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The Best Ways to Find a Pet-Friendly Rental in Dublin

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Although it is super tricky to find a rental that is pet friendly, it is possible. Here are the considerations you should have when looking for a pet-friendly rental in Dublin, Ireland.Lately I have been getting a few emails from people looking to move to Ireland with their pets. The number one question they ask is how easy is it to find a place to live with your pet. In the sage words of Nelson Mandela, it always seems impossible until it is done. Although I am sure he never meant it for moving to a new country with your pet. Although it is super tricky to find a rental that is pet friendly, it is possible. I tried to list a few of the considerations you should have when looking for a pet-friendly rental in Dublin.

While moving your pet over to Ireland can be relatively easy to do (no quarantine definitely helps, but read my post on all you need to know about moving your pet to Ireland f you need help with this.). The trick is once you are over here; it is a bit of a stress finding accommodation for the whole family, fur babies included.

Here are some ways to find a pet-friendly rental in Dublin. Click To Tweet

If you can – divide and conquer. 

We didn’t want to kennel Jack while we looked for a place to stay, so my husband moved over a few weeks before we did to find a pet-friendly place.

Search online, but try do it while you are in Ireland.

We looked online, on www.daft.ie, to find a place to rent in Dublin. I think we were lucky, given the time we moved over and that my husband was available to meet at any time of the day. We found a place within 10days, and were able to move into the place 4 days later. I do think that was a bit of luck and the fact that the place we found was empty already helped move the process along quicker than expected.

Narrow down the search, by looking for what you need.

It is better to look while one of you is here; this is because places go so quickly. When you are looking for places online, try advanced search settings by looking for places that are privately managed by the landlord and not a rental agent. This is because a landlord can make a decision on the spot on whether he/she is happy to allow pets – a rental agent will need to sign this off with the owner, and it is far easier for that person to say no if they haven’t met you. Search for places that have a garden or small outside area. You will also find it more likely to find a pet friendly lace in a house, versus a flat. I guess this might also come down to what kind of pet you have, but a flat doesn’t just mean what the owner allows – you also need to factor in what the body corporate of that block of flats allow.

Be available to act fast.

You will need to act fast, if you see a place that ticks all your boxes, be available to go see the place and make a decision right there. One of the deciding factors to how we were able to secure the home we live in now, was that Rob was able to draw the deposit and offer it right then and then.

Be prepared to pay a bit more.

If you can, you might have to budget a bit more, in some cases I have heard of people offering a double deposit to secure a home for themselves and their pet. Depending on where you want to live, rental prices in Dublin are quite pricey. We chose to find a place that was closer to the city, and central to public transport because we don’t own a car and we also wanted to experience living in a city versus outer areas which are more similar to the suburbs we had back in South Africa. We ended up with a place that is a bit older and with basic furnishings than what we hoped, but it’s central and close to bus, train and luas (tram) so it’s the perfect lock up and go for us. We are super lucky that our landlords are really nice, and they allowed us to keep Jack with us which was the most important thing!

HOW DID YOU FIND PET FRIENDLY PLACE TO RENT IN YOUR TOWN?

Unlock the simple life,

~Meg~

p.s. If social media is your thing (snap! It’s my fave too!), you should totally follow me on Instagram.

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Although it is super tricky to find a rental that is pet friendly, it is possible. Here are the considerations you should have when looking for a pet-friendly rental in Dublin, Ireland.

Although it is super tricky to find a rental that is pet friendly, it is possible. Here are the considerations you should have when looking for a pet-friendly rental in Dublin, Ireland.

