Planning Your Ireland Vacation Budget
Ireland has a reputation for being an expensive destination. And it can be, if you travel in the high season and expect 5 star luxury. But it is possible to travel in Ireland for much less, if you carefully plan an Ireland vacation budget.
I'm often asked, “How much does an Ireland vacation cost?” And the answer is… it depends.
There is no ‘one size fits all' answer. Everything from your airfare and accommodation choices down to the things you see and do play into your Ireland trip cost.
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Instead of asking “How much does a trip to Ireland cost?” turn the question around – ask “How much can I spend on my Ireland vacation?”, and then break it down to see if you can plan you dream vacation to Ireland on the amount you have to spend.
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Creating a Simple Ireland Vacation Budget
Laying out a budget for your Ireland vacation doesn't have to be difficult or take all the fun out of planning your dream vacation.
But it is necessary to be realistic about how much money you can afford to spend.
The Trilogy of Ireland Vacation Expenses: Airfare, Car Rental and Lodging
The first expense of your Irish holiday is actually getting to and from your destination. My article about booking your flight to Ireland will help you find the best deals and offers tips for booking your airfare. No travel hacking needed!
Your second expense is accommodation, which I discuss in A Quick Guide to Lodging in Ireland. I guide you through the different accommodation types you'll find in Ireland, along with tips for each to assist you with your choice.
The third most obvious expense is transportation, usually car rental. Rental fees vary wildly and only a few are all inclusive. You'll want to study my extensive article about renting a car in Ireland closely and do your homework.
Another thing to remember when renting a car: petrol is paid for by the liter in Ireland. A gallon of gas is easily $8-$10. Rent the smallest vehicle you can comfortably use.
How Much Spending Money Should You Bring to Ireland?
Now that your three big expenses are budgeted- and possibly even paid for before you arrive in Ireland – it's time to move on to the fun stuff!
The first thing to remember is that Ireland uses the Euro (€), which is usually a bit stronger than the US dollar. In other words, if an item costs $1 in the US and €1 in Ireland, the Irish item would cost you a bit less, depending on the currency exchange rates that day.
If you plan to venture into the six counties of Northern Ireland you'll be paying for things with the Great British Pound (£) which fluctuates a bit, but can often be found hovering about 50% higher than the dollar, meaning £1 equals $1.50.
Be sure to read my article on how and when to get Euros to help you decide if you will need cash prior to your trip.
Budgeting Your Meals
It's easy to see price differences in your meal costs; especially if the place you are dining translates the bill into US dollars. A perfectly nice, but completely average, pub dinner can easily cost upwards of $100. If you were to dine out nightly that would add up quite quickly. So, how do you save money on food?
- Choose accommodations that provide breakfast. Yes, the ‘Full Irish' can be a lot of food but a hearty breakfast can fuel you through mid-afternoon.
- Purchase local breads and cheese for a yummy afternoon snack.
- Eat your evening meal unfashionably early. Early bird specials usually end around 7pm but can save you up to 25% on your meal.
- Take advantage of local deals. You'll find both Groupon Ireland and LivingSocial – Ireland to have loads of tasty deals. Tip: be sure to check all locations you will be visiting for deals!
- Plan a few picnics. You'll find plenty of grocery stores as you travel. Grocery shopping is fun in Ireland- so many different items and brands!
- If you have a self-catering cottage plan breakfast and dinner ‘in' and pack lunch or snacks to take with you, leaving room in your budget for pub evenings and a few nice meals.
Budgeting Your Attractions
Knowing where you want to go and the sites you wish to see comes in really handy as you plan your budget. Now is the time to look for discount cards and free events & attractions.
- If you plan for 2.5 days (or more) in Dublin, the Dublin Pass offers entry into the most popular attractions- including the Dublin Zoo and Guinness Storehouse, queue bypassing in other locations, as well as free gifts and discounts and 24 hour transportation on the fun hop on/ hop off bus. Check out my tips for saving time and money with the Dublin Pass.
- The OPW Heritage Pass can be a great money saver if you plan to visit sites owned by the Office of Public Works. The OPW card does not include sites in Northern Ireland, but does have some Dublin sites (so check it against the Dublin Pass if you are considering both).
- The Cliffs of Moher are not included in the OPW program but do offer a discount if you book your ticket online at least one day in advance.
- Bunratty Castle & Folk Park is one of the most popular attractions in western Ireland. Shannon Heritage manages this site- and many others. Check the Shannon Heritage website for attractions, special offers and to purchase tickets online.
- For independently owned and managed locations be sure to check their websites for any special offers.
- If you are planning to stay in a single location for a few days find the village or county website to check for festivals and small local attractions. This is a great way to get the real flavor of Ireland and hang out with the locals!
Budgeting Your Souvenirs
Of course you want to bring back something fabulous. But think about what you really want. So many souvenirs are broken or lost so quickly. Make purchases that will be enjoyed longer than a few weeks. Unless it's food. Food is never a bad souvenir!
- A nice Aran Sweater runs about €100-200. I consider this completely worth the cost as, well cared for, it will last for years.
- Bunratty Mead in a stoneware jug is a terrific souvenir. After the mead is gone, the jug looks great on a shelf.
- Hand blown glass shops are great for big and little one-of-a-kind trinkets. Costs vary by item but you can find a beautiful vase for under $50.
- My daughters' favorite souvenirs are the faerie coins we brought back from Ireland– and the pewter faeries who came home with us to guard them. Pewter boxes can be found for under $10 each.
- A really popular gift for family and friends are Butler's Chocolates. Especially the Irish Cream or Whiskey laced varieties. A plus: they travel quite well. A box of chocolates can be found for about $15- and you can pick these up at Duty Free in the airport!
- If you happen to visit Galway, a claddagh ring is meaningful and beautiful. (You can get them all over Ireland, but legend says they originated in the village of Claddagh in Galway.) Silver rings or necklaces will cost less than gold and costs will range from high to low depending on size and quality.
- Your favorite souvenirs will be your photos. Most mobile phones take quite good photo now, but for higher quality I recommend a good quality point & shoot or a handy micro 4/3 camera like the Olympus PEN. When you return home create a brilliant photo book or larger prints to remember your amazing trip!
Check out more great souvenir ideas for everyone in your family!
Sample Ireland Vacation Budget
This is a very simple budget form created with my family of 4 in mind for an average trip of 10 days.
Determine out how much you can spend on your trip and work your way down the rows, like this:
Ireland Vacation Budget | $7000 |
|---|---|
| Flights | $4000 |
| Car Rental + CDW | $350 |
| Accommodation | $800 |
| Gas/ petrol | $175 |
| Food | $400 |
| Activities | $200 |
| Gifts/ Souvenirs | $200 |
| Total Spent | $6125 |
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