Irish staycation 2020/2021 Pros and Cons, will you be tempted?

Actually, it was Today with Sarah McInerney. I’m usually steducating and don’t get to hear her show but decided on a day off for the kids (and daddy).
Was in the jeep from 10:40 on, so around that time.
 
Hiring a camper van might be another option..maybe a little more independence with that.
 
we are hiring a camper van (for 2 @1500 for 8 nights) probably more for larger home to accommodate children. Pitchup.ie is good for campsites you can stay at . Also simply google towns/villages and find out parking areas and local attractions , finding south coast very good.
 
Just spent a few hours online checking hotel holidays in Ireland. Usually have a September break every year.
Prices would appear to be 30 - 50% higher this year especially in 4/5 Star hotels.
Checked hotels abroad and similar story.
Surely they want “bums on seats” and should be offering lower prices. I’m going to wait a while!
 
Marco 1972 said:
we are hiring a camper van (for 2 @1500 for 8 nights) probably more for larger home to accommodate children. Pitchup.ie is good for campsites you can stay at . Also simply google towns/villages and find out parking areas and local attractions , finding south coast very good.
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It always sounded nice to me, but the more I think about it, (maybe the older I get) it is losing it's attraction.
1500 Euros is quite a sum for 8 days. It would certainly pay for some very comfortable guesthouses, B&B. Nice cooked breakfast, maybe dinner too.
Then when I see the "extras" windscreen cover, chemical toilets and the thoughts of driving a big van around some of Ireland's rural roads, it becomes even less attractive.
Good luck though and let us know how it goes.
 
rayn said:
Just spent a few hours online checking hotel holidays in Ireland. Usually have a September break every year.
Prices would appear to be 30 - 50% higher this year especially in 4/5 Star hotels.
Checked hotels abroad and similar story.
Surely they want “bums on seats” and should be offering lower prices. I’m going to wait a while!
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Interesting, maybe they figure they'll get enough people in the 'compressed' holiday season, so they are trying to make up several months worth of revenue in that shortened season.
 
l get your point about the cost of motorhome hire, your right too as that's only for the smallest model available. It's something we always wanted to do and to be honest gave up quite a while ago looking for value for money in this state for holidays. It's only Covid that has forced the hand, otherwise would have been going to continent for weather and food....
 
Should businesses that have had no revenue for the last few months simply ignore the law of supply and demand?

There are a finite number of nice hotels and lots of people with money who are compelled to stay in Ireland this year.

Why wouldn’t prices be anything other than higher than normal?
 
SBarrett said:
We've been looking at places in Ireland for up to a week this year and can't get over the prices. More expensive than going to France/ Spain and we don't have to pay for ferry/ flights.
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When I was single I’d always go on a foreign holiday. Neither holidaying in Ireland nor, heaven forbid, a staycation, ever entered my consciousness.
Now I’ve kids it’s a different story. Have never been abroad with the family. It’s a completed different dynamic. 25’C today and they’re struggling.
And at least when you’re holidaying in Ireland, you pack the car, drive, get there, unpack it. No lugging baggage from car to shuttle to trolley, to drop off, etc. And the kids get to bring their bikes, and body boards and beach toys, and, and, and.

Three bedroom house in Connemara, sleeps five, €1,200 for two weeks (arts week and race week). Got an extra day gratis last year as the previous holiday makers vacated a day early.
 
nad said:
Hiring a camper van might be another option..maybe a little more independence with that.
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I considered buying a camper van a few years ago but my wife put me off it.

A friend of hers has one and you need to have a car, or at the very least a bicycle with you. For example, if you wake up in the morning and need bread, or fresh milk, you need the car/bike to go get it. If you’re intending to take the campervan to the shop, you have to tidying up everything, secure it, etc., etc. There’s no such thing as “nipping out” unless you walk/drive/cycle. Tidying up kids’ toys/balls/books every morning doesn’t make for a relaxing holiday.
Then, of course, there’s no “freedom of the road” like you have in the USA or Australia. You have to stay in a campsite in Ireland.
Remember that British broadcaster, of Irish parentage, Craig something? I think he did a few travel shows.
He did a two week campervan holiday in Ireland with his family. I can’t remember if it was a strictly private holiday or part of his career.
Anyway, he tried parking overnight in beach car parks, and beauty spot lay-bys, etc.
Abandoned it all after a few days. In the middle of the night if I recall correctly. Scourged every night by boy racers doing donuts and similar activities. Screeching tyres and sprayed gravel. No sleep and constant fear. Paying for accommodation on wheels AND accommodation in a campsite.
 
Drakon said:
I considered buying a camper van a few years ago but my wife put me off it.

A friend of hers has one and you need to have a car, or at the very least a bicycle with you. For example, if you wake up in the morning and need bread, or fresh milk, you need the car/bike to go get it. If you’re intending to take the campervan to the shop, you have to tidying up everything, secure it, etc., etc. There’s no such thing as “nipping out” unless you walk/drive/cycle. Tidying up kids’ toys/balls/books every morning doesn’t make for a relaxing holiday.
Then, of course, there’s no “freedom of the road” like you have in the USA or Australia. You have to stay in a campsite in Ireland.
Remember that British broadcaster, of Irish parentage, Craig something? I think he did a few travel shows.
He did a two week campervan holiday in Ireland with his family. I can’t remember if it was a strictly private holiday or part of his career.
Anyway, he tried parking overnight in beach car parks, and beauty spot lay-bys, etc.
Abandoned it all after a few days. In the middle of the night if I recall correctly. Scourged every night by boy racers doing donuts and similar activities. Screeching tyres and sprayed gravel. No sleep and constant fear. Paying for accommodation on wheels AND accommodation in a campsite.
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You are supposed to stay in a campsite everywhere. You can plug in to the electricity supply, can empty the tank and have showers, toilets etc in the campsites. You also have a small shop for the things like bread and milk. But I do understand what you are saying. The other alternative is a caravan, so you can go off in the car but then when moving, it's harder to drive a car & caravan than a campervan.

Travelled around Germany in one with a 3 year old and a 6 month old. Had loads of fun with it. The camp sites there had tons of facilities and were all really clean. Also travelled around New Zealand in one. There is that feeling of being exposed when you just park up in a car park for the night but as I said, you're not supposed to.
 
Gordon Gekko said:
Should businesses that have had no revenue for the last few months simply ignore the law of supply and demand?

There are a finite number of nice hotels and lots of people with money who are compelled to stay in Ireland this year.

Why wouldn’t prices be anything other than higher than normal?
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That is true but when compared to other parts of Europe, they are MUCH more expensive. No guarantee of the weather either and with social distancing, you'll be stuck in the hotel room/ house.


Drakon said:
Three bedroom house in Connemara, sleeps five, €1,200 for two weeks (arts week and race week). Got an extra day gratis last year as the previous holiday makers vacated a day early.
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You'll get 4/5 days for that price this year.
 
Gordon Gekko said:
Should businesses that have had no revenue for the last few months simply ignore the law of supply and demand?

There are a finite number of nice hotels and lots of people with money who are compelled to stay in Ireland this year.

Why wouldn’t prices be anything other than higher than normal?
Click to expand...


Fair enough, more demand means higher prices.

But the same firms are very quick to complain, and request Govt support, when the situation is reversed.
 
We're not going anywhere. We had originally planned to take the boat to France, as we do most years, but not now. The thoughts of going away (Ireland or abroad) while we're still in the height of social distancing, just don't appeal. I'd rather save the money for now and hopefully go next year. Strangely, I'm actually looking forward to spending time at home and getting more jobs done around the house.
 
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