Ireland’s days as being too expensive for tourists over, Minister for Tourism says — VIDEO

... my small (automatic)hired car at Shannon is going to cost e350 more THAN last year, and I am going in October. Minister Varadkar does not know of what he speaks....

I agree with greensod's comment. Don't try buying a car in Ireland. VRT (vehicle Registration tax) 35% VAT (value Added tax---aka sales Tax) 23% for a grand total of 48% tax before you pay the inflated car price. Car hire is very high and don't let that: "I'll take ALL the insurance you're offering cause I just want to "walk away" from ANY and ALL damage" routine. You can say it and the rental agent (Hertz, Avis, Eurocar, Budget, etc) will keep their mouth shut, but if you have any damage ceck your charge card, cause Full insurance still means there's a €500 deductable. I found out the hard way

Ireland North; enlighten me; Dublin Bus (Green) costs 11Euro for a family ticket that translated to 2.75Euro each, for the four of us from the airport to the front door of the hotel. Plus "FREE" and friendly help stowing the bags on the bus at the airport, when needed. Meanwhile, the blue Dublin Bus Airport Service costs 6Euro per person. Been coming to this City for many years but always willing to learn how to save on transport, etc. Will be going down country on the bank holiday weekend for the rest of our stay and we leave Dublin without any negative feelings. Another nice time was had by all!

Minister Varadkar is the son of an Indian immigrant to Ireland. Might imagine that might up the Indian market. German supermarket chain in Ireland, Aldi is cheapest for groceries if on self catering. I agree with 89west. Too many negativos on this site, with too many shoneens and sleevens. The very worst of Irish, doing their own down.

If British tourists are Ireland's major market, and have recently declined, seems like the Queen's visit didn't deliver. Costly gamble? If the Gathering is 2013, does that mean Irish disapora aren't welcome before 01st January or after 31st December? High prices aren't peculiar to Ireland or Dublin, which doesn't excuse them. Flew to Malta last year with Ryanair for buttons. Stayed at Radisson Blue in St George's Bay, and cost me an arm and a leg. Public transport was for nothing. Public Dublin Bus (yellow-blue double deckers) from Dublin airport to/from city centre are fraction of Dublin Bus (green) airport bus service. 89west! Loved the Freudian slip of enmities for amenities. Ciaradexy must be wrecking your head! Ireland can be cheap. Get the suss from some Irish person to tell you where the bargains are. Good bargain in many Euro Discount Stores around Ireland (blue shop fronts).

What is the big deal over paying $900US for a return trip to and from the States. As far back as the 1970s, prices were not much different. Have you recently taken a stateside airline trip? Well I have and they charge you extra for stowing your bags, having something to eat and break your horns on the weight of your bag. Plus they are not giving the airline tickets away and I'll bet a trip to Ireland, price wise, is no different then going to a stateside destination. As for the car hire, it is best to rent and pay for the vehicle in the US and with US funds. A big bite on the car hire is the insurance and thanks to the mouth breathers who come over here and rent cars, the US credit card companies refuse to provide the free collision damage waiver insurance to card holders renting vehicles in Ireland. An airline flight with Irish, from the NY to Dublin is five and half hours in very pleasant and friendly surroundings. The short bus trip to City Center on Dublin Bus for a family is 11Euro. For those that want to bitch go ahead and stay home!

I think he needs to go rent a car at Dublin Airport,purchase a plane ticket bound for Dublin or Shannon.Try to get medical attention in the event of an emergency.Ireland is the most costly destination in Europe.

The negativism on the site is contagious and will turn a silk purse into a sow's ear. I'm staying here in Dublin City Center, right now,(on O'Connell St. adjacent to Cathal Brugha St.) with my spouse and we are spending $145US per night for a double room with all the enmities. The flight over from the US was $900US per person. Public transport (rail and bus) is at our doorstep and is inexpensive, on time, clean and staffed by helpful people. The food is just fine and the eateries are plentiful with a mixed range of prices. My spouse has found many great bargains while cloths shopping. Where else can you walk to your hotel from a play at ten o'clock at night and still have a little daylight. Another important point to remember, Dublin is only an hour away from London and two from Munich, etc and often times one can get bargain flights. Stop bum rapping Ireland, it is a great place to visit and certainly, the Irish weather beats the hazy, hot and humid days in the US.

Down here in my part of the world we folks with Irish connections or interests were pretty excited when USAir announced a new Charlotte-Dublin direct connection. But it's been useless to us--really high prices on every flight, way over 1k. I don't know who can afford to put down $1400 for a trip from NC to Dublin. Actually I can, but I won't--Ireland ain't worth it.

Don't know what the Irish Minister for Tourisim is drinking but he's nuts. Went into to check some hotels out just yesterday and was blown away with what they are charging in US dollors for just one night's stay. Would love to know what they charge for a meal in a not so fancy restaurant if they charge so much for a night lodging???? Are they counting on the tourist to make Ireland solvent again. Think I sink my vacation money in to the good old USA economy.

Frosty38, that is a typical post from Portia777...a very angry person...as is Ciaradexy in most of her posts. Have a Nice Day! :=)

Ireland is very expensive and nothing the Minister for Tourism will say change that but there are ways one can compensate. Air fares are horendous especially when you live outside the hub areas of Boston, NY and Chicago. I have asked friends in Ireland how can I compensate for the high prices and have been told their techniques which have helped me to come back to the US with some money. One technique I use is the same B&B and travel out from there as a base even if I pay for the room and don't stay for the night at least the suitcase is safe and I feel comfortable about that. For those curious I have a small backpack that is lightway in my suitcase and use that for short trips around the country. There are other ways to lower some costs but Ireland, being Ireland, will never be inexpensive. But in all I enjoy it.

My in-laws came to the old sod for eleven days in late June and it cost them a fortune. Aer Lingus alone was no bargain. They expected to pay hefty for a good room (and they did), but the mother-in-law complained mightily over the shopping prices even out of tourist areas. The sights she wanted to see were not expensive, but food and drink were. She thought our grocery bill excessive when they came to stay with us for a few days. I have seen no change in pricing where Ireland is more affordable these days (even outside the tourist spots for us natives), it seems to me it is still as pricy as ever. But look at the trouble we are in, is it any wonder we all pay through the teeth as a result of the demise of our sad and late love affair with the euro?

Bedonne, family members from England complain all the time about the high prices in Ireland. They were shocked at what a weeklong trip costs. This past winter a group came over via Ryanair (nice value) and then couldn't believe how dear everything was. They made it outside of Dublin, but even then, prices were prohibitive. However, I did some checking on my own, in my home county of Durham and found that the least expensive B&B was about 65 sterling. Compare that with prices in the Republic and Northern Ireland. I did the work for you. Comparable communities run 45 sterling in Northern Ireland (Murtagh's,Crossmaglen, Co. Armagh) and 32 Sterling in the Republic (Banbridge, Co. Monaghan). All single occupancy. So, I guess my relatives have it wrong. B&Bs North and South are a good bargain. I agree about Air and Car.

I would love to be able to go to Ireland. When I was small heard so much about it from my grandmother, but when parents divoriced grandparents divorced us kids never got time with her again. I was to young to ask the questions I needed to and my dad finally got back into my life and he dosen't remember things anymore( he will be 86 in 3 days. My husband and I had got our passports but the price of the flights stopped us in out tracks. Started to save and lost my job in October so the saving has gone towards bills. If I ever win a trip to Ireland I will be the happiest woman around and may also be able to find out if I still have any family there.