In recent years, a great number of new hotels have been built throughout the island of Ireland – a result of Ireland’s decade-long economic boom, nicknamed the “Celtic Tiger”.
Now that the worldwide economy is faltering, hotels are suffering as both business markets and tourism markets are shrinking. Irish hotels are becoming increasingly competitive. Shop around — there are definitely bargains to be found.
You will find all of the familiar hotel chains in Ireland, but many family-run hotels can still be found, often in more charming buildings.
Standards do vary however — so it’s always worth checking reviews on an independent site like Tripadvisor, where you will also see photos of rooms that have been taken by previous guests, etc.
Tip: Always book directly through a hotel’s own official website, or at least look at the price there. These days, you are most likely to get the cheapest price on the hotel’s own official website.