The old issue of hotels jacking up their rates ahead of special dates or events raises its ugly head again.
Hotel room rates on Monday, March 16, the day before St Patrick’s Day , will cost an average of €182 in Dublin. In comparison, the cost the following Monday would be €98.
If you wish to stay overnight in the capital on St. Patrick’s Day, you will pay an average of €178, according to Trivago. This represents a 76pc increase on the following Tuesday (€101).
But the Irish Hotels Federation (IHF) rejects these figures, saying “The price claims made by websites such as Trivago do not reflect the average room rate actually paid by guests staying in Dublin this Patrick’s Day.”
“The vast majority of hotel bookings around St Patrick’s Day – up to 80pc – are made weeks, if not months in advance, and they represent excellent value.”