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Dublin hotels are becoming more affordable according to a survey carried out by hotels.com.
In 2010 the average price for a room in Dublin was €73 which was down by 6% from 2009. The average price  for a four star hotel room was €81 and for a five star hotel room it was €152.
Out of 44 countries surveyed it was found that Ireland had the sixth cheapest hotel accommodation overall  and Dublin was 11th cheapest for five-star accommodation.

One of the benefits of the worldwide economic downturn (from the point of view of the traveller) is the reduction in hotel prices all over the world. Dublin has become quite competitive in this regard making it a more attractive destination  than previously.

There is also downward pressure on restaurant prices and there is some evidence that eating out has also become cheaper and there is some prospect of further reductions if rent legislation is amended as expected. Many restaurants are offering special prices, early bird menus etc.

Many good accommodation deals can be got on hotel booking websites including Dublin Overnight. Check for your selected dates and find many hotels offering midweek specials, price reductions, offers of 2 nights B&B plus evening meal etc.

According to Frommer’s, one of the world’s top Destination Guides, Ireland has been voted top destination for 2011. Here is what Frommer’s says:
‘Last year’s favorite Paris was beat out this year by the very tourist-friendly nation of Ireland. During the nominations process, supporters told us why they were putting the Emerald Isle on their wish lists for the following year:

* “The rugged beauty of the island and its historic past enchant me.”
* “I have family there. But I also love being out in the country, rambling around, exploring megalithic sites, and having tea in small shops. Love it all.”
* “Beer, castles, lush landscapes, and small enough to explore via bicycle or car.”
* “Love the scenery, love the people. Had an excellent time when I was last there, but need more time.”
* “A magical destination in nearly every way.”

Also, Ireland was rated as the Most Popular Destination of 2010 at a travel awards ceremony in Shanghai. World Travel Awards is organised by the Oriental Morning Post, a daily newspaper with about 400,000 readers. The winners are voted by the paper’s readers as well as travel experts from around China. This is good news for the Irish tourism industry which has seen a sharp decline in visitors to the country over the past few years. The number of visitors to Ireland fell to a record low in 2010.
Susan Li of Tourism Ireland said she was confident the honour would further enhance the reputation of the country and help to attract more visitors from China.
Tourism Ireland also picked up an award for the Most Creative Destination by The Global Times at the Most Popular Outbound Destinations Awards 2010 in Beijing.

Dublin Overnight says: The popularity of Ireland in China and elsewhere could mean many more tourists to Ireland but the issuing of tourist visas to travellers from Asia should be made easier and faster as difficulties in obtaining visas is often cited as an obstacle to Asians coming here on vacation.

If you would like to use modes of transport to see Dublin city then there are many options which include, Bus, Taxi, DART, Train, Luas, Car. Two other options which are the cheapest are walking and cycling.

Walking is one option where you will see attractions up close or even where you can find unique places where you wouldn’t find if you were using a bus or train for example. Walking tours of Temple Bar, The River Liffey, Castles, Cathedrals, Viking and Medieval tours are available and provided by Pat Liddy’s Walking Tours of Dublin.

If you enjoy cycling then you will be in your element in Dublin because a new Public Bike System has been put in place in the city where there are stations located all over the city where you can hire these bikes. Cycling is a great fast way to get around the city and they have supplied 42 stations so you have no problem finding a bike to hire. The best thing about this new bike system is that you can hire a bike at great prices that won’t break your budget.

If you prefer not to walk or cycle then Taxis are a good option in Dublin. You will have no problem finding a Taxi as there are many Taxi stands located around Dublin. Taxi ranks are located at O’Connell Street, St. Stephen’s Green and Dame Street and that’s just to name a few. Taxis are an easy option of transport in Dublin but can sometimes be expensive depending on the length of your journey. If you are staying in a Dublin Hotel then you can ask them to call a taxi for you which is also a good option.

Buses are pretty cheap to use and there are Ticket Agents located around Dublin provided by Dublin Bus to help locals and tourists with their travel plans. Here you will find timetables where you can plan your bus journeys to different locations and also prepaid tickets can be purchased to make your bus journeys even easier. Dublin Bus provides many services including Airport Services, sightseeing tours, Xpresso, Nitelink and many more to choose from.

There are other transport services such as Train, DART and Luas. These services are quick and easy options to get to other sides of Dublin that are hard to reach by walking, cycling or just too expensive by public transport. You can relax on these modern means of transport and enjoy the sights of Dublin. Irish Rail tours are available which are provided by Railtours Ireland and Barratt Tours.

