Who’s feeling lucky?! 🍀
One rapidly growing southern city must feel like they’ve hit the jackpot. Not known as a major hub, and largely kept hush-hush as an underrated capital, you might think North Carolinians typically have to fly out of Charlotte for anywhere requiring a passport.
But Aer Lingus opted to give Charlotte the boot in favor of another Carolina city, so they must’ve Raleigh been itchin’ for a trip across the pond.
That’s right — Raleigh just made history, welcoming its first-ever flight to Ireland on April 13.
While you may have missed out on the inaugural adventure, the Travel Off Path team is hoping Lady Luck is on your side with a tax refund, so you can put your hard-earned money to good use with a fun-filled Irish vacation.
Raleigh Quietly Becomes An International Flight Hub
Charlotte and Asheville may want to watch their backs as there are 2 trendier getaways right now in the “Tar Heel State”:
While Charlotte is being touted as America’s new next-level foodie destination, Raleigh has been creeping up the ranks — and there’s no further proof than the surprising amount of international flights in NC’s vibrant capital city.
Add Dublin to the list of impressive passport destinations, such as Reykjavik, Paris, Panama City, and fellow newcomers like Punta Cana.
Montego Bay didn’t work out for a myriad of reasons, but locals and Irish travelers are stoked for a new route — and there are still plenty of worthwhile icons to add to your passport stamp collection from Raleigh–Durham International Airport (RDU).
Dublin is the newest of the bunch, and just so happens to be one of the quickest flights to Europe, given its far-western location from the U.S. mainland.
And that makes the flight even more exciting — to use Ireland’s most iconic city as a springboard as RDU reps touted Aer Lingus’s connections to “England, Scotland, France, Italy, Belgium, Spain, Switzerland, Germany and the Netherlands.”
The Deets For Raleigh’s Game-Changing New Flight
Call us fashionably late to the party if you will (as I write this in my jammies), but even if you missed the blue-ribbon cutting, this route is here to stay.
In other words, it’s not one of those blink-and-you-miss-it seasonal offerings.
In fact, RDU will serve Aer Lingus flights to Dublin (DUB) 5 times per week on one of the more spacious narrow-body aircraft, an Airbus 321XLR.
Unfortunately, promotional fares were not mentioned in the official press release.
However, I took a deep dive and found the absolute best deal if Dublin is calling you:
- May 12 – May 19: $847 round-trip
Tickets are pretty hefty throughout summer, but remember, this is only to Dublin and back.
Venturing into other European cities may offer different fares entirely.
So, we did a test.
Since RDU is hoping travelers use Aer Lingus as a gateway just as much as an Irish vacay, we picked Paris as one of their mentioned destinations to see how much it costs compared to Dublin on their cheapest date:
- May 12 – May 19: $1,337 round-trip
Sheesh! Looks like you’re going to Dublin!
For the record, Aer Lingus isn’t exactly a household name but as Ireland’s flagship carrier, it’s certified as a 4-star airline and rated a perfect score of 7/7 for safety on AirlineRatings.
Why Dublin Is Such An Amazing City To Visit
Before diving in to Dublin’s appeal, you’ll want to check entry requirements before stepping foot in Ireland, but the good news is it’s the only EU country not fingerprinting Americans.
Additionally, safety is always at the forefront of travelers’ minds when venturing abroad, but the good news is both Dublin itself, and Ireland as a whole, are considered remarkably safe to explore.
Here’s our real-time data for both below:
Dublin isn’t just a gateway city — it’s the kind of place you’ll want to linger, especially in the coming months when pub patios spill outdoors, parks turn postcard-green, and event calendars fill up fast!
Of course, no trip to Ireland in general is complete without a stop at a local pub for a pint of Guinness, though there’s plenty to do and see that doesn’t revolve around barstools and dim-lit taverns.
Now that winter drear is a distant thought, some of Dublin’s most vibrant and festive months are full speed ahead with lively patios and festivals, such as Bloomsday in mid-June.
Even though it costs a pretty penny to vacation here, you don’t have to stay within the city limits either.
Wandering Ireland’s countryside is all but obligatory to bear witness to astounding castles, rolling emerald landscapes, and the famous Cliffs of Moher if you’re up for a full-day trek.
The bottom line is Dublin makes for a great base as your main stay or holding place to venture elsewhere in Europe altogether.
To put it simply, Raleigh travelers didn’t just gain a new nonstop route — they gained easy access to one of the world’s most rewarding corners of Europe that’s safe, cultural and breathtakingly scenic.
Stacie Harris is a local resident and reporter of the Maple Grove area. Stacie reports on medicine and science for the Maple Grove Report.
