Ireland: Most expensive country to visit in Euro-land
 

I arrived at Shannon airport on May 20th. The Euro was worth $1.18. On May 22nd I saw a report on RTE (Ireland TV) saying that Ireland had surpassed Finland as the most expensive country in Euro-land for a visit or a short stay. I found myself down-scaling some of my travel plans (mostly because of the Euro's surge in value against the U.S. dollar). When I checked out of Abbey Tourist Hostal in Ennis on May 28th, the Euro was worth $1.22.

If you're on an all-inclusive 'package' you bought several months ago, this shouldn't bother you (except maybe your Bar bill), but if you're 'on your own' it might increase the cost of your planned Ireland visit significantly.

Hi Ned,

Is this a problem specific to Ireland? Isn't the entire Eurozone more expensive?

I spent about the same amount per day in US$ in Scotland as I did in Ireland, at the same level of accomodations and entertainment. But I wasn't using the Euro. all of it is expensive.

I was in Scotland and Ireland the same time Ned was. As I posted in a post-trip report, I've been to Ireland 15+ times in the last ten years. Never have I had the experience with costs there as I did this time. I spent nearly twice as much in two days in Ireland as I did in four days in Scotland, just to live (not purchasing gifts, souvenirs, etc.), eat and get around. I've also been to France and Italy before and after the conversion to the Euro and neither country experienced the price gouging that Ireland has. My friends who live there did all their shopping in Scotland, saying that consumer goods (DVD, CD, clothes) were cheaper there than in Ireland. I certainly scaled down my shopping in Ireland as a result!

We were in Italy and Ireland late March, early April and I have to say that I thought Ireland either cheaper or about the same. Lodging in B&B in Ireland ran from €50,00 along the west coast to €70,00 in Dublin. This was cheaper than any of our lodging in Italy especially considering the larger breakfast in Ireland.

Thru 2 weeks in each contry I would say that evening meals averaged out about the same.

We found gas in Ireland from much cheaper (.89/litre) to just slightly more expensive.

There are two factors in the equation: The first (I didn't make up) is that a European organization that ranks places by how expensive they are to visit came out with this ranking in which Ireland surpassed Finland as the most expensive country in Euro-land (does not include the UK, Scotland or Northern Ireland) to visit.

The second is the surging value of the Euro. They were pretty much at parity in Sep '02 when I last visited Ireland. The U.S. dollar's value vs. the Euro has plummeted by twenty percent. A postcard that costs 40 cents (Euro) costs $0.49. A pint of Guinness that costs 3.50 (Euro) now costs $4.30. That B&B that costs 30 Euro per person sharing (PPS) now costs you $37 PPS.

The former factor is specific to Ireland. The latter applies all over Euro-land.

I'm not talking about March or April or last year. I'm talking about this past week when my travel budget would only support my staying at a Tourist hostal at 25 Euro ($30.50).

I've been following these various threads about the high cost of Ireland carefully since I'm going there for the first time in August. Obviously the exchange rate is lousy now compared to the last couple of years - but that's true for anywhere in Europe (that uses the euro). So how does Ireland compare to other countries such as France, Italy, Germany, Belgium, etc - NOT considering the exchange rate?

So far all I really know about is lodging. I've booked B&Bs at an average rate of 55 euro for two people - that sounds pretty low to me. Last year in Italy and France I paid an average of about 80 euro per night - and those breakfasts were not substantial. What have others found regarding things like food, gas, admission to sites, etc. Is the issue perhaps that Ireland is expensive compared to what it used to be a few years ago? I'd always heard it was a very INEXPENSIVE country to visit. Maybe (I hope) it's just catching up with other countries and not that's it really that expensive.

Isabel,
Better check those b&b rates - I suspect its 55 euro per person - that's how most prices are given in Ireland for lodging in b&bs. Hotels may charge by the room, but b&bs are usually quoted per person! That would double your lodging budget! When I went to Ireland for the first time 6 years ago it cost US$18 to 25 per person per night for average b&bs- This trip (I got home thursday) b&bs were 30-40 euro pps, or US$36 to 50. These are prices in small b&b rooms (sometimes had to climb over luggage or furniture to get from bed to bathroom) And even if the published bank rate for exchange is 1.18, it worked out to about 1.24 to withdraw money from the ATM. Beyond a shadow of a doubt, this years trip was much more expensive, not only in the exchange rate, but in the cost of lodging and food! We actually bought bread, cheese, fruit, etc and had a picnic most days for our evening meal, and had just soup and bread for lunch in order to stay within our budget...And no shopping spree for me this time - only spent less than $100 for gifts and remembrances...the pottery I wanted to get was WAY beyond my means now!
kathy

The B&B I stayed at in the Fairview section of Dublin in August 2001 was 18 Irish pounds a person. For the trip I just went on last week, it was 55 euros a person. That's a significant increase! For that reason, I went with the Jurys Christchurch Inn to save money. Perhaps I am jaded because like Kathy, I can remember the days of 15-20 pounds for a B&B and I miss that. It's my opinion that Ireland *used* to be cheap. But if you go to buy a CD of say, the Irish Tenors or U2, as I did, and it's 24 euro, you can bet I am going to wait and buy that at home. Regardless of the US dollar and the exchange rate, 24 euro is OUTRAGEOUS for a CD. FWIW, I bought the same discs yesterday at Newbury Comics for $13 and $15 respectively.

