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The Irish Sun
14-07-2025
- Business
- The Irish Sun
All-Ireland or all-inclusive? Grim reality of 2-night Dublin stay vs 4-star sun hol laid bare in ‘blatant gouging' alert
DUBLIN's hospitality industry has been slammed for sky-high hotel, food, and drink prices, with a seven-night all-inclusive package in Turkey or Spain now costing less than a two-night stay in the capital. Thousands of hurling fans from Advertisement 4 Croke Park will host two huge All-Ireland finals in the coming weeks 4 Dublin's hospitality industry has been slammed for skyrocketing prices Credit: Getty Images - Getty 4 A trip to Antalya in Turkey could be cheaper than a 2-night stay in Dublin city Hotel rooms in Research has found that an all-inclusive week in the sun will cost roughly the same - or even less - than what Advertisement He told 'And every summer, the Government watches on, tut-tuts, and then does absolutely nothing to ensure that we're not here again in a year's time. 'Whether it's people travelling from Donegal, Kerry, Cork or Tipp for All-Ireland final weekends or people travelling to Dublin for 'This is an industry that was heavily supported by the taxpayer, especially during the Advertisement A study by My holiday at TUI Magic Life Beldibi All-inclusive deals to the Costa Brava in The research is based on it costing €300 per person for a hotel in Dublin city centre over the two weekends. SKYROCKETING PRICES Add to that an average of €115 per person for two light lunches and two evening meals, a €60 per person drinks kitty, €55 per person for transport by car (including tolls and city parking), and a €100 match ticket bringing the total to €630 per person. Zoe Harris, Chief Customer Officer at On the Beach, said: 'With hotel prices in Dublin skyrocketing for the All-Ireland weekend, it's no surprise fans are tempted by alternative options. Advertisement 'When you can swap a packed Luas, long queues and steep city costs for seven nights of sun, sea, and all-inclusive relaxation at a lower price, it becomes a very easy decision. 'We've seen a real appetite this summer for all-inclusive escapes, and GAA fans don't have to miss a minute of the action, with many Irish bars across Europe showing every kick, point and goal.' EXTRA DEMAND PRESSURE Research by the Irish Sun has found that there is little difference in hotel prices in Dublin between the two All-Ireland weekends and on separate weekends in August and sky-high hotel prices in the capital have just become the norm all-year round. "This feels like Groundhog Day. Here we go again – every summer, the issue of hotels price gouging and ripping off tourists raises its head." Pearse Doherty A report last year by Failte Ireland found no evidence of price gouging during big events in Dublin, with cities around Europe exhibiting similar pricing patterns. They found: 'Many hotel markets, including Dublin's, simply struggle to facilitate the extra demand pressure that comes with large-scale events.' Advertisement It noted that during the DUBLIN 'NOT ATYPICAL' On the same night the following week, occupancy was down to 83 per cent and the average daily rate was €200. The report said: 'Dublin is not atypical in this regard. For many hotel markets, including that of Dublin, available hotel stock cannot facilitate the extra demand pressure that comes with an event of such magnitude.' Dynamic or 'surge' pricing — when rates are adjusted to reflect market conditions including supply and demand, the cost of production and competition — was first discovered in the airline sector, but is commonly used in accommodation. 'When you can swap a packed Luas, long queues and steep city costs for seven nights of sun, sea, and all-inclusive relaxation at a lower price, it becomes a very easy decision." Zoe Harris Chief Customer Officer at On the Beach It has since now moved into concert ticket market after Advertisement Hotel rates often quoted in the media, as the Failte Ireland report stated, are usually for those booked at short notice amid exceptionally high demand. It said: 'While the pricing of the last remaining rooms can be headline-grabbing, the vast majority of rooms are cheaper.' 4 A report last year by Failte Ireland found no evidence of price gouging during big events in Dublin Credit: PA:Press Association
Daily Mirror
01-07-2025
- Climate
- Daily Mirror
Brits ignore red alert heatwave warning with huge rush on last-minute breaks
