Fun and culture for all the family on holiday in Dublin

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When Ginger and her husband Mike decided to book a holiday for their 10 year anniversary, they found it tough to find accommodation to suit their needs. With three children under the age of ten, they needed somewhere that was family-friendly, not too expensive and could offer them their own space to make themselves at home.

As an American family based in Turkey, Ginger and Mike love to experience new cultures and get a real feel for the place they are staying. They decided to visit Ireland having heard so much about the country as well as realising that their wedding anniversary coincided with the country’s national holiday of St. Patrick’s Day.

Ginger and Mike had never stayed in a homestay before but when they looked into the accommodation they realised it had the personal touch they had been looking for. Homestays can be booked for individuals, couples travelling or, as in the case of Ginger and Mike, entire families, offering the relaxed, friendly feel of a home away from home. They family booked two night’s accommodation with host Michelle in Clarehall, north Dublin for the St. Patrick’s Day weekend and the welcome they received more than fit the bill for what they were looking for in their accommodation.

“Honestly, we were traveling with three children and having a hard time finding affordable housing with a personal touch. I was thrilled to find out that this kind of accommodation existed. Upon arrival Michelle and her husband were easy going, great hosts and really trusted us to just jump in and make ourselves at home. We had our own space and privacy, yet the times we intersected with the family were really fun.”

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In spite of their short stay in Dublin, Ginger and her family managed to pack a phenomenal amount into their visit. Ginger remarked on how easy they found it to hop on the bus from their homestay neighbourhood and head to the city centre for the day. The family took in the sights of Dublin’s city centre: they strolled around the tranquil squares of Trinity College and visited the famous Book of Kells, as well as feeding the ducks in the nearby St. Stephen’s Green park.

It wasn’t simply the unique Dublin vibe that made the trip so memorable however: Ginger and Mike were particularly struck by how valuable the experience of staying with a host family was. “We were hoping to get a slice of life with a real family in their home in addition to the Dublin experience and that's just what we got,” said Ginger.

After spending the day in Dublin’s fair city, the family spent the evening with their host Michelle and her husband, even sharing at pint of Guinness with the couple as they talked about their experiences as Homestay.com travellers and hosts. Michelle’s children are of a similar age to Ginger’s so they too had plenty to talk about.

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Ginger messaged several hosts in Dublin before confirming with Michelle and the result was a genuine match of lifestyle and interests between hosts and guests. “We are the kind of people that like a real experience of a culture or a country we are visiting,” continued Ginger, “so being in someone's home was perfect for our trip.”

Breakfast is included in the price of every homestay and Michelle served up the traditional full Irish breakfast to set them up for the day. The family then ate out in the city centre while exploring, however many host families are willing to cook several meals for an additional cost. Ginger and Michelle messaged each other through the Homestay.com website in advance of meeting so everything from their children’s ages to sleeping arrangements and dietary requirements could be sorted out.

And the overall verdict from Mike and Ginger? “We'd do it again. We had a really positive experience with our host!”


Interested in booking a homestay in Dublin? Take a look at our listings page, where you’ll find Michelle and many other hosts who are happy to help you feel at home in their city.


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