Which DUBLIN bus ticket is best value?

Question

I am visiting Dublin with my 5 year old son next month. We are flying into Dublin airport and staying at Rathmines Travelodge for three days. Which bus ticket/combination of bus tickets would work out best value? We need to get to the city centre from the airport and back by bus. I am not sure if the travelodge is within walking distance from the city centre or not? If not then we'd need a bus for getting in and out of the centre.

Looking on the dublinbus site it seems that they do a 3 day ADULT rambler which would be ideal for 11.60Euros but no child equivalent. The child tickets don't seem to allow the airlink bus from the airport to city centre and back. They only do a one day family ticket which includes airlink, but buying one of those each day works out at 30euros. Confused? So am I!!

Please someone help - what's bets value for money? I really don't want to have to pay for each journey for him and worry about having the correct change, etc.

I wonder if i could just buy him a 3 day ADULT rambler ticket? Would that be allowed? Do they check the tickets on the bus?

Thanks for any help!

Answer 1

Q1.  Rathmines is about 12 miles from the airport and within walking distance of the city centre, though not for a 5 year old. it's 2/3 miles.

Q2.  the rambler is best at 11.60 euro. The confusion is there are 2 types of transport into the city,  one a scheduled city bus which stops along the route letting off and taking on commuter passengers. The other, 30 euro family ticket, is for the airport express coach which is non stop and takes about a third of the time.

Q3. I believe there is a child/ student ticket at a reduced rate.

Q4. The city buses are driver only, and you swipe your pass in a machine when entering. Occasionally inspectors get on the bus to check if everyone has paid.

Hope that cleared up some queries for you.

Have a great Visit.