How to see Dublin in 3 days (and avoid drinking in Temple Bar)

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How to see Dublin in 3 days. Ideas that get you out of the city, and exploring more of what Dublin has to offer - and avoiding drinking in Temple Bar.If you think of Dublin, most would first think of Guinness pints (or whiskey) and pub crawls through Temple Bar. For most tourists they think this just refers to the pub called Temple Bar, when actually the name of the whole suburb/district is Temple Bar. I like to avoid Temple Bar at all costs, it is just a huge tourist trap, and there really is a lot more to do in Dublin than just to do an epic long pub crawl. Firstly, I would argue that attempting to pub crawl throughout Dublin will probably kill you. Secondly, Temple Bar as a district, is not a true representation of Ireland and the Irish culture. It is highly commercialised, and largely a giant trap for tourists to spend all their cash on overpriced drinks in over crowded pubs.

I am not saying you should totally avoid Temple Bar, poke your head in there if you want, but definitely avoid drinking there – unless you are young, flush on cash and drunken crowds are totally your vibe. I think most tourists are looking for an authentic experience, and Dublin has a lot more to offer than just drinking in Temple Bar.

Transport in Dublin:

You should know that if you are flying into Dublin, you don’t necessarily need to rent a car if you plan on just sticking around Dublin. Public transport is pretty good in the city, and it can get you to most of the places up and down the coast. If you are planning on exploring more of Ireland, then yes, you should totally rent a car.

If you are not renting a car, there are basically two ways you can get from the airport to the city center: taxi or bus. Taxi could work out expensive, depending on the time you arrive and where you are heading (around EUR30 and upwards). The Airlink bus offers a EUR10 return ticket, however if you get a visitor leap card, this is included as a mode of transport you can use.

The public transport system is pretty decent in Dublin, definitely far better organised than back home in South Africa. But it is not as organised as other major cities (like London or New York). The time tables are fairly accurate, but sometimes buses have been known to not arrive on time, or arrive and leave before you get there.

For those of you looking to conserve your cash, the best way to make use of public transport is by purchasing a visitor leap card. It means you can use all modes of transport (bus, train, and tram, as well as the Airlink which takes you from the airport into the city and back). For a 3 day/72 hour pass, it will cost you under EUR20. You can buy this card at the airport, or in the city. More info on the visitors leap card can be found here.

Just a final note on public transport, things often take longer than expected when you use it. Public transport is less frequent over weekends, and it often takes longer than you think to walk around and orientate yourself. I often find that we can easily get distracted and lose track of  time when we are exploring the city. We have learnt to be fairly flexible in our travelling itineraries and always leave a bit earlier if we have a specific time slot booked.

The Weather in Dublin:

It will rain – but that is Ireland, so don’t let that stop you from fully exploring the city or you will be waiting all year for the perfect day. Dubliners really have the best attitude, they never let the weather hold them back from getting out and doing things.

You will find that although Dublin has a pretty mild summer (only a few days of really hot weather), it also has a fairly mild winter compared to other European countries, we rarely get lots of snow. The weather can honestly change within the hour, so dress in layers, and account for all seasons – regardless of what time of year you plan your visit.

How to explore Dublin in 3 days, and avoid drinking in Temple Bar. Click To Tweet

Here is my 3 day itinerary to exploring all that Dublin has to offer:

Day 1 – Explore the city

    • The Ha’penny Bridge versus the Samuel Beckett Bridge – Rob and I have different favourites. I love the history behind the Ha’penny, whereas Rob loves the structural/modern appeal of the Samuel Beckett. Regardless of our opinion, you should totally walk along the Liffey River between the two bridges, it gives you a nice overall feeling of Dublin as a city, and it is a pleasant walk. Most people when giving directions in Ireland, will give you the name of the closest pub as a reference point. Two pubs worth checking out close to both bridges would be The Ferryman (close to Samuel Beckett Bridge), and The Church (which is an old church turned into a pub, pretty close to the Ha’penny Bridge).Samuel Beckett Bridge, Dublin, Ireland
    • Grafton Street is also a great tourist spot. Most would say it is good for shopping, but I find it quite expensive. The reason I suggest you should walk along Grafton Street is actually more for the buskers. The street performers you will find on this street are just phenomenal. Stephen’s Green is at the top Grafton Street, and it is a great spot for a picnic lunch.
    • If you are keen for more bargain shopping, then on the other side of the Liffey are plenty of shops along Henry and Mary Street. At the top of Henry Street, on O’Connell Street, you need to check out The Spire, alternatively titled the Monument of Light. This is kinda hard to miss, but if you are not looking for it, you might not be aware of it. It is a large, stainless steel, pin-like monument 120 metres tall. It is quite a good landmark to help you orientate yourself too.

