SiobhanP

Bongiorno - Thanks for pointing out something that very few people realise. Ireland ships Most goods into the country even a lot of produce (Go to the fruit/veg/glower market off capel street at 4am!). All shipping adds cost to the products. THis is why I like to do major shopping if I have a bit of cash outside Ireland.

Stephen G - I was surprised to see you think the mark up on wine is good here. I get quite frustrated to see how much more we pay for the same wines in other countries. Champagne has the highest tax and one new restaurant recently started serving sparkling wine instead of champers on the menu as it is more realistically priced. The 20-23 euro would be a house wine and ok you need to get into the last 20's toe 30's for a good wine. I just cant justify paying a 300% markup on a bottle of Fleuie in a restaurant when I can take the ferry to francy and buy a case for much less.

I forgot the differences in Sandwiches as I have nor been to the US in a while. Sandwiches are not huge over here or stuffed with everything. You must ask for all that you want in it. O'Briends is a good chain on the rund and just have one made up to what you like. I never heard of Jam but that siunds food too. Nude is another Dublin place that have smoothies and oannini and soups etc and is healthy.

CarolA

Flora,
Sorry you didn't like Ireland. Maybe some reseach would have helped. Ireland is documented as a VERY expensive country. Personally this posting sounds as much like you had a problem as the country. To compare Ireland to Italy is not exactly comparing apples to oranges. Each country is unique not a copy of another.

OrangeGrapes

I too found Ireland grossly over-priced (and I would go as far to say not worth it). I never yet found the true Celtic hospitality there either even in the remoter parts. The standard of service in many establishments was very poor indeed and did not merit the high costs.

If it continues many tourists will simply go elsewhere unless Ireland raises its game.

SiobhanP

I agree with some of the points posted as I don't think the mid price ranges restaurants are up to scratch with service or food. What will make changes is if you write these constructive critisms to the tourist board. It you slate the Westbury specifically it will have less impact than if you tell them in general what you feel would keep tourists away
It will never change unless you voice an opinion.

StephenG

SoibhanP: I just cant justify paying a 300% markup on a bottle of Fleuie in a restaurant when I can take the ferry to francy and buy a case for much less.

Europeans are definetly spoiled on wine markups, I will agree in Italy and France the restaurant prices are more equivelant to retail stores but we had many wines in Ireland that were only 150 -200 % marked up. Especially good values on South African wines.
Here in the US we are seeing 500 % markups on even California Wines.

SiobhanP

I was always under the impression California wine was well priced. Wow! I just think due to the close proximity to France etc we should be cheaper in prices but we are taxed up the ar*e over here. In Tuscany I weep at the prices in the off license. I cannot condone the taxes when in Paris I get a real glass of champagne for 4-5 euro and its 15-18 in Ireland. 5 euro might get my a glass of sparkling or Cava if I was lucky to find it in a bar. There was an article in the newspaper in Dublin that basically said, Jameson which is brewed in Ireland is 12 euro more here than the same bottle bought in Italy. I think we are shooting ourselves in the foot these days.

Any place I can get some info in Californian wines? I am usually at a loss when I am in America of what to order as I am not familiar with them. I want my Irish Partner to try some.

gualalalisa

Maybe it's my British/Irish heritage but when I was growing up, my mother and grandmother always made sandwiches just as you describe. Perhaps if we didn't pile it on Carnegie-Deli style so much in the U.S., people wouldn't be so overweight!

But I feel for you as far as your Dublin experience. Though I loved the rest of Ireland (and got some good, cheap meals, too), the Shellbourne Hotel in Dublin is by far the worst hotel in which I've ever stayed - what a total rip-off!

IrishEyes

SiobhanP, Jam is in Killarney & Kenmare: http://www.jam.ie/

lyb

>.Perhaps if we didn't pile it on Carnegie-Deli style so much in the U.S., people wouldn't be so overweight!<<

Not to start a battle...but so VERY true. When I was in Italy last year, I liked the idea that their sandwiches weren't so huge, it reminded me when I was young and our sandwiches were just a couple slices of meat, lettuce and maybe tomatoes. Nowadays, my God, sandwiches have to be so big, and yes, we are a nation of overweight people. I think it's not just a coincidence.

Budman

Overall, we found food prices in Ireland to be fairly reasonable -- of course we didn't go anywhere near the Dublin area.

I agree that the sandwich can be sort of a cultural shock for an American. I can remember my wife's first encounter -- "Butter? They put butter on my sandwich? Yuck!" We are more accustomed to mustard/mayo.

Pub lunches were around 9-10 Euro (About $10). This was a full-course meal - meat/veg/potatos.

And my Guinness was only 3.1 to 3.3 Euro (about $4.00) which I thought was very reasonable, and you get the "real" thing.

tmh

Budman - You put mayo and mustard on your sandwiches? Yuck! I grew up in an Irish household and butter is the thing to put on a sandwich.

Possum

I travelled through the Republic in 2001 and never felt that prices were overinflated- in any way. For Aussies, Ireland was MUCH cheaper than Britain at that time.
I can only say that Americans have had profitable cross-rates for a long time. When the US dollar finally dropped- they are now finding it a little hard to cope with.

I can only say the food was wonderful(I've never ate more salmon or have had more "full" breakfasts), the people were wonderful (hotel staff were first-rate -in the leading hotels) and the prices were what were to be expected.I bought some gold jewellery in Galway and actually came away with what I judged to be a "bargain.

Possum

I travelled through the Republic in 2001 and never felt that prices were overinflated- in any way. For Aussies, Ireland was MUCH cheaper than Britain at that time.
I can only say that Americans may have had profitable cross-rates for a long time, but that's changed. When the US dollar finally dropped- some travellers are now finding it a little hard to cope with.

I can only say the food was wonderful in Ireland (I've never ate more salmon or have had more "full" breakfasts), the people were wonderful(the hotel staff were first-rate) and the prices were what I had expected. I bought some gold jewellery in Galway and actually came away with what I judged to be a "bargain" compared to the price I would pay in Australia for similar.
My father was born in Northern Ireland. He (and I, naturally) hold a surname that may sometimes raise eyebrows in the South.
But I never had the slightest problem. My time in the Republic was just wonderful. My attitude to the "troubles" is so a-political that it wouldn't even rate a mention. And didn't.

Forget what some (and I hate to say this) un-informed idiot is saying. Ireland is a wonderful place. The food is great. The people are great. Even the sandwiches (God forbid!) are great.
Would I go there again.
Yep. Yesterday!!!
Possum

lyb

Let's face it folks, Flora must have been hormonal at the time. And if he/she felt so strongly about all this, what hasn't he/she come back for a rebuttal?

I've never been to Ireland myself, but a good friend of mine did last year. He had nothing but complimentary things to say about everyone, and he did go to Dublin.

So, I think one person is a little moody, let's face he/she even put down someone who probably has a disease that makes him shake. What does that say about Flora? A LOT!!!!