Rip-off Ireland? Visitors' views

PriceWatch/Conor Pope: Does Ireland deserve its rip-off reputation? PriceWatch asks visitors what they consider cheapest and most expensive here.

Andrea Polak (39) from Germany, in Ireland for three weeks

What's expensive in Ireland?

The sandwiches I buy at lunchtime are very expensive. And so is the beer when compared to Germany. Transport is very expensive.

What's cheap? Nothing really. The price of clothes, which seem cheap, are the same price at home.

Is it dearer than you thought? Yes I was a little bit surprised but I did know it would be a little more expensive here.

Have you spent more than you expected? No.

Would high prices stop you coming back? It depends. I have four children and I would love to bring them here but if you multiply everything by six it would add up to an enormous sum. You have to think more about it when you have a big family.

Iarla Kilbane Dawe (36), Irish born, living in London. Home for three days

What's expensive in Ireland? Transport (taxis, buses, trains, Dart, though not car hire), eating out, beer, hotels, newspapers, magazines, clothes. Did I miss anything?

What was cheap? No, I don't think I missed anything.

Was it dearer than you thought?

Yes, it was more expensive than I expected.

Did you spend more than you expected? Definitely.

Would high prices stop you coming back? If I wasn't Irish with family and friends here, yes.

Serge Schuttinger from Belgium (31), in Ireland for 12 weeks

What's expensive in Ireland? The beer in the pubs. And cigarettes - I didn't bring any extra with me because I did not realise they were so expensive. And hostels are very expensive. Car parks are very dear too. They cost €2.50 per hour, they are half that at home.

What's cheap? Actually I have found a two-euro shop where everything costs just two euro. Shops like that are good value, but if you want to buy a bottle of shampoo on Grafton Street, forget about it.

Is it dearer than you thought? Yes, really. I saw on television that Dublin was something like the 13th most expensive city in the world.

Have you spent more than you expected? Yes, a little.

Would high prices stop you coming back? No, because now I know how much things cost and I can bring enough next time.

PriceWatch

Clarins After Sun Moisturiser

€25 for 150ml, 166.66 per litre

Highs: This comes with an anti-mosquito formula which is quite handy, although you have to wonder how effective the scent of geraniums, lemon and eucalyptus would be in the tropics. It is the only brand tried that actually smells nice. It is also very rich and thick and feels expensive.

Lows: Of course it IS expensive. It's only slightly less outrageously priced than the Lancaster cream. It has a lot of pseudo-science on the packaging as well and there isn't a great amount of it. If applied liberally it won't last long.

Verdict: If money's no object . . .

Star rating: ****

Marks & Spencer Super Soother Aftersun

€6.75 for 400ml, 16.87 per litre

Highs: This is the cheapest of the aftersuns tried, in fact it is more than 10 times cheaper than the most expensive. It is also the only one to come with a handy pump action dispenser which reduces the chances of you slopping it all over the place if you lose control of the bottle. It has twice the volume of its rivals which makes it a better family option.

Lows: It has "tan prolongator" (a ridiculous and possibly made-up word favoured by cosmetics companies) and has been "dermatologically tested" (another ridiculous and possibly made-up phrase cosmetics companies use). More seriously it is quite bulky and will take up a lot of space either in your luggage or your bathroom cabinet.

Verdict: Is cheap but the bad science on the bottle is irksome.

Star rating: ***

Soltan Aftersun from Boots

€6.25 for 200ml, 31.25 per litre

Highs: This comes in a nicely compact and sturdy bottle which will probably survive a spell at the bottom of your suitcase without spilling itself all over your clothes. It is a straightforward product that does exactly what it promises. It is not very perfumed but does smell wonderfully of holiday. With no fancy nonsense on the bottle, it's more of a man's product.

Lows: It's a little dull and will not leap off the shelf at you. Nor is it particularly cheap - although Boots does offer it on two-for-one specials quite frequently. Probably the most greasy of the products.

Verdict: Does exactly what it says on the bottle.

Star rating: ***

Lancaster After Sun Tan Maximiser

€29.50 for 125ml, 236 per litre

Highs: This is a widely available, top-of-the-range global brand which has RFF Free Radical Protection technology. What that is, however, is anyone's guess, but it sounds reassuringly expensive. It is of a high quality, promises to maintain your tan longer, and a little goes a long way, if applied correctly, which means it should be kept out of the hands of children. And men.

Lows: This is brutally expensive, but what else can you expect from a product that's made in Monaco? The tan maximiser works worryingly well so be careful when applying it or you could end up looking like a streaky half-human, half-Oompah Loompah.

Verdict: Hardly worth this much?

Star rating: **