Pounds, Euro, and Dollars

cindyontour · Member

Pounds, Euro, and Dollars

yesiree · Guru

The money in the UK is good throughout the UK regardless of where it is printed...think of it like the state quarters in the US...a Georgia coin is good throughout the US...even though it looks different on one side.

My preferred method of getting money in Ireland and Northern Ireland is bank ATMs...they have them at the airport. Then when I cross the border to NI, I go to another bank ATM. You can get Pounds at Dublin airport (or from your bank in the US...they usually need a week's notice), but I don't think you'll get the best exchange rate. However, it might give you peace of mind to have them.

Each time you exchange money to another currency, you are charged a fee, so going from dollars to pounds to euros ends up costing more...so only get as many pounds or euros as you think you will need for each country (I pay for all my accommodations and meals with a credit card...a few places don't take them, but most do).

If you have money left over, you can change them over or give them to UNICEF on the plane (if you're flying Aer Lingus) or stop by a petrol station and drop coins and cash in one of the little charity boxes at the counter.

Safe travels

Michele Erdvig · Host

Cindy,

Northern Ireland does print its own money. I suggest asking for British pounds sterling. Although you should be able to use pounds printed in No. Ireland in Britain I have always been refused. They want British pounds sterling in England, Scotland and Wales. Go figure! If you feel you might use some of the money in England, Scotland and Wales get the British pounds sterling instead of No. Ireland pounds.

If you go to the bank exchange you should be able to get British pounds sterling for dollars in Dublin Airport. You will have to use the manned window not the ATM. The ATM will only dispense euros. In No. Ireland the ATM will only dispense pounds.

Michele

yesiree · Guru

That's weird about the money...I used a few pounds printed in Scotland in NI last summer and didn't have a problem...I didn't realize there might be trouble going the other way.

cindyontour · Member

I knew I could use British Pounds throughout the UK and Euro throughout the EU, but I wasn't sure about the whole Irish Pound thing. I was wondering why they chose to print their own instead of using the British Pound. Do Scotland and Wales print their own as well, or is it just an Irish thing? I will only be in Ireland this trip, so I guess it doesn't matter which Pound I get.

Thank you, Corey and Michelle. Fortunately, I'll be able to use my credit card for the accommodations and probably at the grocery store and petrol stations as well, so maybe I won't need too many Pounds. Excess Euro won't be a problem because I'll leave it with my daughter - I'm sure the "starving college student" won't mind taking them off my hands. I was more worried about the Pounds.

Excellent idea about donating them on the plane - and here I was donating Dollars on previous flights...silly me.

Itallian Chauffeur · Moderator

OFFICIALLY, a Pound is a Pound, is a Pound, and all are of EQUAL value, BUT .....

Last year, I went from Scotland to Northern Ireland, to the Republic, to Northern Ireland and then, back to the Republic. I received some Scottish Pounds and some English Pounds while in Scotland and was warned that the small shops in Northern Ireland don't want or like to take the Scottish ones. I'm also told that the Scots feel the same way about Bank of Ireland Pounds. Dunno if Wales prints THEIR own, as well, but EVERYONE was happy to take the Bank of England Pounds. While in NI, I received Irish Pounds and British Pounds.

I was told that any UK bank will exchange the Pounds for no charge, since it is Pounds for Pounds, but never had to prove that information true. I purposely 'used up' my Scottish notes onboard the Stena Ferry -- being Cross-Border, they had NO problem accepting either.

Many of the border area businesses (particularly Petrol stations) on both sides of the Republic / NI border posted prices in BOTH Euro AND Sterling and readily accepted EITHER. I 'used up' most of my Pounds buying fuel right before I left NI, though, so it wasn't really an issue.

My "EXCESS" Euro come home with me, though, since I KNOW that I'll be returning ASAP.

Bob

Dude · Guru

The bank we went to in Roscommon (I think) wouldn't change pounds sterling for euros. We changed them at the bank exchange window in Shannon Airport. We were amused when they changed the pounds to euros and then euros to dollars. Probably paid a fee each time!

I may have fibbed--perhaps the bank would change the notes but not the coins. If I can remember to, I'll ask my sisters.

-- Edited by Dude at 00:36, 2008-03-19

Michele Erdvig · Host

Corey,

I thought it was strange that England and Scotland would not take No. Ireland pounds. I argued with them and questioned them but they thought of it as "funny money" and absolutely refused it. I had to go to a bank and exchange it. As I recall there was no fee to do the exchange from No. Ireland pounds to pounds sterling.

Michele

-- Edited by Michele Erdvig at 00:57, 2008-03-19

cindyontour · Member

Hmmm. Even though a part of me still misses all the different European currencies that disappeared once the Euro arrived, I must say I appreciate the simplicity of the Euro system. Even more so, after reading about all the versions of the Pound.

Michele Erdvig · Host

Cindy,

The euro does simplify things. Now, if only No. Ireland will change their currency to euros! I won't hold my breath.

Michele

Dude · Guru

I thought the old Irish coins were so beautiful. Euros just can't match up.