There are concerns that price-gouging by Irish holiday companies could force people to ignore international travel restrictions this summer.

On Lunchtime Live this afternoon, Ciaran from Dublin warned that the price of his planned summer holiday in Wexford has jumped 300% in the past six months.

He told Andrea that he originally booked a holiday home in the south of the county for last October – but had to cancel when lockdown restrictions were tightened.

When he asked for his money back, he was told there were no refunds and he had to reschedule the holiday.

“When we booked the week in October, the total for the house was €497,” he said.

“When we went to re-book, I was told I could have the same week but the cost for the week was now €1,400. So, the €497 I paid would be taken off that and I would have to pay the extra if I wanted to rebook.

“The price had gone up by 300%.”

"Ridiculous and unfair"

He said many families around the country will be unable to afford a holiday at all this summer, if other companies follow suit.

“Everybody knows that, when this lockdown is over, everybody is going to want a break,” he said.

“Everybody wants to get away. Everybody in the country is saying, ‘stay at home, stay at home, keep the money in Ireland,’ and this guy is just trying to rip off the general public.

“I am more thinking about the families that are trying to do this that will be pushed out of getting a holiday.

“It is ridiculous; It is unfair.

International travel

Ciaran said the company renting the holiday homes operates 60 houses in Wexford – and is in line to make an extra €900,000 this summer if they can rent them all.

He said Irish people will simply ignore international travel bans if companies around the country follow suit.

“If you go to the airport, you get fined €500 each for flying out,” he said.

“If me and the missus go to the airport tomorrow, we can fly out, pay the €500 each and get a week’s holiday in Spain for another €500. The same as your week in Wexford.

“That is how expensive it is.”

The Westport Woods Hotel in Mayo

Also on the show, Michael Lennon from the Westport Woods Hotel in Mayo and the Skylon Hotel in Dublin said most hotels around the country are not even close to being fully booked for the summer.

He said anyone playing a staycation should shop around to get the best prices.

“I would just caution that we don’t know when we are going to open this summer,” he said.

“Hopefully, we will be open by the end of June although that will depend on everything with COVID

“I would say to people, definitely look at the cancellation policies and make sure that you shop around.”

He said there will be no price-gouging withing the Irish hotel industry.

“There is great value, Shop around,” he said. “The surveys are telling us we are only at 20% occupancy around the country.

“The west coast will be busy, we know that, but we’ll look after our customers and we’re well renowned for it.”

Acornwood Glamping in County Mayo

Meanwhile, Ed from Acornwood Glamping near Westport in County Mayo said any company thinking about price-gouging will lose out in the long run.

“I am assuming that his year will be every bit as busy as last year if not busier but I haven’t changed my prices,” he said.

“It comes back to demand and supply. The demand is going to far outstrip supply and if somebody wants to go price-gouging, I am sure they will be successful but that is a very short-term gain and they’re not really looking at it from what might happen over the next few years.

“We welcome loads of people retuning to us every year and I wouldn’t expect, if I shot up the prices, that they would want to come back the next year.”

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