I love low-cost travel, and Dublin is too much of a good city to miss out on when we have so many low-cost airlines at hand.
Luckily, having flown Ryanair so many times, I've never had a problem with them, but when I tried searching for a flight on their website, I was faced with what seemed like an impossible security check. Since then, although they have improved it we’ve still noticed a little trouble every now and again.
So I chose to look at flying with someone else. Booking a cheap weekend break to Dublin, the obvious alternative is Aer Lingus, who now fly from three of London's airports, Heathrow, Gatwick and Southend.
Fly from London Gatwick on a Saturday morning and returning the next day in the evening means you get plenty of time to explore Dublin and only take hand luggage, minimising the cost of the flight.
Dublin may seem like an obvious choice for a short break but it's often overlooked and it’s a great city for a day trip, romantic weekend break or group trip. The city does spread out quite far so if you're here to visit the sites, it's important to stay in the city centre. A return airport bus fare to the city costs €10 for adults and €5 for children.
One of my favourite hotels is the Gibson hotel which is opposite the O2, so perfect for any concerts. In the Summer it's a nice walk along the river into the city centre, but the tram runs from outside the hotel directly into the heart of Dublin.
The Gibson Hotel is not the cheapest hotel in Dublin and for those on a budget, the centrally located The Pearse Hotel is a great alternative with the usual creature comforts you need for a weekend away. This three star hotel is a short walk away from the bars and shops and the various theatres and museums that the city has to offer. The Guinness Brewery is a good option for first time visitors to Dublin and the National Leprechaun Museum is one of those places you have to go to, just to say you've been.
Dublin Must Do
It's cheesy and very tourist but you should take a trip to the Temple Bar district (walking distance from The Pearse Hotel) and visit Gogarty's (Oliver St John Gogarty) Pub. I love it here because of it's traditional live music but it does fill up quickly. There's no better way to spend an afternoon in Dublin than soaking up the atmosphere with a pint.
