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Temple Bar makes Top 10 Most Disappointing Destinations list

Zascar

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...

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gugleguy

Glad I signed up to this thread all the same. Whether OP is miserable or not.

:pac::pac:

Zascar

A few weeks ago I was walking up from Aston Quay and one of the side streets, Asdils row, has some flats on it - there was a guy crouched on the ground at the side of the street preparing a syringe of heroin. He did not look like a typical junkie, just a normal nacker. But absolutely no shame, not even trying to hide it.

Ash.J.Williams

Zascar wrote: »

A few weeks ago I was walking up from Aston Quay and one of the side streets, Asdils row, has some flats on it - there was a guy crouched on the ground at the side of the street preparing a syringe of heroin. He did not look like a typical junkie, just a normal nacker. But absolutely no shame, not even trying to hide it.

the nature of the beast....down my way on ushers quay will see them sh1tting\ shooting into their groin and wetting themselves....I normally just crack one out and move on....

KungPao

When Eamon Doran's closed its doors and when the TBMC became the Button Factory (what a crap name). Temple Bar was dead to me!

I used to go there up til around 2007, then stopped. About a year ago I was walking through with my then girlfriend and decided to pop into the old Doran's for old times sake and check it out. Just about stayed for 1 pint, totally different place completely devoid of the great atmosphere it used to have. Felt like being in a faux Irish pub in Boston or something.

Still like to stroll through it though, during the day.

Ash.J.Williams

KungPao wrote: »

When Eamon Doran's closed its doors and when the TBMC became the Button Factory (what a crap name). Temple Bar was dead to me!

I used to go there up til around 2007, then stopped. About a year ago I was walking through with my then girlfriend and decided to pop into the old Doran's for old times sake and check it out. Just about stayed for 1 pint, totally different place completely devoid of the great atmosphere it used to have. Felt like being in a faux Irish pub in Boston or something.

Still like to stroll through it though, during the day.

button factory is the best venue in dublin

KungPao

Ash.J.Williams wrote: »

button factory is the best venue in dublin

It always was, but I'm a man of tradition. The name change seemed pointless.

awec

I had the misfortune of having to walk through Temple Bar on St Patricks day. Literally wedged from wall to wall on the street, the ground was sticky from all the spilled booze and broken glass and the pubs were queued out the door.

DazMarz

If it wasn't for the chicken wings in Elephant & Castle, I would never set foot in the place...

Toto Wolfcastle

Temple Bar has its place. It's a handy little area for tourists who want to experience Irish pub culture and who don't realise (or care) that it doesn't accurately reflect pub culture here. Handy for hen/stag parties too. It's not for me but it's always jammed.

$8.50 for a cocktail doesn't seem that bad to me. And I loved Vegas. I didn't gamble but I found loads of things to do.

(As an aside, if you want to read a worse article than the one in the OP, this is from the same site!)

pundy

KungPao wrote: »

It always was, but I'm a man of tradition. The name change seemed pointless.

is it that amazing though?

20 euro entrance fee minimum for any gig/dj gig i went to there.

when will people learn to STOP paying these prices for DJ gigs in Dublin?

Twisted Pepper is another prime example of a place being kept in business purely because of idiots willing to shell out 12-15 euro entrance fee to a building which resembles a barn dance on the inside and DJ's spinning minimal for the hipsters to pretend they've heard of the tune.

Sunglasses Ron

Artful_Badger wrote: »

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

What would you do in a theme park? Pick up an empty and fill it with all the freshness of lukewarm Florida tap water from the jacks?

KungPao

pundy wrote: »

is it that amazing though?

20 euro entrance fee minimum for any gig/dj gig i went to there.

when will people learn to STOP paying these prices for DJ gigs in Dublin?

Twisted Pepper is another prime example of a place being kept in business purely because of idiots willing to shell out 12-15 euro entrance fee to a building which resembles a barn dance on the inside and DJ's spinning minimal for the hipsters to pretend they've heard of the tune.

I couldn't comment on DJ stuff really, I only went there for live bands both small and not so small. Ticket prices were okayish if I remember.

I remember seeing the Bloodhound Gang there :pac: Was worth every cent.

Caliden

Las Vegas is on that list, I don't really agree with that.

Sure it's not for everyone but you can definitely have a good time there

seamus

Temple Bar is actually grand, there are a small number of pubs that every guide book recommends to tourists, which fleece them, but there are plenty of other less headline pubs which charge normal prices.

Author seems like a bit of a moaner for the sake of it alright. Disney World is crap because it's filled with children and adults who like Disney? Then don't fncking go there. That's like going to Croke Park and complaining that it's full of GAA fans.

kfallon

seamus wrote: »

That's like going to Croke Park and complaining that it's full of GAA fans.

Or Garth Brooks fans

jaja321

Sunglasses Ron wrote: »

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.

The price of food in Vegas is high though in fairness. At least for anything decent....it's either rubbish fast food or paying over the odds in a very pricey restaurant. The free drink is great, but u do have to be gambling, so u pay in some sense. Vegas is fun, but I do think it's a bit overrated.

