Temple Bar makes Top 10 Most Disappointing Destinations list

Zascar · 16-04-2014 10:13AM #1

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/smartertravel/10-most-disappointing-des_b_5148382.html

Temple Bar, Dublin

The city of Dublin is great. There's a castle and gorgeous architecture, there are renowned colleges and green spaces, and there are many other things to see and do that go beyond the tired "Irish culture equals pubs" stereotype. The Temple Bar area of Dublin, however, is a prime example of the rampant fleecing of drunken tourists that should be avoided at all costs. This small area caters to visitors competing to see how drunk they can get in "authentic" bars and nightclubs (aka overpriced tourist traps). Avoid it at all costs and seek out a pub literally anywhere else in Dublin for a better experience.

Totally true. It's disgraceful how much of a fabricated tourist cash trap this place is. We've all seen the threads about how Oliver St John Gogarty's is the biggest Ripoff pint in Ireland. We should clean it up, our tourists deserve better...

Davarus Walrus · 16-04-2014 10:16AM

Most cities have an area like that. Red Light in Amsterdam, Time Square in NY, around Piccadilly in London.

awec · 16-04-2014 10:16AM

No surprises about that, the place is terrible. I really don't see the attraction for why it's so popular.

GenieOz · 16-04-2014 10:18AM

Pints of Guinness that cost €8 are essential to the Irish experience of being bled dry though.

dodderangler · 16-04-2014 10:18AM

Wouldn't surprise me. It's a hole f a place.
Tourists arrive to see it only to be met by "sorry bud have ya got a euro on ya"

Worksforyou · 16-04-2014 10:20AM

dodderangler wrote: »

Wouldn't surprise me. It's a hole f a place.
Tourists arrive to see it only to be met by "sorry bud have ya got a euro on ya"

This list wasn't talking about all of Dublin city, just Temple bar.

whupdedo · 16-04-2014 10:21AM

It's a **** hole in fairness but if not temple Bar then it would be someplace else in Dublin, but every city has a place like temple Bar, all it needs is more policing and let them have at it, we need somewhere to put all the hen and stag nights when the come to Dublin

youcancallmeal · 16-04-2014 10:24AM

Any tourists I've brought to Temple Bar usually enjoy walking around the cobbled streets and looking at the postcard like exteriors of the pubs (During the day!) but all agree once you enter any of the them it's no fun.

Ash.J.Williams · 16-04-2014 10:25AM

i hate the way irish tv/radio "personalities" talk about Temple Bar to their foreign guests like it's some hedonistic place like ibiza....ffs it conforms to Irish Licensing laws so it can't be that mad!

Tombo2001 · 16-04-2014 10:26AM

Gorgeous architecture......?

So there, haters!

16-04-2014 10:26AM

Frankfurt, Germany

You know how major cities always have a financial district? And how that financial district is completely empty and dead at night, with everything shuttered? The entire city of Frankfurt is pretty much one big financial district. Sure, it's one of the world's largest financial centers, but it's very sterile and boring, and there isn't much to do.

Jesus, I loved frankfurt

Helped that the summer festival was on when I was there!

Walt Disney World, Florida

Paying $99 per day to be trapped in a park surrounded by other peoples' children and fully grown adults who like Disney? No thanks. Even a bottle of water will run you $2.50 once you're within reach of the Mouse's greedy grasp. And if you're thinking about purchasing a "specialty" cocktail to numb the pain of being at Disney World, you'll have to shell out $8.50 per drink.

That's not exactly sky high prices particularly for the location

Author sounds like a miseryguts

Ken Tucky · 16-04-2014 10:29AM

Ah, lists like this are nonsense. I used to really enjoy the craic in Temple bar, specially when it first really started to take off. But that's the thing, I was young then. 20 years ago it was a great place in Dublin and dare I say it even 10 years ago.

I'm 40 now and only ever walk through it, never go into the pubs anymore. Its for young people now and judging by its popularity its still an exciting place for them!!

Though I'd say its still a nice place for a pint on a Sunday afternoon, after the chaos of the weekend?

GenieOz · 16-04-2014 10:34AM

bluewolf wrote: »

That's not exactly sky high prices particularly for the location

Author sounds like a miseryguts

yeah that's what I was thinking when I read that! with conversions it works out at 1.80 for a water, standard here.
Just over 6 for a cocktail? sign me up!

Artful_Badger · 16-04-2014 10:38AM

Anyone happy to pay 1.80 for a bottle of water has too much money.

GenieOz · 16-04-2014 10:40AM

Artful_Badger wrote: »

Anyone happy to pay 1.80 for a bottle of water has too much money.

Not happy to but it's standard prices.
To complain that it's too expensive in the depths of a place like Disney World is silly.

elefant · 16-04-2014 10:40AM

Artful_Badger wrote: »

Anyone happy to pay 1.80 for a bottle of water has too much money.

Or are really thirsty?

