The Cahernane House Hotel in Killarney, County Kerry, Ireland

One informed local expert told me that tourism numbers in Ireland are probably down about 20 per cent this year, and revenues down 40-50 per cent because visitors are spending far less due to the recession.

The local tourism industry is doing its best not to discount but instead is offering more for the same price. For example, the wonderful Cahernane House Hotel in Killarney, County Kerry where I am staying now is running three nights for the price of two.

You are still getting better value-for-money, of course, and with return flights from Abu Dhabi as cheap as Dhs 950 at the moment there has never been a better time to visit Ireland.

Eating costs reasonable

Eating out is significantly cheaper than in Dubai, and you could save the cost of the flight on your food and drink bill over a weekend. The Cahernane House has an award-winning three course dinner for Dhs140. The steak alone would cost more in Dubai.

You need a hire car to get to Kerry but this is the deep south of Ireland where tourists come for the scenery which is similar to the Scottish Highlands, so much so that the film Brave Heart with Mel Gibson was shot here and not in Scotland.

The Cahernane House was built in 1877 by the Herbert family, local landlords who also have an estate in Wiltshire, and in fact I was born on the corner of it they sold to my father. In fact this was very much a minor manor house by comparison to the more famous Muckross House built just down the road and where Queen Victoria stayed in 1863.

However, the accommodation is a splendid opportunity to experience staying in an Irish country house. These days a mixture of international travellers hang out here rather than the aristocracy as the Herberts left in 1899, and they are ably served by completely unflappable Irish and Polish staff.

Efficient staff

We overheard a receptionist ordering an ambulance for a resident about to give birth, not an everyday incident in a hotel but calmly handled. The 38 rooms are either in the original house or a modern annex.

The most common question asked by web reviewers is why this is a four and not a five-star hotel. Possibly some of the rooms are not big enough. There are also no mini-bars, although the suite has a Jacuzzi, walk-in wardrobe and second toilet.

Downstairs the fine Herbert restaurant occupies the rear, and there is a cosy front sitting room and an elegant drawing room with grand piano. If it were not for the occasional arrival trundling a suitcase through the premises the illusion of nineteenth century grand country living would be complete, but sadly we are now in the twenty-first century.