12 Useful Ireland Travel Tips You Should Know Before You Go 2023
Globalization has made it less of a culture shock for people from other places to visit Ireland for the first time than it used to be. Young Irish people who grew up watching a lot of Friends now speak with an American accent, and the single currency has made it much easier to travel within the eurozone (while it lasts). But there are still a few things you should know about Ireland before you go, like the ones below.
Ireland Travel Tips: #1 Northern Ireland’s money is different.
Most people who want to visit Ireland know that it is split into two different countries, but they may not have thought about how that works. If you are going across the border, you should know that Northern Ireland, which is part of the UK, uses the pound sterling and not the euro. It won’t make a huge difference, since international bank cards will work perfectly in ATMs and chip-and-pin terminals on both sides, but it’s good to know if you plan to shop. Grocery bills in Northern Ireland were about 15% cheaper than in the republic even before Brexit.
Ireland Travel Tips: #2 Non-EU travelers can shop without paying taxes.
In a related matter, people from outside the EU can shop in Ireland without having to pay tax. If you get a Fexco Horizon card before you go, you can register it and swipe it at any affiliated location in the country, such as Avoca Handweavers, the Guinness Storehouse, the Dublin Zoo, and many more. Then, when you leave, you can get the sales tax back at the airport. The service has even made an app for tax-free shopping. With it, you can order and register your card, find stores that are part of the program, and keep track of your purchases.
Ireland Travel Tips: #3 You can rent a small car
Even though public transportation and tour buses can get you to most of Ireland’s major attractions, you might want to rent a car to get to some of the most beautiful places that aren’t on the beaten path. Remember that people in Ireland drive on the left side of the road and pass on the right, which is the opposite of how people drive in the US. When going to rural areas, it’s best to rent a small car. Irish country roads are known for being narrow and winding, and some locals drive faster than you might think.
Ireland Travel Tips: #4 Check the limits on your luggage
Ryanair, an Irish budget airline, is known for having fares that are so low it’s hard to believe. They are also known for putting restrictions on these cheap fares, such as weight limits on carry-on bags. On a Ryanair flight, you can only bring one small bag like a handbag and one cabin bag that weighs up to 10 kg and fits certain dimensions. The same number of carry-on bags is allowed on all Aer Lingus flights. If you try to check in luggage at the airport that doesn’t meet these requirements, you’ll have to pay a lot of money.
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Ireland Travel Tips: #5 Find out the rules for tipping
Tipping isn’t as common in Ireland as it is in some other countries, but people do tip for certain services. In restaurants with table service, it’s common to leave a tip of 10–12%, or more if you want to. Restaurants sometimes add a service charge to the bill on their own, especially when there are a lot of people. Check this first. Taxi drivers, hairdressers, and other people who do personal services are often tipped up to 10% if they did a good job, but you can decide how much to give.
Ireland Travel Tips: #6 Change what you expect from the “Céad Mle Fáilte”
The Irish are known around the world for saying “céad mle fáilte,” which means “a hundred thousand welcomes.” However, the Irish can sometimes be friendlier than visitors might expect. When compared to customer service in the United States, where people are greeted as soon as they walk into a store or restaurant, Irish service providers might seem downright shy. People in Ireland are usually friendly and love to talk once you start a conversation with them, but they aren’t always as outgoing as people think they are.
Ireland Travel Tips: #7 Put on layers
Everyone knows that you can’t count on the weather in Ireland. It has a temperate oceanic climate, which means that it rains a lot, especially on the west coast, but that the weather can change in a flash. It doesn’t have many extremes, so the best way to be ready for the weather in Ireland is to bring a lot of light layers, wear shoes that won’t get wet, and hope for the best.
Ireland Travel Tips: #8 Reserve Trains
If you want to get around Ireland by public transportation, trains are a good option. They are more comfortable than buses and have free Wi-Fi, electrical outlets, and bathrooms. On the other hand, Irish trains can be very expensive. Irish Rail makes it easy to save a lot of money on tickets if you book them online in advance.
Ireland Travel Tips: #9 Tell the bus to stop.
Even at a designated stop, if that stop is also used by other routes, a Dublin city bus won’t stop unless you wave it down. When you see your bus coming, stick out your arm to let the driver know you want to get on. Also, it’s common to thank the bus driver when you get off an Irish bus.
Ireland Travel Tips: #10 Winter has short days.
Anyone who wants to visit Ireland in the winter should know that the days are very short there. Even though it’s not quite Alaska, the sun rises around 8 a.m. and sets around 4 p.m. in Ireland in December. This means that the best times to go outside and explore are much shorter. The good news is that the opposite is true in the summer, when in some months the sun doesn’t set until 10 p.m.
Ireland Travel Tips: #11 Sunday is a rest day (Some Places)
Even though many places are open on Sundays in most Irish cities and towns, many of them only stay open for a few hours. Some shops, restaurants, and attractions don’t open until 2 p.m. on Sundays, if they open at all. Make sure to check out your favorite spot before you go. The same is true for Mondays after bank holidays.
Ireland Travel Tips: #12 Get A Heritage Card
Get a Heritage Card from the Office of Public Works if you want to visit a lot of Irish cultural sites. For just €25, you can get free entry to all of Ireland’s state-run heritage sites, like castles, national parks, and war memorial gardens, for a whole year.
Bonus Tip: The Irish use a lot of slang.
Even though most people in Ireland speak English, and signs are always in English outside of the Gaeltacht (Irish-speaking) areas of the west, it’s important to know that the Irish use a lot of slang and unique phrases in everyday conversation. This, combined with a strong accent, can make it hard to understand people in some areas. The Irish also use a lot of bad language.
Topic: 12 Useful Ireland Travel Tips You Should Know Before You Go 2023
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By: Travel Pixy
