Please sign in to post.

fuel and lodging questions-Ireland

We’re looking forward to a self-drive Ireland vacation in May. I have a few questions and I’m hoping someone can help us out.
First, with the price of gas, we had arranged for a diesel fuel car. Now, at least here, diesel fuel is selling at quite a bit more than regular gas. Is it still better cost-wise in Ireland to drive a diesel? I’ve been told diesel is available at virtually every gas station, is that true, or will we be spending time and more fuel searching for diesel fuel ?

One more question: We plan to be in Ennis probably on Monday, May 19. The Fleada Nua Festival begins on Sunday, May 18. Our schedule is loose, and most of the trip we will be not planning B&Bs further ahead than the morning of the day we need them. Are we going to be able to find a B&B in the Ennis area if we wait till that day? I’m guessing we will be OK. If it’s like festivals here, lots goes on over the weekend, it’s much quieter earlier the next week and activities build up toward the next weekend. The Fleada site on line doesn’t list very many of the activities yet. We don’t relish sleeping in the car, we’re not fussy, but we do like inexpensive.

Thanks!
Mary Lou

Posted by
9363 posts

Yes, you will find diesel widely available. Quiz your rental company, though, about their return policy. I have used Irish Car Rentals on most of my trips to Ireland. Their stated policy is that you are to bring the car back empty of fuel (which creates a problem in trying to guess how much fuel you will need to get to the end of the trip without leaving much in the tank). They told me in person, though, that if you bring the car back full instead, they refund the original fuel charge that is tacked on to the rental. On my last trip, I did the math and realized that by topping off the tank, my total fuel cost was lower than that original charge -- and the credit appeared with no problem on my next credit card bill. No matter what company you are using, ask them if this is an option for you. Depending on how much driving you will do, it might be better to take it back empty but you won't know that until you see how much the original charge is and what you will have spent.

Posted by
9363 posts

As for lodging, if you have a B&B directory you should be able to find one with no problem. There are many, many small towns around with numerous B&Bs in each, and if you find some full they can probably direct you to where you can find one (and they will probably even offer to call ahead for you).

Posted by
19 posts

Thanks. It appears a diesel car would be most ecenomical in Ireland. This will leave a little more to spend in the pubs and restaurants, etc.!

Posted by
19 posts

Thanks for the help. We are using Irish Air car rental, so we will use your advice.
Does anyone have any advice on gasoline vs. diesel costs in Ireland? Which is more ecenomical at this point?

Posted by
10344 posts

Here's a graph that shows April motor gas and diesel prices. It appears the UK line is the highest line on both graphs but I can't quite see the color to be sure. This indicates that in the UK this month, motor gas is somewhere between $8.00 to $9.50 per gallon and diesel is about a dollar lower at $7.00 to $8.50 per gallon.click

Posted by
194 posts

I'm not sure if I got to you too late or not, but we were just in Ireland last week. Diesel fuel was higher in every city at every gas station we passed. I want to say, on average, diesel was 5 to 10 cents more per liter. You'll find diesel at just about any gas station you go to.

Posted by
194 posts

Also, if Monday, May 19 is a bank holiday, you'll want to book a B&B ahead of time. Our last day in town was over a bank holiday, and it took a bit of time finding a B&B. We were staying in a big city, so it wasn't hard to eventually find one, but in a smaller town like Ennis, you might want to have a reservation.

Posted by
147 posts

Diesel is a good option, I believe they're using B20 now - 20% biodiesel