Tombo2001 · 16-04-2014 10:42AM

Ken Tucky wrote: »

Ah, lists like this are nonsense. I used to really enjoy the craic in Temple bar, specially when it first really started to take off. But that's the thing, I was young then. 20 years ago it was a great place in Dublin and dare I say it even 10 years ago.

I'm 40 now and only ever walk through it, never go into the pubs anymore. Its for young people now and judging by its popularity its still an exciting place for them!!

Though I'd say its still a nice place for a pint on a Sunday afternoon, after the chaos of the weekend?

I'd guess that 20 year olds still think its a great place.

Temple Bar hasnt really changed in the past 20 years, since you were 20.

Alf. A. Male · 16-04-2014 10:43AM

I think Temple Bar is great, soaks up all the people with no imagination to look elsewhere while I can enjoy the better parts of town without them.

Artful_Badger · 16-04-2014 10:45AM

GenieOz wrote: »

Not happy to but it's standard prices.
To complain that it's too expensive in the depths of a place like Disney World is silly.

Its standard price for overpriced water here where everything is generally more expensive. In the states you can get a lot more for a lot less too. I'd imagine somewhere like Disney Land will set the price towards the high end because once in people's option are limited.

Its hardly silly for someone to complain about the price of something more than likely double what they can get in the corner shop down the road from the entrance particularly after paying 99 dollars to get the gate.

Cantremember · 16-04-2014 10:48AM

Maybe they should have built that railway station there after all.

Butterface · 16-04-2014 10:59AM

Meh, most cities have their own Temple Bar-type area. I was in Prague and Krakow in the past year, and their tourist areas are generally the same if not worse, because they have a shitload more of those tacky gift shops ruining the place!

I can't believe those pubs get away with serving 8euro pints.. There should be somebody with a placard outside the pubs telling them they can get a 10euro bus to Galway or Cork for a regular priced pint, and much better atmosphere!

the groutch · 16-04-2014 11:01AM

bluewolf wrote: »

That's not exactly sky high prices particularly for the location

that's the thing though, location should never be an excuse to charge stupid prices.

awec · 16-04-2014 11:05AM

Tombo2001 wrote: »

Gorgeous architecture......?

So there, haters!

What's different other than cobbled streets?

Larbre34 · 16-04-2014 11:18AM

Its a dangerous kip, with a feeling of sketchy menace about it. Wouldnt socialise in it if I was sponsored.

A Primal Nut · 16-04-2014 11:21AM

The annoying thing is that you can't move or breathe in these bars because they are so packed. It's just a terrible experience on a weekend night.

At least in these kinds of touristy drinking areas in other countries you usually get a seat and some comfort for your money.

Beefy78 · 16-04-2014 11:33AM

I was out in town last night. Where can you go at midnight on a Tuesday in Dublin City Centre where you can guarantee crowds and good craic?

There's definitely a time and a place for Temple Bar.

Gyalist · 16-04-2014 11:42AM

Beefy78 wrote: »

I was out in town last night. Where can you go at midnight on a Tuesday in Dublin City Centre where you can guarantee crowds and good craic?

There's definitely a time and a place for Temple Bar.

Harcourt Street. Tuesday night is the night that all the Spanish, Brazilians, etc go there.

pundy · 16-04-2014 11:43AM

bluewolf wrote: »

Jesus, I loved frankfurt
Helped that the summer festival was on when I was there!

That's not exactly sky high prices particularly for the location

Author sounds like a miseryguts

actually, it was the same in any of the theme parks there when i went recently - EVERY other nationality thought it was a total rip off for everything - the irish thought it was CHEAP!

that'll tell you how ripped off we are here on a daily basis and how we've just become used to it.

Sunglasses Ron · 16-04-2014 11:54AM

Having read through the entire list it is clear the writer is a miserable bollocks all round. They even have a moan about the price of food in Vegas. For f'uck sake, they feed you free drink in the casinos, what more do they want!

Temple Bar is what it is. The tourists seem to like it. Personally I find it hard to rate most of Dublin's nightlife against other European cities due to the price, the ludicrous closing times and the standard of the average club (you would hardly walk into many nightclubs in central Amsterdam and find the "DJ" playing Katy Perry off his laptop, for instance). Dublin has decent clubs/ nights but they are more hidden off the tourist trail than elsewhere.

Ken Tucky · 16-04-2014 12:00PM

Temple Bar hasnt really changed in the past 20 years, since you were 20.[/QUOTE]

Really, I remember a really cool vibe a long time ago. Where as most people got a pint in a pub and walked straight out the door and never stayed inside. So you never went to Gogartys or the Dub or where ever, Just got pints there!!

Or was that older people telling me that happened....oh man, I don't like this getting old lark!!

Davarus Walrus · 16-04-2014 12:00PM

the groutch wrote: »

that's the thing though, location should never be an excuse to charge stupid prices.

I'll be sure to let The Ritz in Monte Carlo know.

Temple Bar makes Top 10 Most Disappointing Destinations list

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