Lonely Planet article criticising Dublin as tourist destination ‘doesn’t make for pleasant reading’

A couple of things. Coming home is a head wreck lately. Prior to Covid we sent a few weeks each year in summer and winter at home.

2022...well lets see:

Car Rental in Ireland: $35000 for a month. Not happening!

Hotel for one night arriving back Dublin: 600 euro... Not happening!

Could I afford this? YES... will I be extorted Nope!

Dublin is one of my favourite cities (or used to be). While I agree that prices have risen world wide, I still fail to see the disconnect between Dublin and elsewhere. It is a small city. But the complete ruination of the place by costs, lack of sights to see will alienate many people from travelling. I am lucky I have options when at home: Borrowing cars, Own home, etc... Even I find it crazily expensive when compared to other destinations.

Dublin has many great features, needless to say nightlife being one of them, along side the warmth of the people. This is being ruined too. People travelling there may remember the night life, good food, but most of all they will remember being ripped off by services that they need,,,,, it will kill Dublin as a destination. One bad review and hundreds of people will avoid Dublin (and Ireland) like the plague.

The article itself is balanced and indicative of Dublin and I have no issues with it.

As someone who has promoted Ireland to friends here in the States as a great place to come to, I know at least three who have said NO WAY when the costs started appearing upon planning.

Lonely Planet articles generally are mild but their real value is how they influence not just those intending to travel but how media pick up on what they say and ironically not say.

TripAdvisor for example is utter nonsense, not at all reliable, little or no controls, a free for all ( I spent years as a torn in their side)

The decerning traveller looks to lonely planet and a small number of other Guides for review, opinions, guidence. From an industry perspective, the lonely planet article was in essence a gentle but focussed kicking, it worked, look at the reaction to it.

98 to 2007 were the prime Dublin years. It's all gone now. God be with the days

The Irish know how to fleece a tourist. Nothing new, been happening for years.

You'd think Dublin only got expensive in the last 6 months. They are just taking it to new levels now, making hay while they can. They don't play the long game at all, it's all short term gain, feck the future.

Not at all sure lonely plant said Dublin is a Kip , but also worth pointing out Dublin is 5th most expensive city to live in Europe.

O sorry , I didnt intend to say you said this, apologies, just picked up on the comment generally 😏

ggalway, cork, depends on if youre counting the north or not

madrid is one of the best cities in the world.......

thats just how alot of airports work unfortunately, made the same mistake when i went through there. schipol is the same

Edit

Well to be fair, Madrid has a reason to have a very visible police presence.

Dublin is becoming San Francisco. Locals priced out by Tech Workers and all that's left is them and the homeless, who have penchant for **** on the street.

I had been working in the city centre since February and am alarmed at the amount of shite on the street.

It might have, maybe thats because of the amount of police ??

I was hinting that it also has been the target of terrorist attacks in recent times, and thats why its flooded with police?

The Lonely planet article bears no relationship to your post. Why did you ask people to read the article first. The article just talks about rising costs.

But it is grand, as I said, there are thousands and thousands of people going about their business in Dublin every day. As much as all you anti-Dublin folks like to go on about how dangerous the place is, I don't know anyone that lives there who has any problems with safety. If you don't feel safe coming to Dublin because there aren't enough Garda well either stay away or contact your TD to campaign for more on the streets.

reading that I think it is fair and useful to know these things in advance the bit in that article which would put me off visiting the most is -

Dublin is a city famously fueled by spontaneity — but as it comes out of pandemic regulations, the city increasingly favors the prepared.

This is the new culture in Ireland that have to have everything planned, booked ect. No longer a Failte if you turn up at a bar, restaurant, cafe ...... you get a look of what are you doing here followed by a 'do you have a booking' even places which are not busy and should welcome customers. Part of it is a staffing issue I guess they do not know how to react or think on the spot.

I have not worked in that area however I always think they would take in more custom if it not done by booking as tables would be filled. I have seen places almost empty but table not offered due to bookings

Well I don't need guards, no. Where do you live? Do you think everywhere in Ireland needs more Garda or just Dublin? Isn't homelessness a nationwide problem in Ireland, or just Dublin?

I'm not particularly pro Dublin, I just live there sometimes, I just find it mad that the rest of Ireland seems to want to tell us here how bad we have it and how dangerous the place is. Some of us actually like living there.

Some tourists don't seem to care about getting fleeced. How long has The Temple Bar been in business despite being infamous for charging waaaay above the average for drinks? But, as you say, there are bargains to be had. Maybe even some in Dublin.

Some of them seem to think the county of Dublin is one giant Ballymun. Bring them out to Garristown and north county Dublin in general and blow their mind....

Your nonsense "replies" and jibes at your "country" cousins have never rang more hollow "Emmet".