A man was left baffled after being quoted over €4,000 for a three-night stay for him and his daughter in a Kerry hotel.
Speaking to host Joe Duffy on RTE's Liveline, Seamus Duffy said he encountered some "strange prices" after attempting to make a booking for two single rooms in July for himself and his daughter in Kenmare on the popular website booking.com.
"I was looking to book two single rooms for my daughter and I, and I got some strange prices, to put it that way," he said.
"Two single rooms, mid-week, in July, for my daughter and I, and the price that came up was €4,110."
Breakfast was included in the price - but dinner wasn't.
Seamus added: "There were actually two, the second one was €3,750, for two single rooms for three nights. They were five-star hotels, I have to admit they were, but I don't know anyone in their right mind who is going to pay €4,000 for three nights.
"I got the hotel that I would normally get, that was €716, which is probably what you would pay anywhere, that is for three nights, two single rooms, with bed and breakfast.
"It's probably up because it's the summer, it's July. My concern is with hotels opening back up are prices going to go up and up?"
In response, Cllr Patrick O'Connor-Scarteen, the Mayor of Kerry said: "Look, there's a range of options for Seamus. I've experienced it myself going on sites before looking abroad but no one is forcing you to take them. That's one thing in isolation, the way I look at it is they've only one opportunity to make money for the summer.
"No one is forcing people to choose a five-star hotel."
Listeners were full of opinions online.
One man who tuned in said: "Staycation doesn't properly describe the insane prices hotels are charging, 'Paythroughthenosecation' is more apt Joe."
While former Mrs Browns Boys star Rory Cowan added: "That’s the reason I won’t be having a #staycation. I’ll wait ‘til I can travel and have a better holiday, cheaper, abroad. This type of pricing is going to kill the tourist industry."
Another user chimed in: "At least Dick Turpin wore a mask when he was robbing you!"
