Using phones in Ireland

Ro · Member

Using phones in Ireland

fennellkevin · Senior Member

Hi Ro,

My experience is that I bought a phone card for 7 euro in Dublin and it covered all the domestic calls I needed to make (such as calling ahead to B&B's) and also several international calls back to the U.S. And any time I needed a pay phone, I had no trouble finding one.

Have a great time over there!

Kevin

Irisheyes · Senior Member

We had a B&B owner call our next destination to tell them we'd be arriviing late. It was no problem what so ever. We offered to pay for the call, our $ was declined. You can buy phone cards in most places, I think I saw a place in both airports too.

shashie50 · Veteran Member

I would definitely recommend the phone card. It is so much more convenient than trying to come up with enough coins. I think they are available at most newsstands or convenience-type stores. On my first trip over, I was always getting cut off because I couldn't get the right coins in fast enough, or because I had run out of change.
Enjoy your trip! Marsha

Michele Erdvig · Host

Ro,

I agree with everyone that buying a phone card is the way to go. Get the kind with a toll-free number and a PIN number. You can use it from any phone. If you do use it from a public phone, you first must insert 50 cent and then make your call. When you hang up the coins will be returned to you. You can purchase the cards at the shops in the airports, at many shops all over Ireland and some post offices. I usually get a 5 euro card and it does me for my trip. Of course I am not calling back home to the US but just making local calls.

B&Bs will make calls and reservations for you, if asked. Generally they will not charge you for the call, but it is polite to offer to pay.

As for reservations, you may want them on the weekends (Fri & Sat). There are also popluar places like Dingle, Killarney, Galway, Kilkenny, Kinsale, Dublin that will book up first. If you have your heart set on staying in a particular place then by all means make reservations. In September things start winding down after a busy season, however this year there will be lots more tourists because of Ryder Cup. People will not just be attending the few days of the event. If they have traveled thousands of miles to attend they will spend more time in Ireland and do some touring around before and afterwards. So there will be a bit more competition this year than usual.

Michele