FTA69

I went to Vegas and I had an absolute ball that didn't consist of non-stop gambling, although that is serious craic as well if you're that way inclined. In the space of a week I:

1) went skydiving out of a plane 3 miles up in the air over the desert. Cost me $200 including shuttle from the hotel and a tip for your man.
2) went to a gun range blasting the living sh*te out of targets with automatic weapons. Cost $200
3) went to a Man vs Food restaurant and had the biggest breakfast known to man
4) went shopping and bought a f*ck load of designer gear for peanuts.
5) went to Old Vegas to play coin-operated slots, drink in dive bars and listen to live rock. Got drunk as a f*cking Lord.
6) Went to Rod Stewart
7) Went to Cirque de Soleil
8) Went to David Copperfield
9) Balmed out in the MGM Grand swimming pool in 33 degree heat drinking cocktails.
10) Rented a car and drove to Death Valley in California. Saw eagles, rattlesnakes and Bighorn Sheep. Went to the Indian reservation. Amazing scenery.
11) Went to the Hoover Dam
12) Met Mike Tyson at Caesar's Palace
13) bunjee jumped off the Stratosphere

In short, it was one of the best weeks I ever had and it was all done without sitting endlessly at a gambling table. A spot of imagination would do her no harm.

FTA69

jaja321 wrote: »

The price of food in Vegas is high though in fairness. At least for anything decent....it's either rubbish fast food or paying over the odds in a very pricey restaurant. The free drink is great, but u do have to be gambling, so u pay in some sense. Vegas is fun, but I do think it's a bit overrated.

That did wind me up a small bit. I just drove to the outskirts to some of the Mexican places, the only gaffs you could get a reasonable meal for a reasonable price.

super_furry

Don't know of any locals that drink in Temple Bar. It's an overpriced kip.

Ann Landers

Davarus Walrus wrote: »

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

Exactly, New Yorkers consider Times Square tacky. Tourists with half a brain know to venture outside Temple Bar.

jaja321

FTA69 wrote: »

That did wind me up a small bit. I just drove to the outskirts to some of the Mexican places, the only gaffs you could get a reasonable meal for a reasonable price.

The MGM swimming pools do kinda make up for it too :-)

Frank Lee Midere

FTA69 wrote: »

I went to Vegas and I had an absolute ball that didn't consist of non-stop gambling, although that is serious craic as well if you're that way inclined. In the space of a week I:

1) went skydiving out of a plane 3 miles up in the air over the desert. Cost me $200 including shuttle from the hotel and a tip for your man.
2) went to a gun range blasting the living sh*te out of targets with automatic weapons. Cost $200
3) went to a Man vs Food restaurant and had the biggest breakfast known to man
4) went shopping and bought a f*ck load of designer gear for peanuts.
5) went to Old Vegas to play coin-operated slots, drink in dive bars and listen to live rock. Got drunk as a f*cking Lord.
6) Went to Rod Stewart
7) Went to Cirque de Soleil
8) Went to David Copperfield
9) Balmed out in the MGM Grand swimming pool in 33 degree heat drinking cocktails.
10) Rented a car and drove to Death Valley in California. Saw eagles, rattlesnakes and Bighorn Sheep. Went to the Indian reservation. Amazing scenery.
11) Went to the Hoover Dam
12) Met Mike Tyson at Caesar's Palace
13) bunjee jumped off the Stratosphere

In short, it was one of the best weeks I ever had and it was all done without sitting endlessly at a gambling table. A spot of imagination would do her no harm.

anything interesting there involves leaving las vegas. Except the Stratosphere.

That said I enjoyed Vegas the first time I was there, but it got old.

FTA69

Frank Lee Midere wrote: »

anything interesting there involves leaving las vegas. Except the Stratosphere.

Bar the shooting, shows, an audience with Tyson, the dacent pools and the nightlife. :rolleyes:

Despite the rest not being in Vegas per se they were activities definitely associated with going there.

Frank Lee Midere

The author is getting a fleecing from Disney fans.

I sorta agree with her and I've about half her list.

I just hate queueing for anything. It wears me out. Some people get over that and enjoy the rides but I resent all queuing. I don't like queuing for a cinema or a bus. I don't like queuing for 2 minutes. Or even the supermarket. You should all get out of my way.

Of course thats just self-importance, and a character flaw. But I have it so I don't enjoy disney etc.

zetalambda

Davarus Walrus wrote: »

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

Templebar isn't remotely comparable to any of these places.

Caliden

jaja321 wrote: »

The price of food in Vegas is high though in fairness. At least for anything decent....it's either rubbish fast food or paying over the odds in a very pricey restaurant. The free drink is great, but u do have to be gambling, so u pay in some sense. Vegas is fun, but I do think it's a bit overrated.

A guide to free drink in vegas:
Keep an eye on the waitress serving the slot machines and the direction through the isles she's going.
Move over to the next isle and put in 20 dollars and wait for the waitress.
Get drink, tip waitress, cash out.

Frank Lee Midere

zetalambda wrote: »

Templebar isn't remotely comparable to any of these places.

His point is it is as over-rated and tourist trappy as those places.

Frank Lee Midere

Caliden wrote: »

A guide to free drink in vegas:
Keep an eye on the waitress serving the slot machines and the direction through the isles she's going.
Move over to the next isle and put in 20 dollars and wait for the waitress.
Get drink, tip waitress, cash out.

I mean I always thought that drink was mostly free in Las Vegas. Although I got sick of Vegas after a while ( I lived in California and it was common amongst my then group to go there), I never thought the rooms or the drink expensive. Food, maybe, but it was pretty good for the price.

Artful_Badger

Sunglasses Ron wrote: »

What would you do in a theme park? Pick up an empty and fill it with all the freshness of lukewarm Florida tap water from the jacks?

I'd buy it and then complain like the author of the article.

nocoverart

I'm surprised Temple Bar is significant enough to make any kind of Top 10 list on a global scale.