Dublin hotels push locals to 'Dubcation'

When Dublin's slowly-reviving tourism industry was locked down again in mid-September by a return of Level 3 restrictions, which ban domestic travel outside one's own region, the city's hotel industry came up with a new idea: Dubcations.

With no outsiders to fill the rooms, and reservations for October and November falling like autumn leaves, the hotel and restaurant industry has turned to luring locals from their homes to spend posh weekends at hotels, with special packages offering either low rates, or special events.

Among the 'Dubcations' on offer are an overnight with dinner, cooked breakfast, late checkout and a private cinema experience (under the Level 3 restrictions, though, the cinema can only be booked by one household per night) and a variety of 'Date Night' deals with dinner and a romantic evening.