Ireland Honeymoon

Round trip airfare is pretty close to $1000 per ticket. If your total budget is $2000, this trip is a non-starter. As for small towns, Dingle is my first suggestion. It has some decent historical sites, a nice trad concert in an old Episcopal Church, many nice B&Bs and good pubs/restaurants. Price-wise it compared well to anywhere else in Ireland. Unfortunately, you'll need a rental car which will run the cost up. You also probably know about the Rock of Cashell, Glendalough and Clanmacnoise. Those are the big ecclisiatical centers of early Christian Ireland. Again, a car is needed to get to these except for a bus tour out of Dublin to Glendalough. If you just can't spring for a car, you could fly into Dublin and see what's on the bus or train routes. I'll let others mention any of their favorites.

Congratulations on your engagement! Can you increase your budget? If so, how many days do you plan to spend in Ireland?

We found roundtrip flights for $670 each into Dublin so that would leave us about $600 for the rest of the trip, to be safe. We could possible increase it by a few hundred dollars if need be. We plan to stay for about a week... I'm hoping there might be some well-kept budget tips regarding Ireland floating around out there! Thanks for the help thus far!

I don't think the math is going to work. We travel about as cheaply as anybody and were there for roughly a month this past May, averaging pennies under two hundred bucks per day. If you had a grand to spend after airfare, you could get in only five nights (or the fractional day of arrival and four more days). You'll probably be punchy that first day and night and part of the last day and its night will be spent getting ready to leave. That leaves you precious time to get out of Dublin where things might be cheaper, plus the transportation expense will get into your pocketbook even more.

B&Bs with plenty of character are going to be almost $100 a night. You could half the cost by staying in hostels, but you still have transportation costs which will leave you with a very small daily budget for food. I'm not saying it's impossible, but you'll either have to raise your budget or lower your expectations.

Of course this is a tighter budget, but I don't know about it being next to impossible or costing $200 a day. Depending on where, hostels run 15-25 a night per person, decent hotels more. So unless your transportation and food costs are $150 a day that estimate seems high, or at least, not travelling cheaply. If you have 6 or 7 hundred dollars for 6 or 7 days, that's 100 a day. I think the OP is looking for more of those kind of tips, what are some nice places and experiences people have had that will work with the budget they have.

Taylor obviously hasn't been to Ireland recently. Even four years ago, B&B rooms for two (in the winter) were running between 65 and 70 euros. And food in a restaurant or pub is expensive, too. Then there is the admission price for things you might want to visit or do (though if you plan to go to several heritage sites you might save money buying the Heritage Pass). You can save on food by filling up at breakfast provided at the B&B and skipping lunch, but you will probably want to eat dinner somewhere. No matter what kind of budget tips you might get, you just can't do it below a certain budget level, and $100/day isn't very realistic.

Laura, Traveling by bus should be your cheapest way to get around. A Bus Eireann Open-Road Pass would work well. See here: www.buseireann.ie/inner.php?id=47. You definitely should treat yourselves to at least one night in a B&B so you can enjoy a full Irish breakfast. However, to save money you'll do better in hostels. Fortunately, many of them offer private rooms. To get one be sure to book well in advance. Some hostels provide a simple breakfast. You can use hostel kitchens to prepare the fixings for picnics and/or you can buy groceries and cook yourselves some hot meals. For unbiased reviews visit www.hostelz.com. You may be able to fly open jaw (into Dublin and out of Shannon - or vice versa) for about the same money as flying roundtrip in and out of Dublin. You'll save time - and maybe some money - by not having to circle back to Dublin.

One option you might want to consider is a fly/drive package deal through Aer Lingus or Sceptre Tours. Our first trip was through Sceptre. For one low price we got airfare, a rental car for a week, and vouchers for six nights at B&Bs that we booked ourselves. We made our own plans and schedule, and it was paid for in advance so there were no surprises.

Hi Laura, Congratulations! If I one day get married, I would definitely go to Ireland for my honeymoon. I loved it there. I wouldn't say it is impossible either, but you will be cutting it pretty close. Ireland is pretty expensive, particularly public transit and food. I went for 2 months last summer (so about 60 days) and ended up sending about $5000 not including my flight or prior costs. That averages about $83 per day, but that is just for one person. You will definitely need to stay in hostels and then buy your own food if you want to cut costs. Filling up on free breakfast (pick hostels that have free breakfast) and then buying my own food was definitely my top cost savings. I also didn't pay for internet very often and used public libraries instead. I found I could never stay in a B&B because they were too expensive. You might be able to save some money simply by telling everyone you meet you are on your honeymoon! The Irish are pretty darn friendly, and it wouldn't surprise me at all to have people randomly offer to take you places or buy you drinks, etc. I think your best plan would be to pick a few places you really want to go to and how much it would cost (transportation, lodging, activities) to see what you can afford to do. My top choice is Dingle.

Nancy's idea of a Fly/Drive package really makes sense. That way you know that most of your expenses are covered and you then need to just plan for meals, and out of pocket spending (mostly). I would think being constatntly worried about running out of funds would tend to ruin the trip. You can get some really good deals on Fly/Drive packages

Nancy's idea has great merit, just remember it's fly, drive, stay.........not fly, drive, stay, eat, gas, afternoon beer, entrance fees, etc.

