4 at a night club for a bottle of domestic beer. Just for the record, some friends just came back from a trip in Ireland and swore that Guiness is better in the US than in Ireland (an Irish waiter told them he thinks so too.)

Wish I had learned to type in junior high. Anyway, I agree with janis, bailey etc. A US vacation would probably cost you more, especially if you visit the big cities and try to stay in them.

The driving is different to as janis points out. Though the gas is much more expensive, you just don't go as far in as much time. You can spend a day traveling and sightseeing in the car and not have to fill up the little 10 gallon tank. In the US, you'd probably have to fill up twice because of distances between sights.

BTW, I've never heard someone say that Guinness is BETTER in the States. It's possible that it might be a bit more mild which would appeal to some people's tastes. The two are getting closer IMO.

Bill

Don't worry Elaine, you'll have a great time.

First of all, I think that '$5 for a beer' referred to a pint. You can order a 'glass' and it will be a bit more than half that.

Prices vary. Dublin was where it cost me the most for a pint of Guiness: something like Euro 4.40 ($5.55 U.S. Dollars).

The pub at the Railway Hotel in Limerick city (where they also offer a nice, inexpensive carvery lunch) was the least expensive I found: just over 3-Euro for a pint of Guinness. My 'local' pub in Limerick City: Tom Collins Oyster Bar on Cecil Street is a bit more.

About Euro 3.40 ($4.25 U.S. Dolars) is what you have to pay at local pubs in the villages.

If you can find a Dunnes supermarket (Ennis or Galway or Ballina). They all have 'Off Licence' departments where you can buy a few cans of cold beer to take to your hotel or B&B.

Yes, it's expensive, and it's not going to get any cheaper until the Euro weakens against the U.S. Dollar.

As others have noted, it's not cheap in major US cities. Sure, the dollar is weak but you're still going to Ireland. It is a beautiful country that has inspired writers for a couple of centuries. The people are friendly - the Irish are among my favorites. You'll have a great time - I haven't left for my next trip yet - very soon and I'm already laying out plans for more trips. Enjoy your trip!

If, as AHaugeto said, people are leaving the pubs behind and staying at home to drink, this might be not only because of the price of drinks there but also because of the new anti-smoking laws.

bedar...

i'm sure the new smoking laws are causing more pain for the pub landlords but as is the case in England as well, the culture is changing and the pub is not as much a fixture of life. Home video and internet, take-away food, larger and cheaper grocery stores making beer more available, strict drink driving laws, etc. all have taken their toll on the pub culture.

If you get a winter fare of about $350 return to Ireland (www.aerlingus.com)and wish to spend as litte as possible there note that there are lots of interesting places you can visit which are free.They include The National Gallery,The National Museum (4 sites-three in Dublin,one in Co. Mayo),numerous ancient ruins which are 400-4000 years old,most ancient churches and Killarney National Park.If you stay in a hostel/bed and breakfast and make your own sandwiches,buy your drink in off-licenses or supermarkets and hitch a lift all over the country an Irish vacation will cost you very little.But then maybe you can spend a night in real luxury in Dromoland Castle (www.dromoland.ie) where the cost though horrific in summer is not bad at all in winter on weekdays.