Hotels in Ireland are the cheapest in Western Europe according to a new survey of rates across 44 countries by the world’s largest independent online booking company, expedia, owners of hotels.com.

The hotel price index, compiled from bookings made through Hotels.com at 130,000 hotels around the world, found Ireland had the sixth cheapest hotels out of a total of 44 countries surveyed with an average room rate of €79 (approx $107).

No other Western European country had lower rates. In Eastern Europe, only the Czech Republic, Poland and Hungary were found to be slightly lower than Ireland making Ireland the 4th cheapest in the entire European continent.

Hotel prices in the capital, Dublin, were even lower than the national average at just €73 (approx $98), dropping 6% in 2010 versus 2009, making it one of the best value capital cities in the world in which to stay. Of 95 cities surveyed around the world, Dublin ranked 18th cheapest and cheapest in all of Europe.

Average hotel prices in Dublin in 2010 were significantly lower than in neighboring European capitals. In London, average hotel prices stood at €135 a night; Paris – €120; Amsterdam – €115; Rome – €113; Edinburgh – €109; and Lisbon – €83.

Kilkenny remained the most expensive place to stay in Ireland, despite a fall of almost 20 per cent in average room rates from €138 in 2009 to €112 in 2010. The southeast also had the second most expensive destination, with Wexford at €109. Third most expensive was Galway at €100, followed by hotels in Killarney at €96 and Tralee at €95. The lowest cost place to stay in Ireland, the survey found, was Waterford, with an average hotel price of just €56.

Seamus Mac Cormaic of Expedia Inc said: “Despite having a reputation as an expensive destination, Ireland is now one of the most affordable destinations in the world and Dublin one of the least expensive major cities.”

The shuttle bus service for the Croke Park Stadium Tour is to be relaunched on Tuesday April 13th and will run for the Summer Season until Spetember.

The service evolves from the very successful introductory service last year; and the 2010 Shuttle Bus will include an extended service to the new Glasnevin Museum.

The service will take tourists from the centre of Dublin city to two landmark venues deeply embedded in Irish history. Starting out from Trinity College, the bus will stop at three ‘pick-ups’ along the way –  at Trinity College, Suffolk Street and Parnell Square before reaching the Croke Park and then onto the new Glasnevin  Museum.

The extension of the shuttle service to Glasnevin will allow tourists and the public greater access to two of Dublin’s “must see” attractions. The Croke Park venue hosts the Stadium Tour and the GAA Museum, both of which are a fantastic celebration of the history and heritage of Ireland’s native sports. Glasnevin Trust Museum located at the famous Cemetery site is also host to a fully interactive exhibition highlighting the lives of those buried within the walls of the famous cemetery and historical details of the workings of a Victorian Cemetery.

“Last year the shuttle bus service to Croke Park was a resounding success as it facilitated access for a large number of visitors to one of Ireland’s premier and most celebrated venues. We are delighted to bring back the service for the forthcoming year, whilst also welcoming the extension of the route to the Glasnevin Trust Museum. The premise behind the shuttle bus is again to provide a quick, direct and inexpensive trip to both of the popular venues for tourists and the public alike. We hope the extension will encourage even more people to take advantage of the service this year” said Mark Dorman, GAA Museum Director.

The service from Dublin City Centre to both Croke Park and Glasnevin will run daily from Tuesday to Saturday each week. While there are currently no plans to arrange pickups at Dublin Hotels, the extension of the service to hotels near the shuttle route or near the start and end points has not been ruled out.

If one wishes to stay in the area there are also a number of accommodation options available, just checkout our page on Hotels Near Croke Park

It is reported in this morning’s Irish Times that the Irish government is planning a u-turn on it’s decision 4 years ago to make both Cork Airport and Shannon Airport independent of Dublin airport.

According to the newspaper report, comments by minister for transport, Noel Dempsey, yesterday gave a clear indication of the intention to keep Cork and Shannon Airports under the authority of Dublin.

As often speculated at the time, it now appears that the State Airports Act 2004, was nothing more than a name change from Aer Rianta to the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA). If this story turns out to be true, surely a further name change is required? It would seem a ridiculous situation to have the other two airports as part of a DUBLIN airport authority in the longer term??? 

Read the full Irsh Times article at:
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2008/1117/1226700658702.html

What Dublin doesn’t have in size, it more than makes up for in personality. Ask anyone who’s visited the ‘Fair City’ and they’ll have one or two tales to tell about the legendary charm of Dublin. This September, Dublin is set to host a range of exciting events that provide the perfect opportunity to experience the city‘s unique character.

Of these events the one grabbing most of the headlines is the Dublin Fringe Festival. Picking up where Edinburgh left off, The Fringe is Ireland’s showcase of visual and performance arts played out at established and makeshift venues throughout Dublin from September 6th to 21st

Read more on the Dublin Fringe Festival