  • If tech is your thing, then I really suggest a walk around Grand Canal Docks – this is where Facebook, Airbnb, and Google Head Offices are. The Bord Gais Energy Theatre is also here, and often has ballet, opera, or musical events taking place here.
  • The Aviva Lansdowne Stadium is a must-see for the sports fanatics. You can walk along the dodder river from Grand Canal to the stadium. It is a short work and a great view of the stadium from a far. There are other walks you can do in Dublin, all free to do, read my top 7 walks to do in Dublin.Lansdowne Aviva Stadium, Dubli, Ireland
  • A night in Dublin is not complete if you don’t check out a pub (or three).
    • In the city, our fave pub is Doyle’s. This was recommended to us by a friend, and honestly, it gets really festive as the evening progresses. It is also central and close to bus stops if you are staying out of the city.
    • Another lively pub is The Bath which is pretty festive on match days (close to Aviva stadium), and if you are looking for a more quiet spot, just up the road is the Old Spot.
    • In summer, the Barge is the pub you can mingle outside along the canal (and if you are sneaky, you can bring your own).

Day 2 – History & Culture

Day 3 – The great outdoors; heading North or South along the DART line

If you are travelling through Ireland for the first time, then you totally have to get a walk along the cliffs in as part of your travel plans. You can head out of Dublin for a day out, either heading up North, or going further South. Both are conveniently on the DART train line (included in your visitor leap card pass), so you can definitely do this as a day trip out of the city. I would suggest either heading north or south, as I am not sure you can do both in one day.

  • If you head North, then you should visit Malahide castle and gardens, with a stop at Avoca for tea. The tour of the castle is interesting, costs EUR12.50 which includes a guided tour of the rooms as well as access to walk around the gardens which are also really beautiful. Malahide Castle and GardensFrom Malahide, you can walk to Portmarnock beach, which is probably the first beach we have been on that reminds me of home. After this short trip to the seaside, you should head to Howth for some fish and chips and a walk along the small harbour front. Follow the path along the cliffs towards the lighthouse, with a stop at the pub at the top of the hill, the Summit Inn Pub.
  • If you head South then you should start in Dun Laoghaire, which has a food market ever Sunday at the People’s Park. It is a great place to grab a quick brunch, but make sure you have space for a Teddy’s 99 ice cream cone and a walk along the pier or promenade.


    Here is a post I wrote about a day trip to Dun Laoghaire. Then from there you can catch the train to Bray and do the Bray to Greystones cliff walk, followed by taking the train from Greystones back into the city. If you want to spend more time in Bray, here is a post with more things to do in Bray.

As you can see there is TONS of things to do in Dublin. I have purposefully left out the Guinness Storehouse, and the Jameson Whiskey Museum – For more ideas on what to do in Dublin, check out this post on the 5 things every tourist needs to see in Dublin. I also wrote a post recently on the 20 FREE things to do in Dublin.

Come to think of it, I didn’t include things like visiting Phoenix Park (the largest walled park in Europe), or the Oscar Wilde statue in Merrion Square Park, or even where to find cool street art murals in Dublin, not to mention the donut shops to visit, or the walking trails you can do in the Dublin Mountains.

There really is so much to see in Dublin, you might need more than just 3 days to really see it all! But I hope that this small itinerary gives you ideas that get you out of the city, and exploring more of what Dublin has to offer – and not just sitting in a dark pub in Temple Bar drinking away your travel budget!

IF YOU COULD RECOMMEND JUST ONE THING TO SEE IN DUBLIN, WHAT WOULD YOU SUGGEST?

