This is going to sound crazy, but I get along great with the Irish and am really compelled to go because I just want to hang out and see the country.
I've been hesitant to go because it is so expensive.
Can anyone recommend a way to go on a budget and see/do amazing things?
I'm open to anything.
Thanks.
I'm the same as you in regards to Ireland: I adore the country and have visited multiple times.
I'm in my late 50s. When I was in my 20s and 30s, I was a budget traveler. The key strategy sounds obvious, but I don't know how popular youth hostels are anymore: https://hihostels.com/. I saved a ton of money spending nights in dorm room-like accommodations. It costs about $20 to join Hosteling International. The cost to say in an individual hostel varies, but it's usually $20-$50 a night.
Other strategies: travel out of season, eat street food, explore free activities, use public transport, cook your own meals, other.
I did the budget trip many years ago, stayed in hostels, bought a bus/train pass, and a heritage pass that got me into a lot of sights either free or very cheap. Hostels don’t exist everywhere, but most of the popular tourist towns have them, some more than one. So Dublin, Galway, Killarney, Belfast all had hostels in great areas, and I also stayed in one in Kinsale and Kilkenny( though I didn’t like the Kilkenny one). If you are willing to stay in a dorm room it can be pretty cheap, but some hostels also offer private rooms that are more expensive, but still far cheaper than a hotel. The big expense is airfare, and there’s just not much you can do about that. Watch for sales and be ready to jump on the best price when it pops up.
I didn't think to travel until I was in my 40s, so our idea of traveling is just being thorough in shopping for room rates and rental cars. We always spend three weeks to amortize the airfare better. Now that I'm in my 70s, I'm still careful with costs, but more from habit than need.
Traveling off season is probably the best way to get a good airfare. Having flown IcelandAir in the past, I'm deluged with "Dublin for $329" emails. Make sure you include them in your searches. Last minute tickets are sometimes a deal if you can be spontaneous.
Hostels are now priced where hotel/B&B rooms were just a few years ago, so camping might be another approach. Carrying all your gear in a backpack or bicycle avoids the absurd car rental rates. Irish weather can be difficult for hiking/bicycling as you venture off-season.
We have a friend that travels completely foot loose. She arrives in a place and just rolls the dice on meeting people with a spare couch - AirB&B used to offer that, but they've evolved from that simple model.
Out of curiosity I did a quick google for hostels in Ireland and found this https://www.hostelworld.com/st/hostels/europe/ireland/?source=ppc_gooads_nonbrand_dsk_search_ds_en_ca&network=g&campaign_id=15094498781&adgroup_id=137641205668&criteria_id=kwd-117024017&creative_id=559592503425&location_physical_id=9001565&location_interest_id&adposition&uniqueclickID=11581921137539781225&sub_keyword=hostel%20ireland&sub_ad=e&sub_publisher=ADW&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI056f1YLghAMVLCatBh3TfwIhEAAYASAAEgL_wPD_BwE
And this site. https://www.hostelz.com/hostels-in/Ireland
