Updated August 2024–Are you thinking of traveling to Ireland in 2024?
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As with travel to any country these days, it's a good idea to be as prepared as possible. Here are 4 things to keep in mind as you plan your Ireland vacation this year.
1. Some Hotel Rooms May Not Be Available
Due to the migrant situation throughout Europe, Ireland like other countries on the continent has accepted thousands of refugees from Ukraine.
According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Ireland Fact Sheet, the Irish government granted a total of 99,048 refugees were granted status in Ireland, as of mid-2023. The majority of those are migrants from Ukraine.
Some of those refugees are currently being housed in hotels across the country. Please be aware of this as you begin searching for accommodation in Ireland.
If you are experiencing difficulty, I suggest that you reach out to the hotels that you are most interested in to see if there is any availability.
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Check Attractions Online Before Leaving Home
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Since Covid-19 upended the travel industry worldwide, the current guidebook that you may have may not be completely accurate. I suggest getting the latest Lonely Planet guide so you are up-to-date on what's available in Ireland.
Many travel companies, including attractions, went out of business because they just couldn’t survive the downturn.
Since the larger travel companies will have been able to survive the downturn, there are many small tourist enterprises throughout Ireland that will need your support.
Some of those include independent tour guides, chauffeur services, smaller hotels and B&Bs, food trucks, restaurants, walking/hiking guides, and others.
There’s nothing better than walking down a street and seeing restaurants and shops brimming with people.
So, when you do visit Ireland, don’t forget the smaller enterprises that have struggled.
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Make Flexible Booking Arrangements and Keep an Eye on Deals
Pay close attention to the cancellation policies that airlines traveling to Ireland have in place as some are more stringent than others. Many hotels still have flexible enough policies, but again, read the fine print before booking.
It is always wise to keep an eye on special airfare deals or vacation packages that might be cheaper at different times of the year.
Put an app like Hopper or Google Flights on your mobile phone and monitor the deals from there. If you want to save $25 on a hotel stay that you book with Hopper, be sure to use this special Ireland on a Budget referral code.
Find Accommodation on Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way
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Be an Ethical Tourist
Sustainable travel is talked about a lot these days, especially in destinations around the world that are over-touristed.
Minimizing the negative impact of travel on communities and their environments just makes sense, so as you visit places in Ireland and indeed anywhere else in your country or around the world, it’s important to do the right thing.
Some of the ways you can do this include supporting local businesses, as mentioned above, dining in restaurants that offer organic menus (if they seem expensive, opt for their early bird specials), leaving no trace behind in forested areas and anywhere else for that matter, and being respectful of the local wildlife.
Read More: 5 Sustainable Experiences in Ireland to Enjoy
In areas that are especially popular, like the Cliffs of Moher in Clare, the Giant's Causeway in Antrim, the Loop Head Peninsula, also in County Clare, the Cavan Burren, and a variety of important heritage sites across Ireland that generally see large amounts of tourists, it’s important that everyone does their part to keep these places pristine for future tourists.
Are you thinking of traveling to Ireland in 2025? Let me know in the comments below.
Traveling to Dublin for five days July 2023; my husband and I and my sister, plus our three children (18,18,23). It is on the tail end of our trip, first comes England and a cruise to the Norwegian fjords for a week. I would love to sign up for your newsletter! We have no particular agenda in Ireland, just want to see beautiful sites and see where our ancestors came from. I am sure we will be tired, so day trips for two of our days sounds magnificent. One of the days my sons want to get matching “brother tattoos,” and another we have booked Silverworks ring making class in the evening. Open to all besides that! Thank you.
Kirsten, I’ll reach out to you via email.
Considering a trip in Nov. 2023 with my college boy. He’s 20 and I’m 57. We are foodies so would love input on places to go and things to try/taste . We would have 5-6 nights. Would you recommend staying in one place or booking several different towns . Would we be able to see the sites without a car rental? My experience a Few years back in a rental while in Italy was a nightmare that I’d prefer to NOT relive 🥺.
Any tips, suggestions much appreciated.
Dana
Hi Dana,
There are several cities in Ireland that offer food tours. They include the capital Dublin, Galway, Kinsale, Cork City, Dingle, Kilkenny, the Burren in County Clare and Sligo. If you don’t want to drive while in Ireland, I would suggest that you start in Dublin and then make your way to Galway by train, the Burren in County Clare by bus and then a bus to Kinsale and/or Cork. You can get a direct train from Cork to Dublin. I am actually in the process of writing a post about food tours so watch out for that. Use Irishrail.ie to book trains (you should probably do it in advance) and then Bus Eireann (buseireann.ie) for buses that will get you to those other places I mention. Irish Craic and Cuisine in Dublin is worth checking out as is Galway Food tours (you’ll find it on Google), or the Fab Food Trails tours in Dublin and Cork.