We wish it were different, we really do. If it were up to us, you'd be able to sample the best of what Ireland has to offer without the competition for reasonably priced airfares or the scramble for Dublin's limited hotel space. However, the truth is that if you're planning on taking a trip to Ireland, your bank balance will likely thank you for doing it sooner rather than later.
A general rule of thumb, regardless of where you're travelling, is that 'the earlier you book, the better deal you're likely to get'. In reality, that's not always the case. There are some excellent last minute hotel deals to be snapped up all over the place. Similarly, 2016 data shows that, when booking flights from North America to the Caribbean or South America, between two and three months is the best time to find airfares at their lowest.
When to book flights to Ireland
However, the same can't be said about flying from North America to Ireland. The data suggests that 176 days or roughly five and half months is the sweet spot to find prices at their lowest. That would mean that if you were looking to take a trip to Ireland in May, you should be ready with your credit card in early December.
And yet, there's another addendum to that information if you're looking to book the cheapest possible return flight. Low-cost transatlantic carriers such as Wow Air and Norwegian generally go on sale up to a year in advance, from there, the price tends to continue to rise as demand for the seats increase. At the time of writing (27th October), it's possible to fly from Boston to Dublin return from as little as $473 according to SkyScanner.
If you'd rather go direct, and avoid Reykjavik and Oslo, Aer Lingus will get you there from $618 return.
Unfortunately, that's not the only consideration when it comes to when to book a trip to Ireland.
When to book hotel rooms in Ireland
At a recent conference, Fáilte Ireland, Ireland's tourism authority, confirmed what many of us already knew to be true. Dublin is the most difficult place in Europe to try and find a hotel room. The impact of Ireland's construction bubble meant that when the inevitable 'pop' arrived in 2008, building work ground to a halt. And yet, in the same period, visitors to Ireland began to grow year on year, while hotel rooms decreased.
#FailteDublin discussion: Dublin has highest occupancy in Europe but if you book early you can get value. That said, more rooms are needed pic.twitter.com/w9R7Y36s27
— Fáilte Ireland (@Failte_Ireland) October 27, 2016
The significant upturn in the Irish economy means that work is firmly underway to address the problem. However, there won't be an adequate supply of rooms until 2018 at the earliest. That means that with visitor numbers continuing to increase, the issue of demand and supply is not likely to correct itself in 2017, which leads us on to the ultimate piece of advice.
If you want to know when to book a trip to Ireland, the answer is generally going to be 'now'. However, there is some good news. We really are committed to helping you get the best value out of your trip. Although demand is high, there are still some excellent options when it comes to accommodation in Dublin and around the rest of the country. Whether you're interested in luxury camping or simply want to avail of our network of contacts in the hotel industry, we're here to ensure that you get the best deal possible regardless of when you decide to take the trip of a lifetime.
We're here to help
Simply contact us here or use the form provided on this page to send us a message about your travel plans. We really are here to help so if you're simply looking for some free advice, please don't hesitate to ask us a question. From here, you can also check out our guide on how much your trip to Ireland should really cost.