Portugal, France and Spain all suffered through temperatures of up to 40 degrees Celsius on Tuesday, but for many Brits looking to abroad, that feels preferable to staying put Brits are ignoring 'red alert' health warnings and heading to the Continent en masse. Thousands of Brits have booked holidays in the past 48 hours, with many boarding flights in the next seven days as part of last-minute deals, swapping the uncomfortable British heat for Europe's scorching sun. In arguably classic British fashion, a huge number of holidaymakers are ditching the mere 34C temperatures of the UK for something a little more sizzling on the Continent. According to On the Beach, in the past 48 hours, bookings to Europe increased 23% and there was a whopping 47% increase in bookings leaving in the next week. Portugal, France and Spain all suffered through temperatures of up to 40 degrees Celsius on Tuesday, but for many Brits looking to be abroad, that feels preferable to staying put. Have you been affected by the intense heat? Email webtravel@ This is despite the serious danger to life that is posed by the temperatures in parts of Europe right now. A record number of heat alerts are in place across France as the country and other parts of southern and eastern Europe remain in the grip of soaring temperatures. Sixteen French regions, including Paris, have been placed on red alert for Tuesday, the country's highest, while 68 others are on orange alert. Heat warnings are also in place for parts of Spain, Portugal, Italy, Germany, and Balkan countries, including Croatia. In Barcelona, a woman has lost her life, allegedly after spending a gruelling shift cleaning the streets of the Spanish city. According to the newspaper El País, the cleaner was working in the Raval neighborhood of Ciutat Vella during the heat of the day. She spent eight hours outside, enduring temperatures above 30°C, according to Aemet. So far this year, 2,168 people have died from causes attributable to the heat in Spain alone. Last year, 3,521 deaths were linked to extreme temperatures in the country, CLM24 reports. Despite the clear risk of heatwaves as intense as the one scorching Europe right now, clearly many Brits feel things could be a little hotter. Bookings to Amsterdam and Paris reached record highs this Monday, with On the Beach recording a 178% increase in bookings to Paris year on year. Perhaps they are attracted to the quality of heat, as opposed to the quantity of Celsius. The UK heat is famously muggy, sticky, and airless, with little breeze and minimal chance of proper cooling off at night. Homes aren't designed for heat, and air conditioning is rare, leaving people tossing and turning through humid, sleepless nights. In contrast, much of southern Europe is built for the heat. Even at 35 or 40 degrees, there's often dry, baking sunshine rather than the suffocating humidity Brits face at home. Zoe Harris, chief customer officer at On the Beach, said: 'It's official, Europe is roasting and Brits can't get enough of it. Let's be honest, 35 degrees in Spain feels like a glorious bake in the sun, while 28 in the UK feels like trying to sleep in a damp greenhouse. As soon as Brits see Europe heating up, they book their almost immediate escape, because roasting under a Spanish sun is paradise compared to stewing in the UK's clammy heat.' 'City break bookings have jumped by 32% in the past 24 hours as Brits rush to make the most of Europe's scorching heatwave. It's not just the beaches calling this time, urban getaways are booming too. After all, cities offer shady streets for exploring, cool museums and cafes to duck into, and air conditioning in abundance, making even the hottest days easy to enjoy.'
The Irish Sun
09-06-2025
- The Irish Sun
Six of the best long-haul holidays to take this summer from beautiful beach resorts to affordable luxe hotels
HOLIDAYMAKERS are hungry for long-haul getaways this year – and it is no surprise, considering the soaring costs in popular European hotspots. Thomas Cook has reported a ten per cent year-on-year increase in bookings for far-flung breaks and recent research from holiday operator On The Beach found getaways to Europe could easily set you back more than to farther afield. Advertisement 7 We have six of the best long-haul holidays to take this summer Credit: Shutterstock On The Beach's Zoe Harris said: 'The gap between So, why not save your pennies and ditch your favourite sunshine spot for somewhere new and maybe even more exotic? Sophie Swietochowski shares her pick of KANDY, SRI LANKA SAVE around £500, if you swap a £1,200pp holiday on the Greek island of Santorini for a £769pp seven-night adventure at the 4* Radisson Hotel in the mountainous city of Kandy. Advertisement 7 The 4* Radisson Hotel in Kandy, Sri Lanka Credit: supplied Carved into the hillside, the resort's modern and simple bedrooms come with lush views of tropical greenery. Going with a breakfast-only package means you can tuck into plates of fresh fruit piled on top of hot waffles and thick yoghurt before setting off for a day exploring the beautiful country. Kandy is the cultural capital of the island and is littered with intricately decorated temples. Advertisement GO : Seven nights' B&B costs from £769pp including flights from Airline to launch new bunk beds in economy on long-haul flights next yea Orlando, US THRILLSEEKERS should look to Florida instead of Europe for their summer break this year. The 7 The 3* Sonesta ES Suites Orlando Lake Buena Vista is just 15 minutes from Disney World Credit: supplied But if you were to head to Paris – home to the European Disneyland – at the same time of year, you'd struggle to bag a TUI package for less than £1,000pp. Advertisement You can use the cash you have saved on travel costs to pay a visit to When you are not being thrown upside down on a roller-coaster, the palm tree-laden ES Suites is the perfect place to relax with barbecue grills in the gardens, for guests to use. GO : Seven nights' self-catering costs from £759pp based on two sharing a