RIP-OFF IRELAND

you mean my Swedish Lingerie Model conveyance unit?

??

Rip-off on a more tourist point of view:

At the moment I'm updating several of my travel books, part of it is to update prices for accommodation, restaurants, admission fees to museums and other things.
I just finished the book on Ireland, before that the one on Berlin and now one on the German Baltic coast. Been there this year, too. In between I did a magazine part on London. I mention this to show that all the comparison is within European countries.

London is quite an expensive place, and compared to Berlin a true rip-off. But Dublin comes closer to London pricewise than to Berlin, in some cases Dublin is even more expensive, especially when you compare the quality of, say, restaurants.

Now the Baltic coast is of outstanding beauty and traditionally a tourist area and hence prone to overpricing. I couldn't believe the prices of B&Bs and holiday apartments! A regular B&B by the sea near a beach charges about 30 to 50 Euro for a double, more remote places are even cheaper. A holiday apartment is about 40 to 60 Euro per day, and you can eat in a moderate restaurant for about 10 Euro or even less. Drinks are delightfully cheap!

I always wondered why prices in Ireland are so high. Somebody once told me that most things have to be imported, Ireland being an island. Rubbish! Food for example is cheaper in the North, and the UK is an island, too. It's the monopole most companies have - and the certainty that Irish people don't complain. Competition is only a recent occurence, in the food sector partly thanks to Lidl and Aldi. Not that Dunnes or others are concerned...

Then there are the essential household suppliers. Eircom (the Irish telecom) is a pain in the backside with charges that are completely over the limit and bad service on top. Broadband isn't avaliable everywhere, and smaller companies who go for the rural areas charge you an arm and a leg. ESB (electricity) is overpriced and way behind standard. Powercuts happen several times a year (in rural areas at least).
Water supply is a mess in certain areas (think Galway, think Ennis) where nobody feels responsible to renew and clean the supply. Okay, water is free in Ireland, but I'd rather pay a little money and can be sure to have clean water.
Tradesmen are the most obvious rip-offs. Had a plumber recently for a problem I couldn't fix myself. He worked on it for ten minutes (after I prepared everything) and charged me 100 Euros (no new parts were needed).

And for the insurance companies - don't get me started. From motor insurance to house insurance, it's a complete rip-off! For example, thatched cottages are declared heritage now, but there is not one Irish insurance company who would insure them - thatch is too "dangerous" they say! I had to go to Lloyds of London to get one and they charge me a second mortgage.

As for the health service - I still go to dentists and doctors when in Germany. It's way cheaper, even considering the flight. Apart from the general misery in Irish health services ...

I recently checked house prices on the net (late nights when bored) and found thatched cottages near the German Baltic (in the back of beyond) for under 100 000 Euros, some houses even for about 40-60 000 Euros. In my neighbourhood (in the back of beyond in Ireland) there is a tiny thatched cottage on the market - 265 000 Euros. No comment.

Still, I wouldn't want to move elsewhere, I love to live in Ireland because there is more to life than money. Would be nice though to have some. Remind me to play the lotto ...

beg pardon.. typo...government jet = convoyance unit

Ah ha get ya now paddy eile.

Carraig i totally agree with you. It is a joke. But there's not much you can do in this country for free...is there?? I completly agree that money is not the be all and end all, but in a country like Ireland, i sometimes think it is, because there are thousands of people out there, who can't afford to do the things they want, because it's just too god damn expensive!!!!

agreed Paddy PP and Carraig... I love Eire but on principle alone I wonder if I can live out my days there, never mind the prices.

I travel a bit and a few of my previous jobs kept me abroad for extended periods. I followed with interest the development of the so called 'Celtic Tiger' and indeed when I returned home was delighted to earn money I never thought possible in Ireland as did many friends from home and abroad. Alas I also noticed the levels of disillusionment in the country was at an all time high. Big salaries/wages but yet less disposable income.

But sure when Im in office I dont need to worry about that.. .. you looking for a cushy number Paddy PP? 'Jobs for the boys' (and girls) you know!

Just on the paying more for clothes than elsewhere - AFAIK it's only Spain that pays a cheaper euro price. If you look at the tags you should see that all other euro countries pay the same. Spain have less tax on clothes which is why they are cheaper - it's nothing to do with the shops.

That said, we do seem to get stiffed on the sterling conversion when you make those comparisons!

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<hr>That said, we do seem to get stiffed on the sterling conversion when you make those comparisons! <hr></blockquote>

Distibution costs to Ireland make a big diff from UK v pricing in the UK.

Dynamic Currency Exchange is the rip off I hate where they convert your bill into whatever currency your CC is and tell you they doing you a favour by effectively adding 4% to the bill.

it's not just spain, italy and germany have cheaper clothes as well. And i really don't think it's down to distribution costs. For example, Zara a spanish clothes shop here in Ireland, every single item is AT LEAST €10 more expensive here than it is in Spain, it's not the distribution cost, because the profits they're making from at least €10 extra on every single item in the shop is massive!!! They transport the goods in bulk, therefore it's lowering the distribution cost of each item!!! I don't know if i'm making proper sense there, but you get the drift!