No matter where you go on holidays it’s important to do some research and find out about your destination first. If you’re intending to visit Ireland in the near future, then we’ve put together a little survival guide that we hope you’ll find very useful…
- English is the spoken language in Ireland, even though Irish is the official language. It is taught in schools and mostly spoken in Gaeltachts or ‘Irish speaking’ areas in parts of Kerry, Cork, Galway, Mayo and Donegal.
- The currency in Ireland is the Euro (€) but if you’re travelling to Northern Ireland you’ll need to stock up on some Pounds Sterling (£).
- Most shops and restaurants accept credit cards but you’ll need to use your chip n’ pin number to make purchase with your credit card.
- ATM machines are plentiful. You can withdraw money as long as your credit card has the ‘Cirrus’ or the ‘Plus’ logo.
- Most banks have a currency exchange counter if you need to change your money. Banks are open between 10am and 4pm Monday to Friday.
- Tipping is at your own discretion but it’s not unusual to tip 10% of the bill after a meal at a restaurant, unless a service charge is included or you’re not happy with the food and the service!
- Weather is so unpredictable in Ireland. It never gets too hot or too cold, rains a lot in the Winter and Spring but it can be quite pleasant during the Summer and Autumn. Before you travel it’s advisable to check out the weather so that you can pack the correct clothing.
- If unfortunately you are in an accident or emergency while in Ireland then freephone 999 or 112 immediately.
- A car is really the best way to discover Ireland, so hire a car for your holiday and remember, in Ireland, you drive on the left hand side of the road. The wearing of seatbelts are compulsory for front and back seat passengers and there is severe penalties for those who have a alcohol blood reading over 0.08%, so never drink and drive.
- The Republic of Ireland has introduced a ban on smoking in all places of work which include restaurants, bars and nightclubs. But don’t worry if you’re a smoker, as most bars and clubs have opened smoking shelters, smoking areas and beer gardens.
- Shops are generally open from 9am – 6pm from Monday to Saturday. Some shops have late opening until 9pm on Thursday and Fridays. As a rule most shops are closed on Sunday but some open for a few hours in the afternoon.
- If you are ringing an Irish phone number you need to add the prefix 00 353 first, followed by the phone number but do remember to drop the ’0′ before the Irish phone number.
- Public phones are scarce due to the popularity of mobile phones but there are some still around that accept coins and phone cards.
- Ireland is a beautiful place to visit all year round but if you’re coming during the Winter months you might find a lot of attractions closed. On the other hand the Summer months of July and August are extremely busy so expect some congestion on the roads, queues at attractions and busy streets.
- Of course it’s goes without saying that booking your accommodation early is important so check out our approved accommodation now.
Hope this information is useful for planning your trip to Ireland. If you’ve got any questions you’d like to ask – we’d be delighted to help! Of course you’re more than welcome to add to this list - so share your knowledge of Ireland and drop us an email…
