If you travel cheaply you may experience parts of Ireland you would miss if stayed in an expensive, touristy hotel. The most inexpensive accommodations you'll find are likely to be campgrounds or hostels with dorm-style rooms—expect bunk beds and a communal bathroom.
Off Season Travel
The off-season in Ireland is about mid-September through April. Even though most airline tickets will be cheaper at that time, be aware that many hostels, bed and breakfasts, tourist sights and even rural transportation will either be limited or closed altogether.
Ireland Budget Travel Packing Tips
Pack a towel. Many budget hostels do not provide these for free, and it will come in handy for other things, like going to beach. Author of Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Douglas Adams, nailed it when he insisted a towel was the most important thing to pack. Make a sleep-sack to bring with you. Take a full-size bed sheet, fold it in half and sew together the bottom and one long side. This will save you from renting bed linens as is common in most European hostels. Have a secure way to carry your cash and other belongings. A purse should have a zipper closure and anything carried on the back should have a way to lock.
Weather in Ireland
Bring one coat. If you are traveling in the summer, bring a light coat. You will be surprised at how warm and pleasant the summer months can be, but you'll be thankful for the coat when the wind shows up and the rain inevitably drops. If you're traveling in the winter, a heavier coat will help with the elements. Don't get caught unprepared if it rains every day, even in the summer.
Bring one pair of jeans and a sweater. One good sweater will be almost all you may need and is a good choice for layering under a light coat. Wool tends to keep out the moisture and keep you warm, so if you can, bring a wool one. One good pair of versatile jeans will get you anywhere, from hiking to dinner. It's highly unlikely you'll be wearing shorts and sandals in Ireland, even in the summer.
Ireland's Cheap Accommodations and Food
Stay at a hostel. Ireland hostels will typically cost about 20 euros per night. This is your cheapest option outside of camping. Some inexpensive Bed and Breakfasts may run around 20 to 35 euros.
Eat fast food. It's not the same as in America. For around 10 euros or less, you can eat well at a chipper—a walk in and take-out fish and chip shop. Fast food can also mean some fantastic ethnic foods such as Indian and Thai. It's normal in Ireland and the UK to walk into a restaurant that has no sit-down area and order delicious take-out.
Student Travel Identification
Apply for a International Student Identity Card (ISIC). This is a widely accepted form of student ID that will garner you possible discounts on sights, places to stay, food and transportation. Eligibility is based on whether you are a full-time student and at least 12 years old. The cost is about $25 and is good for 16 months.
An International Student Exchange Card is another option available for student travel to Europe. Students ages 12 to 26 are eligible. The card provides discounts, medical benefits and access to a 24-hour emergency helpline.
Olivia Benson - Olivia Benson has been writing full-time since 2010, though it’s a craft she’s been passionate about since she figured out how ...
