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Holidays

Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

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Original poster

Travelling as a family of four...so expensive..or maybe I'm just shit poor.

32 replies

GoodtoBetter · 11/05/2013 16:33

We live in one of the bits of the eurozone that is in deep shite economically. I earn a pittance teaching English and DH is unemployed. We rent cheaply and have a bit in the bank, but not enough to buy anywhere. We do OK, we live cheaply. My DB lives in Dublin and I've been looking into flights/accomodation (he can't put us up) for a weekend and the absolute cheapest I can find when I have holidays is around 1000 euros before we even eat. I can't believe it. I think maybe I'm just seriously out of the loop these days, but OMFG!!

OP posts:

MelanieCheeks · 11/05/2013 16:37

Dublin is really expensive for accommodation. Does Ryanair or Easyjet fly to you?

BranchingOut · 11/05/2013 16:43

Go somewhere else and get your brother to join you?
YHA? They have family rooms nowadays.

Original poster

GoodtoBetter · 11/05/2013 16:57

He does usually come to us but it'd be nice to see him and we have more holiday time than him. Ryanair flies to us in the summer, flights on tues thurs and sat. So Dublin's just expensive is it? DC are 5 and 2.

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Picoo · 11/05/2013 17:04

I am really surprised at that OP. I live just outside Dublin and I know that in general, across Ireland, hotel prices have come down since we went into serious recession. In the good (BAD) old Celtic Tiger days it used to cost a small fortune to stay in Dublin. I wonder if you're coming over on a particularly busy weekend or something?

LynetteScavo · 11/05/2013 17:06

How many nights is that for, and how much of that is flights and how much accommodation...maybe someone can come up with cheaper accommodation?

We like a Google challenge!

Picoo · 11/05/2013 17:08

Do you have to stay in Dublin city centre itself or can you stay on the outskirts? If you want to PM me I can make a few suggestions if you'd like. Might not be able to get back to you this evening but will get back as soon as I can.

Original poster

GoodtoBetter · 11/05/2013 17:11

Was looking at 3 nights. Accomodation about 400 EUR the rest is ryanair flights . Can be outskirts if easy to get to centre as won't have a car. I have holiday in August and first week of September. Am on my phone...excuse typos.

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Original poster

GoodtoBetter · 11/05/2013 19:59

Cheapest flights to Dublin are sat 31st to Sep 3 comes to 704 eur all in for the 4 of us.

OP posts:

Picoo · 13/05/2013 10:26

Just getting back to you on this, sorry for the delay.

I may have to eat my words on this one - it does seem that everywhere in Dublin looks expensive for a family!

However using the website www.todayfmbreaks.com it came up with a few cheaper hotel options, however most of them are on the outskirts of the city. The only city centre option seems to be the North Star Hotel. The others would necessitate using public transport.

AnyFucker · 13/05/2013 10:32

I travelled to Ireland last year and found it to be incredibly expensive

Travel, hotels, the cost of living whilst there

I won't be going again. I seriously don't know how people live there.

Original poster

GoodtoBetter · 13/05/2013 10:43

Thanks Picoo, that's very kind of you. The North Star looks good, but I think we're just really poor and Dublin is expensive. I mean, it'd be 915EUR for a 3 night break before we eat anything (and we'd have to eat out obviously) and as Anyfucker says the cost of living is high. Just seems like a VERY expensive weekend.
Thanks all. xx

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Picoo · 13/05/2013 10:48

You're most welcome, GoodtoBetter. Sorry it may not work out for you but totally understand!

So interesting to hear about how expensive people think it is. Believe it or not certain things have come down a lot in price since the recession started, but it looks like it is still an expensive destination. Feel like sending a link to this thread to our Tourist Board or relevant government department (but would be of no use I'm sure)

Original poster

GoodtoBetter · 13/05/2013 10:53

The North Star comes up as 210? for a family room for my dates, which I don't think is bad actually, it's more the cost of the flights. I mean, 704? for 2 adults and 2 kids! Maybe it's been too long since I've flown but that just seems so so so expensive. It's also that we are poor. I only earn 1300? a month and we live cheaply and have some savings but, I find it hard to countenance spending pretty much a month's salary on a weekend. We could have a really good week's holiday (or longer) in our home country (i.e no flights) for that money.

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MistyB · 13/05/2013 10:58

I am having the same shock at flights, I know I have left it late but can be flexible and am really struggling to get our family of 5 from anywhere within 4 hours of us (Geneva) and anywhere in the Uk / Ireland (ok, slight exaggeration!!) but have looked at so many options and the longer I leave it, the more expensive the flights get.

clam · 13/05/2013 11:08

I am just staggered at just how much flights have increased over the last, say 10 years. When my friend moved to the US, I used to go over for long weekends (off-peak) for around £300. Now it's between 700-800. Hence I don't go very often nowadays.

Original poster

GoodtoBetter · 13/05/2013 12:15

I admit that it's not helped by being tied to July/August. I could sometimes do 4 days at Easter (but that's expensive anyway) or in April, when there's a big holiday here but nowhere else, but then I'm scuppered by the fact that the Dublin flights are only Tuesday, Thursday and Sat and in the April holiday I have I always have to work the Tuesday. It looks cheap but then it's all the taxes and surcharges they add on.

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cacamilis · 13/05/2013 15:08

Hi there, have you checked out flights either from or to a more regional airport, you may find they are cheaper. For our upcoming holiday we found it cheaper to fly from Ireland to the Uk and then fly on to our holiday destination from there. We saved 600e on flights doing it this way.
Ireland is expensive, especially eating out. Have you considered selfcatering that way you could save some money.
Or would you consider staying else where in Ireland and asking your brother to join you. Check out goireland.ie I have used them before and found good offers.

MistyB · 13/05/2013 16:09

Or, are you somewhere people might consider going to for a holiday? House swap with a friend of your brother's?

Original poster

GoodtoBetter · 13/05/2013 21:53

Cacamilis we are flying from a regional airport, that's why the flights aren't everyday. Other airports are over 2 hrs away and prices are no better and it's not really worth all the extra travel for 3 nights.
MistyB wouldn't fancy house swapping, no DB's mates are all young, free single flat sharers.

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crockydoodle · 15/05/2013 09:29

Is it possible to drive? Both Irish ferries and stenaline sail Holyhead to Dublin and take tesco vouchers.

Original poster

GoodtoBetter · 15/05/2013 11:33

Don't fancy driving from Southern Spain to Dublin for a weekend, no

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MissPB · 15/05/2013 11:39

Have you looked at getting a self-catering place for the weekend?

Have a look here

Original poster

GoodtoBetter · 15/05/2013 12:06

MissPB the link doesn't work. Sounds interesting though, have you got the full address?

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MissPB · 15/05/2013 12:17

oops! have a look at holidaylettings.co.uk, then type in Dublin to the search engine. You can find apartments with min stay 2 or 3 nights for about £65 a night. Might be easier with children too.

Ladymuck · 15/05/2013 12:39

Does it have to be a weekend? Mid week flights look a lot cheaper.

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