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Yes you can go to Ireland; Everything you need to know
Featured image by Universal Images Group via Getty
Clint Henderson is a managing editor at TPG who has worked in the journalism industry for more than 25 years. He is obsessed with travel and has used points and miles to explore the world.
July 17, 2020 • 11 min read
The cards we feature here are from partners who compensate us when you are approved through our site, and this may impact how or where these products appear. We don't cover all available credit cards, but our analysis, reviews, and opinions are entirely from our editorial team. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
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Quick summary
Ireland is open to travelers from the U.S., but a mandatory 14-day self-quarantine is required for all arrivals, with strict enforcement and penalties for noncompliance.
Travelers must complete a Passenger Locator Form and adhere to health protocols such as mask-wearing and social distancing throughout their journey.
Many hotels, restaurants and cultural sites in Ireland have reopened with limited capacity and safety measures, but nightlife venues without outdoor areas remain closed until at least August 10.
There are multiple options to reach Ireland using cash or points through various airline and hotel loyalty programs, with a range of properties and price points available.
What to consider
The 14-day quarantine requirement is strictly enforced, including potential fines or jail time for violations or false information.
Travel restrictions and reopening phases are subject to change, with the next policy review scheduled for July 20 and some restrictions extended to August 10.
Some travel offers and flight routes may no longer be available due to ongoing changes in airline schedules and pandemic-related adjustments.
What you'll miss from the article
A detailed breakdown of flight options, loyalty program redemptions and hotel choices for planning a future trip to Ireland.
Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.
As the travel industry reopens following COVID-19 shutdowns, TPG suggests that you talk to your doctor, follow health officials’ guidance and research local travel restrictions before booking that next trip. We will be here to help you prepare, whether it is next month or next year.
Dublin, Ireland November 2015. Photo by Clint Henderson/The Points Guy.
Ireland is open to Americans just like its neighbor the United Kingdom, but it has enacted the same 14-day quarantine requirement that will scare off most American travelers.
Ireland is open to Americans, but you must self-quarantine for 14 days upon arrival.
All arrivals from outside Ireland including citizens and residents are required to isolate themselves for two full weeks. You'll also need to fill out a "Passenger Locator Form" saying where you will be quarantining. There is a fine of up to $2,860 or six months in jail for refusing to fill out the form or falsifying records.
Ireland is a member of the European Union, but unlike other countries in the EU, it did not ban non-essential travel, not even from the U.S. where coronavirus is still raging. Most of Europe is allowing some international tourists, but Americans are not among them. Ireland, on the other hand, never pulled up the welcome mat. The Irish government does advise against nonessential travel to the country, but it's not forbidden and Americans are taking advantage. This policy will apparently be revisited on July 20 so make sure you are doing your research if you plan a trip.
Meantime, Ireland is dealing with visitors who are violating the country's 14-day self-quarantine rule. The New York Times wrote a whole article on this problem. Some TPG readers have also reported that Americans are going to Ireland, skipping quarantine and visiting other parts of Europe. Not only is that illegal, but it's also unethical and endangers other humans. Don't do that.
Don’t miss TPG’s Ireland hub — it’s got everything you need to know about traveling to the Emerald Isle.
Trinity College Old Library Nov. 2015. (Photo by Clint Henderson/The Points Guy)
Dublin Nov. 2015. (Photo by Clint Henderson/The Points Guy)
After a period of closure, some restaurants and hotels began reopening on June 29. Social distancing rules mean the numbers allowed in businesses will be severely limited.
In fact, Ireland on July 15 delayed entering its fourth and final phase of reopening that was supposed to begin on July 20. Prime Minister Micheál Martin announced current restrictions will remain in place until Aug. 10.
Pubs, bars, nightclubs and casinos without outdoor areas must remain closed until August. Pubs and bars that serve food and are currently operating can remain open, but they must follow strict health guidelines.
Face masks are required inside all businesses.
Tour buses and public transportation are operating again, but masks and social distancing are required.
Museums, castles, churches and other cultural centers are also resuming activities. The popular Dublin Castle reopened on June 29.
As of right now, Ireland is set to enter Phase 4 of its reopening on August 10.
How to get to Ireland
There are a plethora of ways to get to Ireland, and it's usually cheap using both miles and/or cash. I did research on a potential trip in September of 2020 using the dates Sept. 4-12th.
On American Airlines, Basic Economy was going for $766 or $906 in the main cabin. Business class cost $3,342, and first class cost $5,942. The great thing about those flights is that they would be on British Airways metal, and it might be your last chance to fly on BA's 747-400. British Airways reported on July 16, they were retiring the Boeing double-deckers.
Strangely if you try to use miles from New York, you end up on American Airlines metal via Dallas. It would cost you 60,000 American Airlines miles in economy plus $50 in taxes and fees or a whopping 265,000 miles plus $758 in taxes and fees for business class. And that is for a web special! If you wanted to avoid the restrictions that come along with web specials, it would set you back 357,500 miles.