one-bedroom apartment and includes flights from Gatwick on 15. See DUBAI, UAE THE glittering skyscrapers of Dubai are easier than ever to reach, and you could save a fair whack by heading here for around £700pp instead of Spain's Marbella, where a week's break in July can cost upwards of £1,000pp. Well positioned – less than a five-minute drive from cultural sites like the Jumeirah Mosque and under ten minutes from glam beach clubs like Nikki Beach – the 4* Jumeira Rotana is an ideal base for first-timers. Advertisement 7 The 4* Jumeira Rotana is an ideal base for first-timers in Dubai Temperatures can reach 40C in summer, but don't let that put you off, as many of the city's top attractions are air-conditioned. Make your way to the top of the Or, if you really need to cool down, head to Ski Dubai, with 22,500 square metres of ski slopes. GO : Seven nights' B&B costs from £723pp including flights from Manchester on July 2. See Advertisement PUNTA CANA, DOMINICAN REP WHEN it comes to fly-and-flop breaks, you may want to consider opting for the A 4* break in Mykonos will cost £2,700pp in June, much more than this On The Beach deal to Punta Cana for £739pp. 7 The chic Sunscape Coco Punta Cana is a sleepy 4* resort on the Dominican Republic's eastern coast Credit: supplied The chic Sunscape Coco Punta Cana is a sleepy 4* resort on the Dominican Republic's eastern coast, where temperatures reach a balmy 32C towards the end of this month. Expect white-sand beaches overlooking turquoise waters, cocktails and a cushioned cabana shaded by palms. Advertisement This place has everything within easy reach. There's an outdoor pool, private beach, casino, poolside bar, watersports centre, a la carte restaurant, beach volleyball, spa and more. And with an all-inclusive package, the only thing you need to focus on is topping up your tan. GO : Seven nights' all-inclusive costs from £739pp including flights from Gatwick on June 21. See MUSCAT, OMAN IF you are a fan of Dubai, but want somewhere more affordable, the Middle Eastern gem of Oman is the UAE's laid-back sister. Advertisement A 5* luxury holiday at the Sheraton Oman Hotel, will only set you back £669pp. 7 Enjoy 5* luxury at the Sheraton Oman Hotel for just £669pp This price is staggeringly low if you compare it with a stay in a European Sheraton hotel – a package for its Mallorca hotel during the same week is just shy of £1,200pp with British Airways. Muscat is a great spot for culture vultures – home to winding souks crammed with spices, breathtakingly beautiful mosques that shimmer in the sun and golden sand dunes stretching for miles. Make sure to take advantage of the hotel's outdoor Courtyard Oasis, crammed with tropical plants, a restaurant and the spa – which claims to be one of the best in Oman. Advertisement GO : Seven nights' B&B costs from £669pp including flights from Heathrow on July 8. See KHAO LAK, THAILAND WE'VE all got White Lotus fever. But instead of visiting Sicily (where the second series was filmed), head to Thailand (the location for series three) to bag a proper bargain. 7 The 4* The Leaf On The Sands in Khao Lak, Thailand Credit: supplied A seven-night TUI package at the 4* The Leaf On The Sands, by Katathani costs just over £800pp, while a holiday in a 4* hotel in Sicily, during the same week, could set you back about £1,000pp or more. Advertisement Surrounded by tropical greenery, in the beach resort region of Khao Lak, a little north of Phuket, The Leaf On The Sands offers two swimming pools where you can catch the rays while listening to birdsong. Do not get too comfy, though, as there is so much adventure waiting – treks through the Lam Ru National Park, trips to the Wat Suwan Khuha Temple or snorkelling around a shipwreck. GO : Seven nights' B&B is from £838pp including flights from Heathrow on September 11. See
Scottish Sun
09-06-2025
- Scottish Sun
Six of the best long-haul holidays to take this summer from beautiful beach resorts to affordable luxe hotels
HOLIDAYMAKERS are hungry for long-haul getaways this year – and it is no surprise, considering the soaring costs in popular European hotspots. Thomas Cook has reported a ten per cent year-on-year increase in bookings for far-flung breaks and recent research from holiday operator On The Beach found getaways to Europe could easily set you back more than to farther afield. 7 We have six of the best long-haul holidays to take this summer Credit: Shutterstock On The Beach's Zoe Harris said: 'The gap between long-haul
The Sun
09-06-2025
- The Sun
Six of the best long-haul holidays to take this summer from beautiful beach resorts to affordable luxe hotels
