Rural staycations, sun-seeking Down Under, European city breaks

With the first day of Spring upon us and the Easter weekend just around the corner, Airbnb is seeing a shift in Easter travel trends for Irish guests this year* – with seniors leading the way, family trips on the rise and trips to the southern hemisphere captivating the adventurous spirit sun seekers.

Rural destinations in Ireland on the rise this Easter 

This Easter, domestic destinations are proving most popular in particular – from Bundoran  to Dingle – with Airbnb seeing a 14 per cent increase in rural bookings in Ireland over the Easter weekend, compared to last year.¹ 

The top trending domestic destinations in Ireland this Easter include:² 

• Clonakilty, County Cork
• Castle Demesne, County Galway 
• Killarney, County Kerry
• Athlone, County Westmeath
• Dunmore East, County Waterford 
• Tralee, County Kerry
• Bundoran, County Donegal 
• Dingle, County Kerry 
• Kenmare, County Kerry
• Inishmore, County Galway

Family travel gaining momentum

As Easter approaches, families are eagerly planning their getaways to create cherished memories together during the long weekend. It comes as no surprise that Airbnb has witnessed a remarkable surge of 36 per cent in searches for Irish family trips during the Easter holidays compared to last year.³ Beachfront and Pool stays, as well as Countryside, Farm and Cabin stays have emerged as the top category choices for families this Easter,⁴ reflecting the growing desire for family-friendly adventures amidst beautiful landscapes and nature .

Here is a roundup of the most wishlisted Farm, Countryside and Cabin stays on Airbnb, perfect for an unforgettable family getaway:⁵

• Most Wishlisted Farm Stays in Ireland 
  • Alpaca Lodge with stunning views, Tuosist, Kenmare
  • Traditional Farmhouse, County Meath 
  • Shepherd’s Cottage, Beaufort 
  • Glengarriff Lodge, Glengarriff 
  • The Red Bridge Cottage, Donegal 
• Most Wishlisted Countryside Stays in Ireland 
  • Private Castle, Kilcolgan 
  • Carraigin Castle, Headford
  • The Birdbox, Donegal 
  • Wilton Castle, Bree
  • Tubbrid Castle, Kilkenny 
• Most Wishlisted Cabin Stays in Ireland
  • Cosy cabin with stunning views, Fintown 
  • Ark Ranch Treehouse, Macroom 
  • The Hideaway, Boyle 
  • The Hare’s Leap Cabin, Glenties
  • Lough Hyne Cottage, Skibbereen 

Warmer climates trending thanks to an early Easter 

This year, Easter has arrived early in March,  opening up a unique opportunity for sun seekers to soak up some sun. According to Airbnb data, top trending destinations for Irish guests include Perth, Miami and Cancun. Irish guests are also exploring neighbouring European cities such as Milan, Liverpool, Brussels and Valletta. Further afield, Irish people are travelling further to warmer climates in the southern hemisphere such as Perth, Melbourne and Sydney.

Some of the top trending international Easter destinations for Irish people this year include:⁶

• Milan, Italy
• Perth, Australia
• Los Cristianos, Spain
• Liverpool, England
• Melbourne, Australia
• Dubai, United Arab Emirates
• Cancun, Mexico
• Tokyo, Japan
• Miami, United States
• Brussels, Belgium
• Alvaor, Portugal 
• Sao Paulo, Brazil
• Valletta, Malta 
• Sydney, Australia 
• Bangkok, Thailand 

Senior travel making a comeback

With the return of normalcy to travel, seasoned adventurers are reclaiming their wanderlust with Airbnb witnessing an inspiring resurgence in senior travel. In fact, the Easter holidays are seeing a remarkable 71  per cent surge in nights booked by travellers aged between 60 and 90, compared to last year.⁷  Airbnb data shows that seniors in Ireland are eyeing up the sunny European cities such as Barcelona, Malaga and Venice. Further afield, senior guests are exploring Perth, Chicago and New York City.⁸

Amanda Cupples, General Manager of Northern Europe at Airbnb, said: “Easter is the perfect moment to take some time with your loved ones, and there’s no better way to spend the long weekend than in the hidden gems of  beautiful, rural destinations around Ireland offering a setting to reset and rejuvenate this Spring. With the hectic pace of life, and the rising cost of living – it’s no wonder that this year we’re longing for getaways in tranquil places closer to nature, where we can pause and  recharge. Whether you’re seeking a memorable getaway in Ireland or venturing further afield, Airbnb has something for everyone to create unforgettable memories this Spring.”

For guests who are booking their travel plans this year and need help finding the cream of the crop, Airbnb has launched Guest Favourites, a collection of the 2 million most-loved homes on Airbnb based on ratings, reviews, and reliability. Guest Favourites have excellent reviews and are rated above 4.9 stars on average. These homes also receive high marks for ease of check-in, cleanliness, listing accuracy, Host communication, location, and value. Whether guests are travelling domestically or internationally, Guest Favourites make it easy for guests to find the best place to stay to make the most of their trip. Head to Airbnb to explore the Guest Favourites filter further when planning your next trip.