With rising costs across the city, especially in hospitality, we’re taking a look back to compare Dublin hotel room prices in 1980 vs today.
Whether you’ve visited recently or you’re planning a trip to the Irish capital, you’ll no doubt have been taken aback by the shocking price of accommodation in the city.
As one of the most expensive cities in Europe, planning a trip to Dublin requires quite a bit of planning and saving for the average person.
However, this wasn’t always the case. Today, we’re looking back and comparing Dublin hotel room prices in 1980 and now.
How much a hotel room would set you back in the 80s – a very different city
Ireland’s capital city is growing in popularity as a tourist destination today. However, this wasn’t always the case. Back in the 1980s, hotels in the city catered mostly to business visitors and guests from across Ireland.
This is reflected in the historic pricing of hotels in the city, as revealed by a list from 1980, which shows the price of various hotels in the city for delegates visiting for the Fianna Fail Ard Fheis Clár.
According to the list, accommodation in the city would cost as low as £6 per person per night. For this price, guests could enjoy a stay at Tyrone House in Ballsbridge, inclusive of bed and breakfast.
However, for those that wanted to splash the cash, the most expensive offering on the list was the Royal Dublin Hotel. Per person per night, inclusive of bed and breakfast, a stay here would cost £17. Wow, big spender!
You can see the full list of sample hotel room prices in the city in 1980 here.
Hotel rooms in Dublin today – shocking prices and high demand
Almost half a century later, comparing Dublin hotel room prices in 1980 vs today is a heartbreaking affair. With prices for rooms in the city continuing to rise, visiting the Irish capital is becoming a far off dream for many.
According to findings by Fáilte Ireland, the average hotel room price in the city for two persons sharing throughout 2023 ranged from €248 to €413.
For a more direct comparison, a one night stay in Ballsbridge for one person, according to Booking.com, ranges between €97 and €494.
Meanwhile, a stay at The Royal Dublin Hotel, which cost £17 back in 1980, would cost a minimum of £160 for the night today. That’s an increase of almost ten times – and that’s just for a regular room. A luxury suite here will cost you even more!
So, there’s no denying that hotel prices in Dublin have shot through the roof in recent years. While it’s great to see the increase in tourism and rise in demand for rooms, it’s difficult to see a stay in the city becoming inaccessible for many.
