If you are using a Currency Exchange for cash, most currencies are available. If using ATMs (my preferred method) you will need to visit an ATM once you cross into the North for Sterling. A lot of businesses along the border will accept either currency -- albeit, at slight 'mark up' . . .
Remember that a 1 1/2 hour drive from Swords to your destination will result in 4-5 hours duration, once you factor in driving BOTH ways and allow time for a visit.
The rental car speedometer will likely only register in KPH, but all signs in the North will only show MPH.
You might want to print this out:
30 MPH = 48.2 KPH
40 MPH = 64.3 KPH
50 MPH = 80.5 KPH
60 MPH = 96.6 KPH
70 MPH = 112.6 KPH
Have a GREAT trip!
__________________
Bob
Help Us to Help You. The more you tell us about your plans (dates, interests, budget), the better we can tailor our advice to suit!
Thank you so much Bob, for the information. I did print out the speed limits so I can have them in the car. Still a little nervous about driving on the wrong side of the road and wrong side of the car, but, I will practice a little in the parking lot of Dan Dooley's before we head out.
I will definitely check in with all our fun details of our trip either during or when we return. Can't wait. It is approaching real fast and everyone is getting real excited.
Well, I thought I was all set, but now my daughter has one question that is a good one. If we use our credit cards for our cash, can we still use our current ones (without the chip) or do we need ones with the chip. Our new cards are being sent to us from our bank (they are just going to the master card with chip) and we are not sure if we will have them by the time we leave. Also, when we do use the credit card, do we ask them to charge it in American dollars or does it matter? The reason I asked about the card with chip, is because my daughter was talking to her boss, who was just in England, and they could only use a card with the chip. If it didn't have the chip, they couldn't use it. Please help.
The merchants should still be able to process it 'the old fashioned way', so other than REALLY out-of-the-way places, you should be fine w/o a chipped card. If you have a chipped card, the merchant would RATHER utilize it, as that affords them better transactional security.
Using a non-chipped Debit Card in the ATM's should work fine as well -- but, you may find lower daily limits imposed by the ATM operators.
Be sure to notify the Issuing Banks on any and all Credit and Debit Cards that will be used that you will be in Ireland and give them the applicable dates so that they don't flag the charges as 'Suspicious Activity'!
You want ALL charges to be in Euros (or, Sterling, if in Northern Ireland) -- NEVER in US dollars, so that you avoid 'DCC' (Dynamic Currency Conversion', which generally provides very poor exchange rates.
__________________
Bob
Help Us to Help You. The more you tell us about your plans (dates, interests, budget), the better we can tailor our advice to suit!
Well, the excitement is brewing! 2 1/2 days till we leave. Still a little nervous about driving over there, but with a little practice in the lot, I am hoping I will be fine.
Thank you all for the help in planning this trip. The last time I was there, it was my husband and me for our 25th Anniversary. Now it will be myself, my daughter and my mother, both of them for the first time over. I can't wait to show them all the beautiful sites of Ireland. Hopefully, they will love it as much as I do.
Have a wonderful time in Ireland. Be careful in the car lot. Everyone else is practicing too! Have your "navigator" remind you to keep left especially when exiting lots, crossing roads and at stop signs. You will get the hang of it. As Bob said, we would love to hear about your trip upon your return.
Now very excited! Leaving tomorrow night out of Boston for wonderful Ireland! Thank you so much again for all the help. I know my tentative itinerary seems like a blur, but I will be cutting quite a bit out of it. I want my mother and daughter to really enjoy their trip.
Michele and Bob, I will definitely be checking in with my trip report. I know we will have so many things to tell about our experiences. Thank you again. Ireland, here we come!
Here are the three lovely ladies wearing their necklace/pendants that someone's wonderful husband had made for them by MTW Jewellery in Kilkenny and given to them by the jeweller herself.