The 55 euro price for the B&Bs I've booked is not per person - it's for both of us- they ranged from 22 to 32 euro per person sharing so in the end it averages out to 55 euro a night. I still think that is pretty cheap. (I did pick the lower end of the price range based on what I saw on the three web sites I used, but most of these are ensuite and all have breakfasts).

The article I saw about Ireland now being the most expensive euro country was talking about living there, rather than visiting. The example above about the cost of a CD would prove that point. Obviously if a place is expensive to live it will also be expensive to visit - to some extent.

So what's the average cost of a lunch or dinner at a pub? How about if you buy supplies in a grocery store to make a picnic - how do those prices compare with those in the US?

For a pub lunch it averages around 8 to 10 euro for a main course, maybe 50% higher for dinner. You can buy a loaf of bread for just over 1 euro, butter for 1.5 euro, sliced cheese and a pack of ham for 2 euro each and a can of guiness (500ml) for just over 2 euro. So for less than 10 euro you can have a picnic for two or more.
It's my impression, having been to Ireland four times in the past 12 months, that it's not the cost of grocery in shops that's expensive (slightly higher than UK because of stronger euro), but the cost of hotel and meals out, which has risen by about 20% at euro changeover and further 20% because of strong euro, all in the last 17 months or so. At lower levels the increase may be 100% (lots of rounding up).

Some prices have not changed.It is still free to visit the National Gallery in Dublin as well as The National Museum at four sites in Dublin and in County Mayo.Many of the smaller National Monuments are free as is Killarney National Park.

Isabel, I will be anxious to hear your report on your return. I found everything I tried to buy (sweaters, crystal, Belleek and more common "local" type of purchases like CDs, books and suits for work from my favorite shop) to be more expensive than I have experienced there in the last ten years. But then again since you have never been, you won't notice the difference.

We grabbed take-away food two nights, and pizza with chicken wings was 24 euro, chinese take-away for two was 30 euro. You do the math...

I would caution you that they don't keep the "tourist-related" costs low and only increase the "living here" costs. I was quite simply horrified at how many times I had to hit the ATM because my cash had run out, and I had nothing in hand to show for it. When I went to the ATM in Edinburgh twice in four days, I went four times in 2 days in Dublin, which was not my previous experience at all. Good luck.

I stayed the weekend of May 23-25 in Ballina (Mayo). When I commented about Ireland having replaced Finland as most expensive country to visit, a gentleman there told me that Ballina has the most expensive 'grocery basket' in Ireland. That would probably include most of the Ballina region (i.e., north Mayo). He added that the big stores like Tesco and Dunnes import most of their produce, including 'Irish' potatoes from places like Crete. This really floored me!

I just returned yesterday from an 8-day trip in western Ireland and Dubline with 2 other couples and we all found restuarant prices to be very high. consistently about 19-24 Euro per main course (pub meals were cheaper at 8-12 Euro. Note that my spouse is from London so we spend a lot of time there and we live in Switzerland. When we travel in England we normally eat at pubs but we found the selection in Irish pubs to be less extensive. No question-eating out is more expensive in Ireland then SE England and Switzerland.

30 days in Italy and Ireland from March 19, 2003 to April 19, 2003. Average dinners including tip:
Italy &euor;22,85
Ireland €24,40

Average lodging which included convents, hotels, B&B's, guest houses:
Italy &euor;88,87
Ireland €57,47

Rick

Isabel:

I hope you are right on the prices. We did not stay at a single B&B under E30 and the majority were E35. Last year, only one was over E30 and that is because we "splurged" on the room with the jetted tub. Be aware that the T&C book estimates the prices and they are not always accurate. If you confirmed the prices, then you got some very nice deals.

Bill

Yes I have confirmed emails from the B$Bs themselves (and one from familyhome.ie but it is confirmed with a credit card). As I said the average price for my nine nights is 55 euro for two of us. The three sites I used were familyhomes.ie, townandcountry.ie and (the one I thought the best) southeastireland.ie. It seemed the most common prices listed were 30-35 euro per person sharing, some were in the 40s and some in the 20s. I tried to stick with the lower end but I wouldn't say it was difficult to find them. The pictures and descriptions all look good. Of course pictures can be deciving, but I've booked my last four trips (to Eng, France, Italy, etc) using the internet and found most places to be pretty much as advertised by their pictures. So I guess I'll find out if the same holds true for Ireland.

Seems from some of the above posts that it's the eating out that's more expensive, compared to the lodging. Maybe I'll do a lot of picnicing. Several of the B&Bs say they have packed lunches available. Anyone have any experience with these?

Good news: The U.S. dollar has firmed up somewhat against the Euro. Today, June 3, 2003 it's back down to $1.17. (i.e., $1.17 = 1 Euro). Every little bit helps.

I must have picked the most costly week ever to visit Ireland. Where are the Leprechauns when you need them??

Just to put things in a little perspective;

The first time I visited Ireland was in 1996. The dollar was extremely weak against the Irish pound, heck even the Irish pound was worth more than the English pound! (By a pence or two but still...!) What with the fees and the exchange rate it took anywhere from $1.56 to $1.65 to buy 1 Irish pound; that's about what it takes right now to buy an English pound. I guess it had to balance out somewhere, sometime. I've certainly enjoyed my last 5 trips in the past 5 years to Ireland with the stronger dollar!