Unlock the simple life,

~Meg~

p.s. If social media is your thing (snap! It’s my fave too!), you should totally follow me on Instagram.

p.p.s. I try post varied content once or twice a month, to be sure you don’t miss out on the new post you should sign up and get all the news straight in your inbox – Sign up now!

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How to see Dublin in 3 days. Ideas that get you out of the city, and exploring more of what Dublin has to offer - and avoiding drinking in Temple Bar.

The cost of living in Dublin compared to Johannesburg

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It seems we have swapped one expensive city for another by deciding to move from Johannesburg to Dublin. Check out the cost of living in Dublin here:Johannesburg is known as an expensive city to live in in South Africa. The salaries are often higher than other parts of South Africa, but cost of living in Johannesburg can be costly. It seems we have swapped one expensive city for another by deciding to move from Johannesburg to Dublin. This is because Dublin is also known to be extremely costly to live in. By UK standards, Dublin is almost as expensive as London for people to live in the city of Dublin.

Since moving to Dublin, Rob and I have often tried to compared the cost of living here in Dublin versus back home in Johannesburg. I sometimes think life here in Dublin is better, simply for the fact that we are currently living on one salary, something we don’t think would be possible back in Johannesburg. It definitely would not be possible to live the life we had back in SA in the same way. Things would have had to have changed, and been cut down, and even still – I don’t think it is possible to live on one salary in South Africa.

The cost of living in Dublin compared to Johannesburg, check it out here: Click To Tweet

In some ways you just cannot compare the two cities – they each offer something different. But for the purpose of this post, I have outline a few differences that we have personally experienced (Disclaimer: this is our opinion of the cost of living in Dublin compared to living in Johannesburg).

Things that are without a doubt cheaper in Johannesburg:

  • Take out meals are super affordable, most noticeably a McDonald’s combo meal. Also, you can order in and get it delivered in Johannesburg for a small fee – in Dublin getting it delivered is a bit of a luxury. Personally we have found buying frozen pizza from Tesco is cheaper than to order from a takeout chain (Dominoes large pizza costs EUR22 in Dublin; compared to ZAR86 in Johannesburg)
  • Eating out in general. Back in SA we would eat out quite regularly. Just a regular dinner, dessert and couple of drinks (or bottle of wine) is something we did at least once every second week. But eating out in Dublin can cost you anywhere from an early bird special (before 6pm) EUR20 and up, per person.
  • Chicken Fillets. For some reason, buying chicken filleted breasts in bulk in SA was way cheaper than here in Dublin. It is almost cheaper to eat pork or salmon in Dublin than to eat chicken!
  • Beer/wine. *You knew I would go here*. Wine in South Africa is pretty hard to beat (and that is not just me being biased). There are loads of really good bottles of wine for under ZAR60 a bottle in the local shops throughout South Africa.  Whereas in Dublin you have to wait for Tesco to have a sale to get a half decent bottle for EUR10. You can get Spier here in Dublin, which honestly I absolutely hate it, but that costs over EUR12! Not only wine, but beer is also expensive here in Dublin. It kind of baffles me that local beer like Guinness is still quite expensive in Dublin, the home of the black stuff. Back in SA, most of the local beers are affordable (obviously not including the craft beer). Also, I am yet to find a good (cheap) cider like Savanna. Although you can get Savanna’s at certain stores and pubs – it is just really expensive in Dublin!
  • Monthly rent in Johannesburg compared to Dublin. Not only can you get a place that is a lot bigger, with a garden and a garage, and possibly some off street parking in South Africa, but rent is a bit cheaper there too. The only difference is that most places in South Africa are rented unfurnished. For the rand value price we are paying for rent here in Dublin for a 2 bedroom place with no garage, and a teeny court yard garden – you could rent out 3 places in some parts of Johannesburg (atleast!).
  • Buying a house/ getting a loan for a house is a bit easier to do in South Africa. Here in Dublin you need at least a 10% deposit, and you can’t borrow more than 3.5 times your annual salary so getting a loan from the bank is tricky. Cost of houses means that it is almost impossible for families to get onto the property ladder, so you find a lot people rent for a long time here. Whereas in Johannesburg, Rob and I went out and bought a place over a rainy weekend one day with very little issue.
  • Cleaning services. In South Africa, cheap domestic labour is rife (which is definitely not something I agree with). Many homes have a cleaner that comes in at least once a week to clean their homes. Here in Dublin, you would be lucky to find someone to come and clean for a few hours – and guaranteed they won’t really do the “deep clean” you are used to back in SA.
  • Medicine. This isn’t so much the cost of meds but more the shortage of strong medication over the counter in Ireland. If you are planning on moving to Ireland, stock up on your meds of choice before you get here!

