Lauren Tabbron shares her favourite things to do in Manchester
Jess Astbury regales tales of festivities in warmer climates.
When to go
What you’re in Dublin to do will determine the best time for you to go. If you enjoy the hustle and bustle of city adventure, be sure to catch one of the numerous festivals on offer, St. Patrick’s Festival from 13-17th March being the most notable. Of course, this comes with a hefty price tag. If you want to avoid having to re-mortgage your house, I suggest choosing a time outside of traditional holiday periods and festival times.
Getting there
This will probably be the least expensive part of your trip to Dublin. There are numerous low-fare airline companies offering 1p deals for a return flight. Be warned however that taxes will be added to this price. Expect to pay between £40-45.
Where to stay
For fun and frolics during your stay in Dublin, there’s only one place to be: Temple Bar. The cultural (and partying) quarter of Ireland’s capital, this area on the south bank of the River Liffey has much to offer. From comedy clubs to nightclubs to quaint Irish pubs, there is no reason for anybody to be bored in this area of the city.
Being students, I shall make the assumption that you’re looking to save your cash for ‘leisure pursuits’. In which case, a hostel is the best way to go. For a great hostel with a perfect central location, check out Barnacles. Great prices, clean rooms and friendly staff: what more could you ask for?
Daytime
For those of you who are all for the nightlife, I understand if you regard ‘Day-time’ as ‘Hangover-time’. For the few able to drag themselves out of bed, a world of excitement awaits. It would be a travesty indeed to go to Ireland and not visit the Guiness factory.
However, if it is culture you’re after, head towards the Dublin Writers Museum and learn about Ireland’s impressive literary heritage.
Night-time
To quote the ever-eloquent, and quintessentially Irish, Father Jack, there is a central responsibility during your stay in the Emerald Isle, and that is to ‘Driink!’
If there’s one place to let your hair down and have a good time, Dublin, my friends, is that place. Head into the centre of Temple Bar and it won’t be long before you find a bar/pub/nightclub to suit your tastes. On the food front, there are numerous restaurants offering early bird deals for three course meals usually before 7pm.
From my personal experience, the most enjoyable aspect of Dublin is the vast array of comedy clubs. On Wednesday and Sunday nights, the place to be is the Capital Comedy Club.
The bottom line
Dublin is a fantastic place to go for a get together with friends. For a cosy weekend away, perhaps try somewhere with a little less impact on the wallet. Being romantic on a stringent budget is not the way to win points. So get your troop together, your glad rags on and a Guinness in your hand. With careful planning, you won’t need the luck of the Irish to make this a cost-efficient and memorable getaway.
For further information on planning your trip to Dublin, click away at: visitdublin.com
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