exchanging money upon arrivel or at first stop?

cathyon · Member

exchanging money upon arrivel or at first stop?

Sidz · Guru

Extremely easy to use ATMs at the Shannon Airport, and there is also a place there to exchange dollars to Euros as well if you find you must go that route. Use ATMs throughout your trip if you can -- both with exchange rate and ease of doing so, as it is the only way to go.

Dude · Guru

Three years ago we arrived early on Sunday also. We walked past the Bank of Ireland branch in the baggage claim area and couldn't get back there when we found that the one out in the concourse was closed. We did find one ATM that was working and got a few euros with our credit cards. The shops are not allowed to change money. This time we are going to have ATM/debit cards. Live and learn, a lot of the learning from Michele's book, website and this forum.

Auld Sod · Veteran Member

Anyone have any advice/warning in regards to getting the euros before the trip?

That's what we did in advance of our previous trips to Germany & Italy. We just contacted our local bank, gave them the amount we needed and they called us back a few days later to come get them. I know there was a service charge, I'm not sure now how much it was but it wasn't much.

Looks like the route we'll go in May.

Enjoy your trip!

Chris

irelandbound · Veteran Member

I don't know how accurate this information is, but we received a notice from our company travel department that debit cards are not accepted for payment anywhere in Ireland.

It stated that all major credit cards are accepted with credit cards providing the best currency exchange.

Ande · Veteran Member

In response to Chris, the first time I went to Europe, I went to the bank and got French francs in advance. Won't ever do that again!! I've learned the best thing to do is go to the cash machine when you arrive at your destination airport.

Michele Erdvig · Host

Chris,

I always wait till I get to Ireland to get my euros. Although I usually have some left over from the previous trip. Dude has a good point about using the ATM in the baggage claim area, because the one in the main terminal can be out of money if a lot of people have made a euro run on it.

You will get a better exchange rate in Ireland than in the US. Also no fees (from Irish banks).

Irelandbound: As for debit cards you can use them at ATMs. However, I do know that car rental companies do not take them. Since I don't have one I don't know about using them at restaurants, B&Bs, etc. I would trust the info received from the bank.

Michele

Auld Sod · Veteran Member

Thanks Ande & Michelle!

Michele Erdvig · Host

Chris,

Always happy to help.

Michele

wckc · Guru

we will be arriving in Dublin Friday morning. Are you all saying we're smarter to go with less money and just pull cash out at an ATM rather than taking dollars and exchanging it when we arrive? This will make the difference weather I deposit the cash at the bank before we leave, or we take it with us.

Thanks!
-wendy coleman

Michele Erdvig · Host

Wendy,

Lovely to see your photo joining the ranks of the forum! How much "cash" are you thinking of taking? As you know, cash can be lost. I always travel with some cash (but not a massive amount), my credit cards, ATM card and a back-up of old-fashioned traveler's checks in case of emergency. We also have my husband's ATM and credit cards to fall back on(separate accounts) just in case something weird happens like the strip on the back gets de-magnitized. It has never happened to me, but I have heard of it happening to others.

Michele

wckc · Guru

Michele -

Thanks for the speedy reply. We were figuring on taking about $300. We will be staying in the same B&B in Dublin for three nights, and they require payment upon arrival (euros, no cards accepted).

We have a bank account with a visa check ATM card that we have funded and ready for travel, as well as our american express and regular visa. I have to go to the bank tomorrow or Tuesday to make a deposit anyway, so I can adjust it accordingly.

-wc

Itallian Chauffeur · Moderator

I usually walk off the plane with less than $100 on me, plus whatever Euro cash and coins as were left over from the previous trip. Like Michele, I carry a couple of credit cards and my ATM. My wife also brings along her ATM (separate account). I've never had any serious difficulty that way.

Know that the ATM will only access your checking account (not savings), you need to 'warn' (notify) your CC and ATM providers that you will be in Ireland (so that they don't 'freeze' your account over "suspicious" activity, and make sure that you have a 'correct', 4 digit PIN.

If you selected an alternative PIN # after you received your ATM, your new PIN may NOT work in the Irish ATM machines, since the # encoded on the magnetic stripe will not match. This is not so with all ATM cards, but I know that it is so with those from my Credit Union. Last trip, my ATM worked fine, but my wife's wouldn't work anywhere in Ireland (I 'accepted' the issued PIN, whereas my wife CHANGED hers to a more easily rememberable number). When I asked a clerk at our Credit Union about it later, he SPECULATED that it was because, in the US, ATMs access our account data for every transaction, but that PERHAPS, as a cost saving measure, Irish ATM machines did NOT -- instead relying upon the data imprinted ON the card ....

Dunno if that is true, but it WOULD make some sort of sense, regarding OUR experience....

As to using Debit Cards in Ireland, the Republic has just recently switched over to 'Pin and Chip' technology for Point of Sale (Debit Card) purchases, which lead to wholesale RUMORS that non-Pin and Chip cards would no longer work. The Association that operates the Pin and Chip change over has been ADAMANT that foreign, non- Pin and Chip cards WILL still be honored. However, they DID warn that SOME merchants might be confused and THINK that they couldn't process non-Pin and Chip cards. They do THAT by treating the debit card like a CC - taking an imprint and having you sign a slip.

Hope this helps.

Bob

-- Edited by Itallian Chauffeur at 16:37, 2007-04-15

-- Edited by Itallian Chauffeur at 16:41, 2007-04-15

wojazz3 · Guru

Be sure, if you are either going north on the M1 or west on the M50, you have already gotten euros to pay the toll.

Bill

Michele Erdvig · Host

Wendy,

I think taking $300 cash is okay. Split it in half and you take some and your husband takes some. You will have to exchange it for euros at either the airport bank or a bank in Dublin. Do take a look at my "Money" and "Tips & Tricks" pages. They will be of help.

Michele