Travelers to Dublin can stay at Hotels in Dublin or Dublin Bed and Breakfast

The usage of Dublin Bikes has just reached the 1 million mark. It is estimated that about 15,000 tourists have used the bikes.

Dublin Bikes is a scheme which was introduced  last year by Dublin City Council when 450 bikes were made available at 40 stations around Dublin City Centre.

This has proved to be one of the success stories of Dublin with the bikes becoming very popular both with Dubliners and tourists. The bikes are easy to rent and operate, are cheap and they provide a great way to get around Dublin centre.

Fears that the scheme would collapse because of theft and vandalism were unfounded. Only two bikes have been stolen so far and these have already been recovered and are back in service.

There are plans to extend the scheme to other parts of Dublin and possibly to other cities and towns in Ireland.

Check out the bikes at Dublin Bikes Website.

Dingle is a favourite holiday destination for tourists from home and abroad. It is located in the most westerly part of Ireland in a region of beautiful mountain and coastal scenery.
Dingle had been a fishing town for centuries but more recently its main industry is tourism. Some fishing still goes on and fishing boats of all sizes are frequently berthed at Dingle pier unloading their catch.
One of Dingle’s favourite visitor attractions for the past twenty years is Fungi, the Dingle Dolphin. Fungi is a dolphin who lives in Dingle harbor. Nobody knows how long he has been in Dingle but he was first spotted in 1984 escorting the Dingle fishing boats into and out of the harbor. By mid 1984, Department of The Marine manager Kevin Flannery had made a note of the dolphin as a permanent occupant of Dingle harbour and self-appointed pilot of the fishing fleet.
The dolphin was named Fungi and over the next few years and lots of study Fungi became less shy of humans so that swimmers could swim alongside him and play with him in the water. Read the rest of this entry »

Dingle in County Kerry has been a very popular destination for years now. The combination of stunning scenery, traditional culture  and music, pubs, nightlife, and good food has captured the imagination of many and since the making of Ryan’s Daughter, tourists, including many celebrities, have been flocking to Dingle every year.
There is a great atmosphere which lifts the spirits even in the most gloomy times. The only downside is that it can be difficult to get accommodation at busy periods like mid-summer and Christmas so it is advisable to book early!
Stay in Kerry has good Dingle Hotels and Dingle Bed and  Breakfasts for booking online.

Dublin hosts some major sporting events throughout the year. These events attract visitors from home and abroad as well as local Dublin fans. These events are usually a major source of revenue for Dublin Hotels and Dublin Bed and Breakfast accommodation.
The GAA (Gaelic Athletic Association) hosts numerous games of Gaelic Football and Hurling in its main Dublin Stadium. Croke Park.  The finals of the Gaelic Football and Hurling Championships which happen in September of each year attract over 80,000 fans each and the semi finals also attract almost as many fans. Numerous other games throughout the year attract large numbers of fans. Read the rest of this entry »

Stay in Kerry, our website for tourist information about Kerry and for booking hotels in County Kerry has undergone a facelift. It is not fully operational yet but will have booking facilities added within the next few days as well as various other tweaks. See it at Kerry Hotels

This is the fifth year of this outdoor food festival in Dublin and about 30,000 visitors are expected. It is on at The Iveagh Gardens this year.
Outdoor dining with Dublin’s top restaurants,  chef demonstrations, wine tastings and exhibitions from over one hundred food producers are amongst the fare. A gourmets delight.
Some of Ireland’s top chefs including Derry Clarke of L’Ecrivain will be showing off their skills. For information on some of Dublin’s top restaurants see Dublin Overnight Restaurants and if you are thinking of visiting the capital for this festival you can find plenty of accommodation at Dublin Hotels.

Bewley’s were originally famous for their restaurants (the most famous was in Grafton Street, Dublin) but in more recent years they have continued the high standards they set in their group of hotels in Ireland and the UK.
They have good standard rooms and their hotel restaurants still serve the famous Bewley’s Irish Breakfast and they also have a very tasty and varied menu in the evenings.
Bewley’s Hotel Ballsbridge is ideally located for events in the RDS, matches at Lansdowne Road (now the Aviva Stadium) or for any city centre expeditions or shopping. Rooms are very keenly priced and are great value especially for couples or families.
Check Bewley’s Hotel Ballsbridge here.