(Images courtesy American Airlines)
Later in the year, I was able to find better routing via Philadelphia for just 45,000 miles in coach. It would run you 245,000 AA miles for the same flight in business class.
(Image courtesy American Airlines)
Ireland’s flagship carrier Aer Lingus is owned by the same parent company as British Airways and Iberia, but it’s not formally part of Oneworld. It also probably represents the best opportunities to use points or miles to fly between the U.S. and Ireland, including in its highly rated international business class. It flies (normally) from these U.S. cities:
Boston (BOS)
Chicago (ORD)
Hartford (BDL)
Los Angeles (LAX)
Miami (MIA)
Newark (EWR)
New York (JFK)
Orlando (MCO)
Philadelphia (PHL)
San Francisco (SFO)
Toronto (YYZ)
Washington DC (IAD)
It also flies from Shannon (SNN) to Boston and New York JFK though some of this routing isn't available in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. You can check our guide to booking Aer Lingus awards using points and miles here.
Aer Lingus’s AerClub mileage program was added as a Chase Ultimate Rewards transfer partner, so you can always transfer points from there.
United flies from Houston to Dublin via Newark-EWR for 60,000 United miles in September or $1,385. I found fares as low as $592 in basic economy.
United still partners with Aer Lingus, and you can use United MileagePlus miles to fly to Dublin from numerous U.S. gateways. I found flights in coach for as few as 66,000 United miles.
Delta usually flies nonstop to Dublin from its hub at New York-JFK, but because of COVID-19, those flights are on hold.
If you wanted to fly from Atlanta in September you'd need to stop in Paris (CDG) or Amsterdam (AMS) on the way there and it would cost you $1,272 for basic economy or $1,400 in main cabin. It would be 80,000 Delta SkyMiles. Same deal with flights from New York-JFK and Detroit (DTW).
In May, non-stop from JFK are bookable again and go for about $917 roundtrip. The same itinerary would run you 84,000 Delta SkyMiles.
(Image courtesy Delta)
There are also plenty of options to fly to Ireland using points and miles from more than 20 U.K. airports.
Where to stay in Ireland
Good news here too. There are a ton of points properties in Ireland.
One of my favorites is the Westin in Dublin. I stayed back in 2015 and really enjoyed the five-star service and the large, modern rooms.
It's built in a renovated 19th-century building with a clock tower not far from the famous Dublin Spire. It's in a perfect location in the heart of the city and across from the famous Trinity College Library and its incredible Old Library which houses the Book of Kells. It's also a short walk to the River Liffey.
Dublin Westin Nov. 2015. (Photo by Clint Henderson/The Points Guy)
I found room rates starting at $291 per night or 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night. But there are a ton of other Marriott properties available too starting at just $96/night (The Moxy Dublin City)
(Image courtesy Marriott)
Hilton has several properties in the city, including a Conrad. The Hilton Dublin had rooms in September starting at $139 a night. If you wanted to use Hilton Honors points, you could stay for as little as 39,000 points a night. The Morrison, a DoubleTree property in Dublin would be $224 a night or 59,000 Hilton Honors points per night. Rates at the Conrad Dublin are high at $252 a night or 67,000 Hilton Honors points.
(Image courtesy Hilton)
Rates at the Conrad Dublin are high at $252 a night or 67,000 Hilton Honors points.
Hyatt also has two properties in Dublin. There's a Hyatt Centric starting at $137 a night or 12,000 World of Hyatt points, and a Brooks Hotel part of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World (SLH) program. Brooks is $223 a night, and you can't use World of Hyatt points.
(Image courtesy Hyatt)
With IHG Rewards, you have a few choices. The Holiday Inn Express Dublin City Centre is available starting at $106 or just over 21,000 IHG points per night. The InterContinental starts at $291 a night or 55,000 points per night.
Several are members of American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts where The Platinum Card® from American Express or The Business Platinum Card® from American Express can get you elite-style perks. Visa Signature Hotels include The Merrion, the Westin and The Westbury as well as the Conrad.
Another great option would be to take advantage of the fourth-night-free benefit on the Citi Prestige® Card. The information for the Citi Prestige card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Of course Ireland is a lot more than just Dublin, but the city is a great jumping-off point for other Irish adventures once you are out of quarantine or when there are less limitations.
Dublin November 2015. (Photo by Clint Henderson/The Points Guy)
Conclusion on visiting Ireland
Ireland is a great country. I've been twice and really enjoyed the friendly people, good prices and easy ways to get there. Now, however, is not the time to visit. Hopefully, the United States will get the spread of coronavirus under control soon, and the quarantine order will be lifted. Until then, I'll be dreaming of the Emerald Isle, and contemplating a future trip.
Additional reporting by Ariana Arghandewal, Richard Kerr, and Eric Rosen.
Featured photo of Dún Aonghasa fortress on Ireland's Aran Islands by Marka/Universal Images Group/Getty Images.
Comments
By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
