Want to visit Ireland without blowing your entire vacation budget on airfare?
You don’t need insider connections or complicated travel hacks – just two easy-to-use (and totally free) tools: Kayak Explore and Google Flights. These platforms make it simple to find the best airfare, whether you’re ready to book or searching for the best deal.

These tools are especially handy if you're using my flight monitoring strategy and haven't seen prices drop. When you're willing to be flexible with travel dates you open yourself to the kind of deals most travelers miss.

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Let’s break down how to use both Kayak and Google Flights to find the best fares to Ireland (and beyond).

One of the most powerful tools for finding unexpected travel deals is Kayak Explore. This tool maps out low fares from your chosen departure airport to anywhere in the world—including Ireland.

Instead of entering a specific destination, just plug in your home airport and let Kayak show you what’s possible.

How to Use It:

Pro tip: Slide the map over to Europe to see where the best transatlantic deals are, including Dublin, Shannon, and maybe even Belfast. You might even spot surprising deals to nearby cities like London or Paris where you can hop on a budget flight to Ireland.

But there are a few trade-offs:

If you're dreaming of Ireland but your calendar is open, this tool is unbeatable.

If you want a bit more control over dates, stops, and flight class – but still want the flexibility to discover deals – Google Flights is your friend.

There are two easy ways to use the “Anywhere” search:

Once you’re in, choose Flexible Dates instead of putting in a strict travel window. You can search weekends, 1-week trips, or 2-week trips, across one month—or up to six months out.

Want to fly business class? Only looking for nonstop flights? Traveling with kids? You can fine-tune it all.

Keep in mind:

But if you’re planning a summer trip to Ireland and need specific dates or flight types, Google Flights gives you the best of both flexibility and precision.

Use Kayak Explore if:

Use Google Flights “Anywhere” if:

If you can be open about when you go (and even which airport you fly into or out of), you may find fares that are hundreds of dollars cheaper than what you'd expect. Sometimes you’ll find Dublin cheaper than Shannon, or vice versa – so be sure to check both if you’re renting a car or planning a circular route.

Even once-a-year flexibility – like planning next summer’s Ireland trip now based on today’s low fares – can make your trip much more affordable.

Traveling in Ireland podcast episode 283

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