Ireland is quite a small country, so if you are going from place to place it should not involve very long train trips. Saying that, train fares will still be a big part of your budget and it is worth the time to track down and get information on the various travel passes available in order to get the best train fares in Ireland.
Check out the Irish Explorer Pass. If you are planning to spend around a week travelling in the Republic of Ireland then this may be a good option to save money. If you want to travel the whole of Ireland, including Northern Ireland, then check out the Emerald Card. Details and prices can be found at www.irishrail.ie.
Become a student. Yes, students always get the best deals. If you are a student or even a teacher you can get many deals and discounts on rail passes. Full-time students are eligible for big travel discounts and should apply for the International Student ID Card. This will give discounts in rail and bus fares, around 50% discount in the Republic if you get a Travelsafe Stamp from the USIT Office in Dublin. The International Card is available from www.isiccard.com. Teachers can also apply for the International Teacher Card for big savings on travel.
Book in advance. As with all travel bookings, the best discount fares are usually always available if you book seven or more days in advance. Limited numbers of these tickets are available, because those in the know are aware that the cheap tickets sell out very quickly. Another option is to avoid peak times; you may have to travel very early of later on in the day but you will get substantial savings.
Research the passes available. There is a bewildering amount of different passes available that will help you get the best train fares in Ireland. The passes such as Eurail and InterRail passes all have different conditions and criteria when purchasing.
You can save big money with these passes but it all really depends on how many rail trips and how many days you are planning on travelling. These passes are not cheap to buy and can set you back around £400 to begin with. But if you plan to do a lot of travelling it will be worth your while. Try the official website at www.eurail.com in order to help you get the best train fares in Ireland.