On our trip this past summer I talked to someone who was staying in the Trinity College Dorms in Dublin. They said it was their 2nd time there. It gets a poor review on Trip Advisor, but not from the person I talked to - see website review at . ..http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g186605-d188004-Reviews-Trinity_College_Campus-Dublin_County_Dublin.html - I also met a young couple who had rented a cottage in the countryside near Doolin for a week and were doing day trips from there. They said they were up every morning at 5:30 am and touring and returned to the pub in Doolin for the music and food in the evening. In June and July the sun sets very late. Another couple we met were staying in caravan parks with their 2 kids. They were from Holland, and his wife had planned their camping trip in the coastal areas of Ireland. I think a lot has to do with what you can live with or without. I never regret my youth hosteling days, but now love my bed and breakfast days.

Thanks for all the help! I wish I could increase our budget but that's pretty much what we'll have. When I lived near Dublin for six months during college I was perfectly fine with cheap hostels, food, and travel, so I didn't really experience Ireland in a "vacation" sense... consequently I didn't realize it might be difficult to honeymoon there on our conservative budget. I think we might switch directions at this point and try to find something with that same small romantic feel I fell in love with in Ireland, but more affortable. As long as it's no resort and not overrun by tourists, I think we'll be perfectly happy. Again, thanks for all the help!

I've stayed in lots of Irish hostels and also in caravan parks and at Trinity College dorms, but I just don't see any of those places as offering the kind of "romantic" atmosphere you are looking for, Laura. Especially not for a honeymoon. And while someone else quoted hostels at about $15-$20/night, that price is per person and is for a multi-bed room. Again, I don't think sleeping in a bunk bed with your husband and anywhere from 2 to 10 complete strangers seems particularly honeymoonish. A private hostel room in Ireland with a double bed can easily set you back anywhere from $50 to $80 a night. Camping sites are out in the middle of nowhere and you'll need a car or camper van to get there. The rental and the gasoline will eat up even more of your $100/day for 2 people budget. Trinity College doesn't start renting rooms to tourists until July, so your June honeymoon won't work at Trinity. Maybe you could sign up for a home exchange, or couch surfing and see if you could get free lodging. There are also some programs where you can stay for free on working farms in exchange for providing a few hours work each day (anything from helping to take care of the animals to repairing fences or planting in the gardens), but there are many requirements and some red tape you may need to wade through to qualify (ex. www.WWOOF.ie).

I agree with Nancy's post. Our first trip to Ireland was with Sceptre (sp?) tours several years ago. We paid one price and got airfare/car and a book which listed over 1000 B&B's to choose from with a voucher for six nights at any of them. It was very reasonable, much cheaper than booking everything by itself. Or try Aer Lingus to see if they have anything similar. Also, to save money after a great breakfast, we would stop at local grocery stores and get "fixings" for a picnic lunch. We have used that idea any place we travel. We take a small folding lunchpack so we can fill it with ice/drinks or whatever and it works well.

Congratulations. Is this a possibility for you: have a picnic in your backyard instead of spending money on a large wedding (if that's what you are planning) and take the money you save and spend it on Ireland, spend it on memories instead of satin and lace. I returned from 5 weeks in Ireland in late September...I saved money every month for a year to plan for it. With some planning it could be feasible for you. Maybe take your honeymoon a few months after the wedding when you have the money together?

Laura, considering no transportation I chose 3 major cities. Dublin - Galway (3 nights) - Cork (2 nights) - Dublin (1 night) via Bus Eireann. Dublin Airport to Galway E27 (both). Galway to Cork E32.40. Cork to Dublin City E23.40. E82.20 for bus. Irish Youth Hostel: Galway Doorus House E30 both per night seperate dorms; Cork International E26 both seperate dorms or E82 family room; Dublin International E30 seperate dorms E82 family room. 1 Euro = $1.40 which makes your budget Euro 428.57. Hostels: Galway E90 dorms; Cork: E164 Pvt Room; Dublin E98 Pvt Room=E352.00. Hostel + bus = E434.80. E6.23 over budget without food and entertainment. A honey moon in Ireland is a Grand Idea! I hope these numbers help you figure out a plan.

Laura, before you give up on the idea, take Nancy's advice and contact Aer Lingus. They very well may be able to put a package together for you (including a car) given your constraints. FYI, my sister, her husband, and their three kids went over this past summer and booked a package through Aer Lingus. I was astounded at the deal they got.

Why not consider a long weekend near home and opt for Ireland off season, say early March when you will have saved enough to not have to pinch every penny while there and should be able to get a good package deal for off season.

If you have not already purchased your tickets I agree with Gail on the previous post. Set the $2,000 aside and add to it over the next year so you will be able to go to Ireland and have a relaxing holiday instead of continually having to wonder,and worry,about what you can afford to do and not do. If I can offer a little free advice you don't need to start your marriage off with undue stress due to a lack of money.

I think the toughest part about your budget is the time of year you are traveling. We went in October and the cost was very reasonable. I would definitely stay in the western part of the country. Dingle was our favorite. (My 5 yr old daughter asked if we could move there!)Contact the B & B's directly, rather than going through a 3rd party. Both B & B's we stayed at quoted us great prices and then gave us a discount on top of it once we paid (we paid both places in cash). Congratulations on your engagement!