Planning a trip to Ireland, having some questions

CrazyArcher · Newbie

Planning a trip to Ireland, having some questions

youngka · Guru

CrazyArcher, You will enjoy this site. There will be so many good ideas you will receive. We found that a good way to keep expenses down, for meals, was to just go to a grocery store and get your fixins' for lunch and snack. We didn't find it too expensive while staying in self catering places -- because we could make our own meals. We found that some of the local 7-11 (reminds you of them) stores and side street delis had good sandwiches and could be pretty reasonable. When I found this site, the first time, they were always mentioning pub grub -- but you have to be sure a sign says pub grub, or you will get pub food and it does cost more. Good Luck! Have a good trip and I am sure you will hear from the folks that have done the hostel type trip.......youngka

Anchoress · Guru

Most pubs and cafes, and many garages, do a big bowl of substantial homemade soup with the Irish brown bread, for E3.50 still... If you are doing B and B and have the full Irish breakfast that will probably suffice.

The bigger supermarkete, eg Tesco, LIDl, are often half the price of the smaller places like garages and groceries if you are self-catering. We never use the small shops for that reason; Ireland can be expensive

If you are near the Border, especially with Ireland in serious recession and with sterling being to low, it is well worth while stocking up there with packets like biscuits, cakes crisps etc. Food costs so much less in Northern Ireland. We are in Donegal and we now migrate to ASDA in Strabane once a month as most others do.

We also have a small camping stove so we can make hot drinks. The stove cost E13 at LIDL; including two cartridges.... one cartridge lasts for about 60 cups. A cup in a cafe costs at least E3. As you say over there, go figure.

And it is lovely to make coffee overlooking a wide beach..

Ireland has become expensive, so we who love here find ways round it :)

Blessings

youngka · Guru

Anchoress, Thank you for filling in the blanks, store names -- I had forgotten. And, thanks
for mention of the stove costing E13 at LIDL. I think I will check into that for me to bring back. Do you think the cylinders are handy to find here? I am really glad to hear about items being cheaper in Northern Ireland. I would think they would be the same; and, I am so sorry that things have gotten bad in Ireland also. Dave , my husband, and I will be able to return this year and we are so excited because we can see the Northern part of Ireland this time. Thank you for all you help on the forum. youngka

Anchoress · Guru

Hi again.

Yes many things are much cheaper in the North; food, electrical goods. It is of course a different country; different taxes and subsidies etc. Southern Ireland has always been expensive for basics etc. We go to Strabane with the Nunmobile empty around once a month. Many do the same now as it costs around a third less there than here.

One good thing here now is that petrol has gone down to under a Euro for a litre. It reached almost 1.50 last year. So petrol is cheaper South than North.

The cylinders are a small standard campinggaz; not sure if you have that over there and you would not be able to take those on the plane..

We invested in ours because I work the stall alone and cannot get away to take a meal break. So I get to have a picnic..

Glad you are getting over; Donegal this time? The most beautiful part of Ireland. I can drive home from Town along the Blue Stack Drive now... dreadful road surface but a wild beauty.

Blessings

-- Edited by Anchoress at 02:31, 2009-01-22

youngka · Guru

Anchoress, Thanks for the info about the cylinders, good to know I can't pack them for home. I had done some research about Donegal and that is one of the areas I have made copies of the info for my folder. It sounds beautiful, glad we are going to be there. I had read a trip report from a couple on this forum about their staying in a self catering place East of the Donegal area. They explained the area so well and I wish I could remember who wrote this piece -- I wanted to go over it again and see where exactly the area is. Anchoress when you say when you work the stall, what did that mean? I always enjoy your postings and have learned more about you. Thanks again youngka

Anchoress · Guru

Good morning over there.

Our work as an Order is with the homeless and especially abandoned babies in India; and we fund this by the work of our hands. So here in Ireland, I sell our jams and Irish handknits and rosaries, books etc, at markets or street stalls,.. Dude had a private sales event when she came..

Donegal is truly beautiful. Especially if you get off the beaten track.

Blessings this day

youngka · Guru

Anchoress, Very good and wonderful cause. When we are in your area, I would love to know how to find you......youngka

Anchoress · Guru

Email me by all means....

anchoresscj at yahoo dot com

By then maybe the weather will be better; still freezing here.

Blessings from the Blue Stacks...

youngka · Guru

Anchoress, will email you so we can have a visit, will be nice. Thanks Youngka

Michele Erdvig · Host

CA,

You have received very good info from the other forum members while I was away tending to family matters.

I suggest looking here for a good list of food prices in Ireland: http://irishfireside.wordpress.com/about/expense-report/

Sessions in pubs vary greatly. Some are put on for tourists and others are "fixtures" that have been ongoing for a long time in Ireland. It depends entirely on the location and the pub.

Michele