HOLIDAYMAKERS are hungry for long-haul getaways this year – and it is no surprise, considering the soaring costs in popular European hotspots. Thomas Cook has reported a ten per cent year-on-year increase in bookings for far-flung breaks and recent research from holiday operator On The Beach found getaways to Europe could easily set you back more than to farther afield. On The Beach's Zoe Harris said: 'The gap between long-haul prices and short-haul has decreased and the idea of a new, far-out destination is clearly pulling a lot of Brits, hence why bookings are up.' So, why not save your pennies and ditch your favourite sunshine spot for somewhere new and maybe even more exotic? Sophie Swietochowski shares her pick of long-haul holiday s for short-haul prices . . . KANDY, SRI LANKA SAVE around £500, if you swap a £1,200pp holiday on the Greek island of Santorini for a £769pp seven-night adventure at the 4* Radisson Hotel in the mountainous city of Kandy. Sri Lanka, where coconut palms line the roads and wild elephants roam freely, is often reserved for special occasions, but with prices like this, it doesn't need to be. 7 Carved into the hillside, the resort's modern and simple bedrooms come with lush views of tropical greenery. Going with a breakfast-only package means you can tuck into plates of fresh fruit piled on top of hot waffles and thick yoghurt before setting off for a day exploring the beautiful country. Kandy is the cultural capital of the island and is littered with intricately decorated temples. GO: Seven nights' B&B costs from £769pp including flights from Heathrow on September 8. 2025. See Orlando, US THRILLSEEKERS should look to Florida instead of Europe for their summer break this year. The Disney parks are just 15 minutes by car from the 3* Sonesta ES Suites Orlando Lake Buena Vista, where a week costs less than £800pp with TUI. But if you were to head to Paris – home to the European Disneyland – at the same time of year, you'd struggle to bag a TUI package for less than £1,000pp. You can use the cash you have saved on travel costs to pay a visit to Epic Universe, the first new theme park to come to Orlando in 25 years. When you are not being thrown upside down on a roller-coaster, the palm tree-laden ES Suites is the perfect place to relax with barbecue grills in the gardens, for guests to use. GO: Seven nights' self-catering costs from £759pp based on two sharing a one-bedroom apartment and includes flights from Gatwick on 15. See DUBAI, UAE THE glittering skyscrapers of Dubai are easier than ever to reach, and you could save a fair whack by heading here for around £700pp instead of Spain' s Marbella, where a week's break in July can cost upwards of £1,000pp. Well positioned – less than a five-minute drive from cultural sites like the Jumeirah Mosque and under ten minutes from glam beach clubs like Nikki Beach – the 4* Jumeira Rotana is an ideal base for first-timers. Temperatures can reach 40C in summer, but don't let that put you off, as many of the city's top attractions are air-conditioned. Make your way to the top of the Burj Khalifa skyscraper to soak up the best views of the skyline. Or, if you really need to cool down, head to Ski Dubai, with 22,500 square metres of ski slopes. GO: Seven nights' B&B costs from £723pp including flights from Manchester on July 2. See PUNTA CANA, DOMINICAN REP WHEN it comes to fly-and-flop breaks, you may want to consider opting for the Dominican Republic over the Greek islands. A 4* break in Mykonos will cost £2,700pp in June, much more than this On The Beach deal to Punta Cana for £739pp. 7 The chic Sunscape Coco Punta Cana is a sleepy 4* resort on the Dominican Republic's eastern coast, where temperatures reach a balmy 32C towards the end of this month. Expect white-sand beaches overlooking turquoise waters, cocktails and a cushioned cabana shaded by palms. This place has everything within easy reach. There's an outdoor pool, private beach, casino, poolside bar, watersports centre, a la carte restaurant, beach volleyball, spa and more. And with an all-inclusive package, the only thing you need to focus on is topping up your tan. GO: Seven nights' all-inclusive costs from £739pp including flights from Gatwick on June 21. See MUSCAT, OMAN IF you are a fan of Dubai, but want somewhere more affordable, the Middle Eastern gem of Oman is the UAE's laid-back sister. A 5* luxury holiday at the Sheraton Oman Hotel, will only set you back £669pp. This price is staggeringly low if you compare it with a stay in a European Sheraton hotel – a package for its Mallorca hotel during the same week is just shy of £1,200pp with British Airways. Muscat is a great spot for culture vultures – home to winding souks crammed with spices, breathtakingly beautiful mosques that shimmer in the sun and golden sand dunes stretching for miles. Make sure to take advantage of the hotel's outdoor Courtyard Oasis, crammed with tropical plants, a restaurant and the spa – which claims to be one of the best in Oman. KHAO LAK, THAILAND WE'VE all got White Lotus fever. But instead of visiting Sicily (where the second series was filmed), head to Thailand (the location for series three) to bag a proper bargain. 7 A seven-night TUI package at the 4* The Leaf On The Sands, by Katathani costs just over £800pp, while a holiday in a 4* hotel in Sicily, during the same week, could set you back about £1,000pp or more. Surrounded by tropical greenery, in the beach resort region of Khao Lak, a little north of Phuket, The Leaf On The Sands offers two swimming pools where you can catch the rays while listening to birdsong. Do not get too comfy, though, as there is so much adventure waiting – treks through the Lam Ru National Park, trips to the Wat Suwan Khuha Temple or snorkelling around a shipwreck. GO: Seven nights' B&B is from £838pp including flights from Heathrow on September 11. See
