If you or friends and family are heading to the Oasis Croke Park concerts, you may be disappointed to find hotel prices have soared. We at the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) have some tips to help keep costs down.<\/p>\n
Remember, the normal laws of supply and demand apply when cities experience increased demand during major events \u2013 and Oasis finally reforming is certainly that. The good news is, there are ways to find relative value.<\/p>\n
Consider a hotel outside the city centre like in Tallaght, Swords, Citywest, Lucan or Clondalkin, where prices can be cheaper than in the heart of Dublin. Keep in mind that in the suburbs there will be higher costs for taxis to and from Croke Park. If you opt for public transport, you’ll find normal buses, trains and trams (Luas), but also consider Nitelink late-night bus services for after-hours travel. You’ll need to factor in extra transit time for all of these options, but it may well be worth the savings overall.<\/p>\n
You should be careful with hotel bookings just like with any online booking. Ask yourself, is this a legitimate website? It’s always a good idea to find out where the website is based. If the answer is outside the EU, you may want to reconsider.<\/p>\n
The Internet is a big place, and outside the EU there can be less consumer rights regulation. If something goes wrong, will you have any comeback? In Ireland, all traders \u2013 online, shops and service providers alike \u2013 are subject to strict consumer laws that protect you from sharp practice. We at the CCPC are here to enforce those laws. The EU has similarly strong regulation and protections for its citizens, so you’ll be glad you booked there if the worst-case scenario comes about.<\/p>\n
When we’re hunting for a bargain, we often jump on an offer without taking the time to read the terms and conditions. Let’s say the Oasis concerts were cancelled, would you get a refund from the hotel or booking site? This is the kind of information you should be able to find in the terms and conditions. And if it’s not there, you can contact the hotel or the booking site to ask them what rights you have in this eventuality. At any rate, it’s a good rule of thumb to contact the hotel itself directly to cross-reference the booking made through the hotel aggregator\/booking site \u2013 just so there are no surprises at the check-in desk on arrival.<\/p>\n
Booking sites are very handy, but you’ve got to consider that they will have their own commission fees on top of the cost of your hotel. This can make the booking more expensive.<\/p>\n
Contact the hotel directly to see if they can give you a better deal. Plus, you’ll have the added bonus of dealing personally with your hosts. That way you can ask them directly about terms and conditions for complete clarity on any questions you might have.<\/p>\n
So for hotel price spikes, you don’t have to “Roll with it”. Always take your time. Go into online hotel booking with your eyes open to avoid unnecessary costs, and to make sure your consumer rights are protected \u2013 not just this August but year-round.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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