1. Flights and hotels are completely booked and way more expensive than usual. Not sure if the roads will be blocked off, so if you’re not near by, be prepared to walk home or take the crowded Metro.
2. If you want to be in the city, you’ll need to purchase your Guinness and Jameson Factory Tickets in advance, as lines will be 100 people long.
3. If you want to stop at the famous pubs such as Temple Bar, you will be waiting in line for drinks for a good hour. Also, if you have children, I’d recommend putting them in a bright neon outfit (not green, haha)- as there are literally a million drunk people stumbling past you in every direction. You’ll want to hold on to them the entire time.
4. You will not find a bathroom with less than a 45 minute wait. Or you can use the outdoor portapotties that people have been throwing up in all day….I decided to find a store with a restroom. I paid for a water bottle and they allowed me to use theirs. I was 4 beers in and literally about to pee myself.
5. There will be few locals there and mostly tourists from all over the world, shoving over one another to see the parade and certain attractions that the city has to offer. As you can see in the picture below, people are pushing all different directions while others are just trying to see the floats go by. Kids were lifted on shoulders, but that made the people behind them upset. In all, I think they need a better system. It was nothing but chaotic.
So readers, please reconsider traveling here in March. You can find months with nicer weather and no lines. You can enjoy your pubs and factories with no wait and without preordering. The city is beautiful and should be seen at ones own pace. Also, save your extra flight and room money because even though it’s all they drink, Guinness is not cheap! Thanks for reading!
THE THRIFTY TRAVELER 