Holidaying at home might not be the best-value break on offer, writes CONOR POPE, in the first of a daily summer column

Gloomy economic forecasts and not-so-gloomy weather forecasts have seen the number of locals planning to holiday at home this year double to 55 per cent compared with 12 months ago, according to a survey by the Travel Lodge hotel chain published earlier this month.

Given Ireland’s reputation as a high-priced holiday destination, it’s remarkable so many cash-strapped people suddenly seem to be cutting costs this summer by staying at home.

But are the 55 per cent making a terrible mistake? The tourist industry has seen a dramatic fall in overseas demand and is now falling over itself to assure locals that the bad old rip-off days are gone. Fáilte Ireland is spending heavily on a value-for-money advertising campaign, but nothing can hide the fact that the cost of activities and eating out remains high in Ireland, and it’s not uncommon to be asked for €4 for four minutes’ go-karting, a tenner for a child’s sausage and chips, and a euro for extra bread for a bowl of soup.

A family of five eating average food in ordinary restaurants will easily spend €120 on an evening meal this summer, or €1,700 in a fortnight. Allow €40 per day for lunches and snacks, and the cost of holiday eating climbs to €2,200. With accommodation, activities, petrol, coffees and soft drinks, the bill tops €4,000 – hardly a saving when compared with the cheap-as-chips sun holidays being flogged by tour operators.

Fáilte Ireland director John Concannon accepts that eating out can be expensive but claims that while the price of food was a cause of concern in recent years, a growing number of early-bird menus, special offers and pubs serving cheap (well, cheaper) food has driven average prices down.

“You are going to find places that give bad value but if you’re charging a euro for extra bread then you won’t survive. It is all about capturing repeat business,” he says.

“I think Ireland is cheaper now, certainly, but whether it is cheap enough is another matter,” says food and travel writer Georgina Campbell. Prices are falling across Europe so the differentials remain largely the same, she says. “There is value to be had but simply looking at the bottom line is not the answer – you have to look at the complete picture: the quality of the holiday, the stress factor.” She advises families to look for half-board deals in hotels instead of eating out. “It is slightly old-fashioned and might not be ideal for parents but it makes it cheaper.” She recommends the Quality Hotel in Clonakilty, Co Cork as a good-value place for a family on a half-board basis and says the Shandon Hotel in Donegal is “absolutely fantastic”.

“If you’re looking for value, the trick is to avoid the most obvious and the most popular destinations and look at places where they are struggling to fill rooms,” she suggests, although she stops short of recommending that people haggle too hard.

Kieran Murphy, an award-winning ice-cream man based in Dingle, Co Kerry, has grown weary of the focus on price over quality. He says there is more to good value. He accepts that €3.50 for a scoop of his ice cream is a lot but insists it’s worth it.

“When it comes to food, I remember things that were really good, I don’t remember things that were really cheap.”

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