Things that are considerably cheaper in Dublin

  • Clothes could be seen as being cheaper in South Africa, but Ireland has proper discounted sales, and a huge selection of fast fashion that are very, very affordable.
  • Milk, eggs and cheese. I find these to be quite a bit more affordable than back in South Africa.
  • Seasonal food can be very affordable. Over winter we got a bag of brussel sprouts for 12c in Dublin! and right now nectarines and peaches are 49c for a punnet.
  • Internet (and its faster!). We have wifi at the house and we honestly have no problems downloading, streaming TV and watching YouTube videos all day every day.  This also means that we save on paying for cable TV because we can access everything off the internet. (Read this post on how we save money in a foreign country)
  • Public transport might be more expensive in rand value, but it is more reliable here than in South Africa, and more of a network here in Dublin makes it well used by a lot of people. Some companies also offer bike to work schemes where they incentivise you to use a bike instead of driving in to work. Public transport is also capped daily and weekly so that it does make it more affordable to use regularly.
  • Phone and gym contracts don’t tie you in – so they feel like they might be cheaper in Dublin because it is so easy to switch and change if the prices increase. It takes as little as 2 hours to port your cell number so changing networks is pretty easy to do here in Dublin. Rob is currently paying EUR5 for unlimited data and calls within Ireland, since we can call home using whatsapp or skype – this makes it super cheap to do!
  • Water is free in Ireland. Bit crazy but true. Currently government is trying to change this, but the public are having none of it, so for now, water is free.

Other things that get a bit more complicated to compare:

  • Things like electronics, I think costly pretty much the same in both countries.
  • Electricity/Gas – In rand value it is more expensive in Dublin, but then we are needing to heat the house here in winter. But I think considering the portion of our salary that we used to pay for this, it works out a bit cheaper in Ireland that back in South Africa. We also pay this every second month, so its not a monthly cost.
  • Cars are cheaper in South Africa, but we think that compared to the salary you earn here in Dublin, it is cheaper to buy a second hand car here in Ireland than it is on a salary you can earn in Johannesburg.

DO YOU FIND IT EXPENSIVE TO LIVE IN YOUR CITY?

Unlock the simple life,

~Meg~

p.s. If social media is your thing (snap! It’s my fave too!), you should totally follow me on Instagram.

p.p.s. I try post varied content once or twice a month, to be sure you don’t miss out on the new post you should sign up and get all the news straight in your inbox – Sign up now!

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It seems we have swapped one expensive city for another by deciding to move from Johannesburg to Dublin. Check out the cost of living in Dublin here:

Six of the best donuts in Dublin

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June 2nd is National Donut Day! Dublin might be known for Guinness, pub crawls and cliff walks. But Dublin needs to be known for making some of the best donuts we have ever eaten! Read this post to find the best donut stores in Dublin. Give them a try and let me know which is your fave!

June 2nd is National Donut Day! Dublin might be known for Guinness, pub crawls and cliff walks. But Dublin needs to be known for making some of the best donuts we have ever eaten! Read this post to find the best donut stores in Dublin. Give them a try and let me know which is your fave! June 2nd 2017 is National Donut Day! To celebrate this momentous day, for the past few months, I have been going around tasting donuts all over Dublin. To be extra thorough in this review, I tried them more than once, so you know – to make extra sure that I give you all the right facts.

