If you’re planning to visit Ireland on a budget, here’s some tourist hacks that will help you see more but pay less for the experience.
Sometimes, that little extra saving is all you need to change a nice break into a great holiday without worrying about the euros you could be spending.
But it helps to be organised and to plan your trip so you do not rack up some unexpected costs.
So here are some tips for how to stretch your spending power that little bit farther:
Cash in on free entertainment
Ireland has a colourful history of music, dance and storytelling, but rather than pay for the privilege of watching and listening at expensive theatres and show houses, look up the bars with free live entertainment instead.
Dublin is packed with bars and pubs putting on shows to attract customers.
Think big but stay small
Ireland is not a big country. If you are staying in Dublin, a two-hour drive in any direction pretty much takes in the entire island.
Use this info to book a decent hotel that doesn’t bust your budget and use the place as a springboard to explore.
Free culture
Most museums and galleries are free – but not the big corporate bashes like the Guinness Store House that are designed to suck in tourists and their euros on a spending spree.
If you scour TripAdvisor and the web before you set foot in Ireland, you should be able to work out a fascinating entertainment itinerary that doesn’t break the bank.
It’s OK to be star struck
Titanic, Game of Thrones and Star wars are just three of the big name TV and movie shows that are linked to Ireland.
Each supports a thriving tourist industry – but don’t forget Titanic and GoT are more Belfast based than the rest.
Fascinating with the past
Celtic history stretches back centuries and has left some marvellous relics, ruins and stories to be enjoyed in Ireland. The countryside and the Wild Atlantic Way are glorious backdrops to stories of mayhem, magic, murder and romance, so get familiar with them by stepping outside Dublin for a day or two.