Hello fellow travelers! A buddy and I are beginning to develop plans for our first trip ever to Ireland in September for a 14 day trip (arriving in Ireland 2nd weekend and departing 4th weekend). Right now, the thoughts are to make hotel reservations for our arrival and departure dates (near Dublin airport) and spend the rest of the trip "winging it" via rental car and no reservations for hotels. Do any of you seasoned Ireland travelers consider this too risky for that time of year? Is it a challenge to use US credit cards on the fly like that? Any thoughts/suggestions are appreciated!!
Posted by
Bloomington, IL, USA
9371 posts
Not a problem at all. You will find B&Bs everywhere, and September will find all of them open for business (some close for the winter). And as long as you tell your credit card company when and where you will be traveling, there is no problem using US credit cards, on the fly or not.
Posted by
OP
Winter Park, FL, US
15 posts
Thank you for the reply, Nancy! We had considered purchasing vouchers through one of those "go as you please" vendors, but after researching and reading a few horror stories about having serious problems making reservations (vendors would reply they had no vacancies upon learning about the voucher), we decided it didn't sound reassuring. I'm hoping we can expect to find a variety of affordable cost options and not experience any last-minute price increases?? I suppose, if all else fails, we can find a room in the larger chain hotels in city centers (though I'd prefer the small Mom & Pop places).
Posted by
Bloomington, IL, USA
9371 posts
B&Bs publish their prices in the Tourism Board's directory, and I have never seen them vary from that price when I showed up unannounced looking for a room. On my first trip to Ireland, I used vouchers. On my three subsequent trips, I have booked nothing except a couple of nights in Dublin. You can get a directory from the TI counter when you land in Ireland. You can also research some on the tourism website, www.discoverireland.com.