June 2nd 2017 is National Donut Day! To celebrate this momentous day, for the past few months, I have been going around tasting donuts all over Dublin. To be extra thorough in this review, I tried them more than once, so you know – to make extra sure that I give you all the right facts. I will say this, Dublin might be known for Guinness, pub crawls, cliff walks and canal views. But Dublin needs to be known for making some of the best donuts we have ever eaten!

The best donuts in Dublin and where you can find them! Click To Tweet

Here are my fave donuts, and where you can find them in Dublin. Give them a try and let me know which is your fave!

6. Krust – Our first ever taste of a cronut. A cronut is a croissant mixed with a donut. I have to admit, I wasn’t wow’ed by this on first bite. But I warmed up to it after a couple of bites. Krust also does regular donuts, but we decided to try a cronut instead. I will be back to sample the regular donuts soon!

Cronut from Krust Bakery. A Croissant Donut!

5. Aungier Danger – I think I may have hyped this too much in my head. I went with high expectations – I especially had to try their creme egg donut that they brought out just for Easter. I am so sorry to say, my expectations were not met. The filling was a little sparse. I found the donut to be quite heavy, and a little dry. They were kind of not so memorable. I actually had to look back at the pics to remember what we ate.

Aungier Danger Creme Egg Donut for Easter

4. Boston Donuts – In true American fashion – this store boasts a bunch of flavours, and endless options to choose from. Rob and I battled to select donuts to sample. They were also the cheapest, and even offered a combo “coffee and donut” deal. I chose the mint chip topped with a mint thin. Rob had something chocolatey. He didn’t enjoy the pudding filling but we both agreed that the donuts were fresh, and spongey. I absolutely loved my mint chip donut! I could have this again, for sure!

Mint Chip Donut from Boston Donuts in Dublin, Ireland

3. Offbeat – Truthfully, I would rate that there is no third spot. Rob favours Rolling Donut over Offbeat, whereas I honestly dream of the red velvet cream filling at Offbeat often. We have gone back to both spots more than once – this just shows how undecided we actually are on this. I will say it again, the red velvet cream cheese filling is heavenly – and it is packed with filling. Secretly, I dream of going back and eating all the donuts in all of their stores all over Dublin. Leave no donut behind – they all will be mine!

Red velevet cream cheese filling donut from Offbeat Donuts in Dublin Ireland

2. Rolling Donut – The store that started this whole donut craze. We had our first taste in the first week I arrived in Dublin last year, and even went back with our friends visiting from the UK. Rob still talks about his first ever Rolling Donut, the maple bacon. I actually bought us some donuts from here to celebrate National donut day today (also, I needed them for this post! Not really).  With all the sentimentality, Rolling Donut should have been first place, and it would have been, had I not stumbled across a little shop in Blackrock (thank you Instagram).

Red velvet donut from The Rolling Donut in Dublin Ireland

1. Mellow out – OMG. These are the best donuts in Dublin. This might look like a small little take out shop from the outside – but it is bursting with flavours and I literally felt like a kid spinning in my high top chair eating these donuts. The. Best. Donuts. EVER. I had the 99 – which is a donut with icing and sprinkles, and marshmallow filling, topped with a flake. Rob had a classic chocolate donut (with chocolate ganache filling). They were both out of this world. So yummy!

Mellow out \donuts, Blackrock, Dublin, Ireland

So there you have it, the best donuts in Dublin, all picked out for you on National Donut Day! I hope you use this as a great excuse to have a cheat meal, and smash some donuts – but who needs a reason to eat donuts?!

Tell me your fave flavour donut – and where you eat them?

Unlock the simple life,

~Meg~

p.s. If social media is your thing (snap! It’s my fave too!), you should totally follow me on Instagram.

p.p.s. I try post varied content once or twice a month, to be sure you don’t miss out on the new post you should sign up and get all the news straight in your inbox – Sign up now!