How to Fly to Ireland for $250 (Yes, Really)

So you’ve been dreaming of Ireland, eh? Perhaps it’s a pilgrimage to the lush green lands of your heritage, or perhaps you just can’t resist the allure of the Wild Atlantic Way. No matter your reason, we’re here to help you out! Here’s how you can fly to Ireland for just $250.00.

P.S. There are NO affiliate links in this post. This is just good ol’ honest advice.

Take-off

This is a no-nonsense post, so let’s cut to the chase. How did we fly to Ireland for just $250.00? (Pssst. If you aren’t flying from the east coast of the USA, you can skip on past this ENTIRE post. West coasters, you’re fighting a losing battle. It’s going to be expensive as hell no matter what you do).

Here’s the bottom line:

Fly in the Off-Season

We planned our trip for May, which saved us $$$ by getting us there just before tourist season hit. According to the locals we talked to, this is actually the best time of year to go for reasons above and beyond the cheap tickets. Think gorgeous spring flowers and the first sunny days of the year.

Use Google Flights

Third-party flight finding websites are generally pretty useless. For the best deals, you’ll want to use Google Flights. Hint: Choose flexible dates when you’re searching; you’ll find the best prices that way.

When you find a flight that looks good to you, sign up for the airline’s newsletter before booking—you may get a discount you can use.

Get Yo’ Butt to Newburgh

Newburgh airport (that’s the New York Stewart International Airport- SWF) almost always offers the cheapest flights to Ireland via Norwegian Air. You can choose to fly into either Dublin or Shannon County (pssst. Choose Shannon. It’ll make for the most low-stress international flight experience you’ve ever had).

If the cost of getting to Newburgh outweighs the value of the cheap flight for you, other budget-friendly options include Boston and New York City. **Need tips on getting to Newburgh? Shoot us a message!**

Pack Carry-on Only

Listen, you don’t need all that extra crap. It’s just weighing you down. Pack a small-size carry-on that fits the free size guidelines for every airline/bus/train you’ll be traveling on.

Bring Food to the Airport with You

It’s a common misconception that you can’t bring food on an international flight. You CAN, just nothing stupid. Like don’t zip up a live chicken and a bonsai tree in your carry-on. Anyway, the point of this paragraph is that Norwegian Air’s budget flight to Ireland doesn’t come with food and drink included—so if you’re a determined budgeter, you’ll want to bring a few snacks and some bottled water with you

Pack Your Own Blanket and Headphones

Norwegian air is going to try and trick you into purchasing a blanket by turning their air conditioning down to -12 degrees. Don’t fall for it. You need to either bring your own blanket or make a pact with your fellow cheapskate seatmate to huddle together for warmth. You’ll also want to pack your own headphones if you don’t feel like listening to Irish Bob’s motorboat-like snoring for six hours on the redeye.

Touch-Down

That’s all, folks. Shoot us a message if you want additional tips, and look out for our next post: What to See and Where to Go When You Make It to the Emerald Isle.