Jolly Days in the USA in 2009......?

Firstly, A very happy new year to you all! I hope 2009 is fully of everything you wish for and lots of safe and happy travels....

Mr Earl and myself have just returned from the fair city of Dublin where we spent a few day over new year. We went with two friends for two nights.

Mr Earl and I went for last new year and had a ball, so in July 08 whilst sitting in a bar garden one (rare!) sunny Sunday afternoon we decided to book again and go back.

We got a bargain on the flights with Aer Lingus (only paid the taxes) and we stopped in the same hotel as before and got a pretty good deal.

Now, back in July the Euro was not the best, but was not too bad either, however, as soon as we booked this trip it started to nose dive!

When we got our spends just before xmas, we got a rate of 0.96 - so basically 拢1 for 鈧?..... aarrgghhhhh!

Guinness was 鈧?.50 a pint!!!! And a round of two pints, two SINGLE vodkas was coming in around 鈧?5.00!!!! The most expensive round was 鈧?8.50!!!

It got to the point where we were just laughing, as they wasn%26#39;t much else we could do as we were there, so we just said sod it and carried on regardless.

Soooooooo, although I have previously said no Orlando for Mr Earl and I in 2009, after our trip to Dublin he may very well be talked into a Orlando trip as with the Euro being so poor, it would prob be no more expensive to go to the US of A.

Wish me luck..... :)

Jolly Days in the USA in 2009......?

Yeah, we usually go to Brussels for my birthday in January, but even if Ryanair%26#39;s flights were given away free we%26#39;d stay away right now! We%26#39;re going somewhere in Scotland instead this year :o)

A lot of folk think the current 拢-$ rate is terrible now, but given the cost of living in the USA it%26#39;s actually OK. Parity would be a nightmare and would put me off, but anything over $1.40 is decent. We%26#39;re off to Las Vegas and San Francisco in March, and I%26#39;m trying to persuade my man that Christmas in Texas would be grand, but so far no go :o(

Jolly Days in the USA in 2009......?

Welcome to Ireland Earlp! Imagine paying those prices for drinks and food everytime you wanted to go out! That%26#39;s why me and hubby only go out as a treat and not every weekend. I should point out that the touristy areas of Dublin (eg Templebar) are the dearest areas in the country to eat and drink. You may find it a little cheaper if you venture away from the tourist hot spots - but it%26#39;s still a pricey city and a pricey country!

People are always saying to me, how do you afford two holidays a year and the USA every Summer? Simple, I say, I don%26#39;t go out drinking every weekend (the person who%26#39;s asking me normally does) and I don%26#39;t smoke, so that money all goes towards my holidays instead. Also, once the flight is paid for, hotels, food, drink and shopping are all dirt cheap compared to what I%26#39;m used to paying in Ireland!

We only go out here if it is a birthday etc. Too expensive for what you get- we save all our dining out for our holidays to the UK, europe and USA. Took the boys out for Pizza before christmas and it was over 65 quid.

Hey Jenni, that is exactly what we did! After the first night we were virtually bankrupt, so on new yrs eve we called into a Londis and purchased a large bottle of vodka, fresh orange juice and some cans of redbull.... (I know, Mr Earl and I are sooooo classy!) and we drank in the room till about 10.30 then with our vodka blankets one we hit the pubs to see in the new year.

Sounds like a 18 year old%26#39;s New Year doesn%26#39;t it, but needs must!!!

After all the vodka he consumed Mr Earl was rather tiddly to say the least and I have since tried to convince him he promised to take me to Orlando for next new year, but so far he do not believe me.... need to think up a plan b. I need to get to the USA next year...... : )

Orlando had to be a better option than paying 28.50 for a round of drinks in Europe.....! One of the reasons I love the USA...