Vacation Guide
Ireland golf vacation guide :
Travel tips
The following travel tips have been put together in order to ensure that visitors to Ireland are familiar with important information on their destination prior to arrival. We hope that they will go some way to making your trip that bit more enjoyable.
- Passports
- Visas
- Customs & Excise
- Currency
- Bureau de Change
- Banks
- Credit Cards
- ATM Machines
- Driving in Ireland
- Gratuities
- Shopping
- Tax Free Shopping
- Voltage & Electricity
- Travel & Health Insurance
- Medical Assistance
- Telephones
- Mobile Phones
- Public Holidays
- What to Wear
- Restaurants & Bars
When travelling to Ireland from any country other than the United Kingdom, a valid passport is required. Before travelling, be sure to check the passport’s expiry date and renew it accordingly. Prior to your departure, make a number of photocopies of your passport. Leave copies with family members at home and carry a copy in your luggage. In the event that your passport is lost or stolen during your trip, please contact your local embassy or consulate; these copies will make passport replacement easier.
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Citizens from most Western countries including the USA, Canada, Australia, South Africa and Japan do not require visas when entering Ireland. Entry visas are not required for citizens of the European Union - a national identity card (where relevant) or passport will suffice. Should you have any doubts, you should contact the relevant emigration authorities prior to departure.
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In Ireland, customs operate on a Blue, Green and Red Channel basis. The Blue Channel is for visitors from the European Union only. The Green Channel (goods to declare) and Red Channel (nothing to declare) are for all visitors from outside the European Union. Visitors from outside the European Union are entitled to import duty free: 200 cigarettes or cigars, 1 litre of spirits or 2 litres of sparkling wine or liqueurs, 2 litres of still table wine, 60 millilitres of perfume or 250 millilitres of eau de toilette and $400 worth of goods, including gifts and souvenirs. United States citizens can clear US customs in Ireland at either Dublin or Shannon Airport prior to boarding the return flight.
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Since January 1st 2002 and in common with most European countries, the unit of currency in the Irish Republic is the Euro, which is denoted by the symbol "€ ". Prior to 2002, the unit of currency was the Irish Pound (or Punt). The official currency in Northern Ireland remains the British Pound (Sterling) as the United Kingdom have not joined the common currency of the European Union but some places do accept the Euro.
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In Ireland, banks usually give the best exchange rate for foreign currency and most banks offer this service. It is also possible to change money in airports, larger railway stations, travel agents and some larger hotels (if you are a resident). Bureau de Change facilities usually charge a small handling fee and commission.
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The principal Irish banks include Allied Irish Bank, Bank of Ireland, Ulster Bank, Irish Permanent and ACC Bank. These banks generally open on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 10.00am to 4.00pm and on Thursday from 10.00am to 5.00pm. Banks are not open on Saturday or Sunday.
Banks in Northern Ireland are open from Monday to Friday from 9.00am to 4.00pm or 5.00pm with some opening on Saturday mornings.
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Most large shops, stores, hotels and restaurants in Ireland will accept the majority of credit cards (MasterCard, Visa, American Express, Diners etc.). However, it is advisable to carry some cash money in case of difficulty, as many smaller accommodations, pubs, restaurants and small shops are unlikely to accept any form of credit card.
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You can withdraw cash from ATM machines across the country. Located in most banks and larger shopping centres, the ATM machines accept most credit cards including Visa, MasterCard and American Express, as well as PLUS and Cirrus debit cards.
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Driving in Ireland is an exhilarating experience, but there are some different rules and a number of significant differences that affect the driving experience, especially if you are driving for pleasure. It's worth spending a few moments to reflect on these.
In Ireland, driving is on the left hand-side of the road therefore traffic coming from the right-hand side has precedence on roundabouts (traffic rotaries). The minimum driving age is seventeen years old. There is not a massive network of motorways in Ireland but the major trunk roads are increasingly excellent. As a rule, however, it has to be said that driving in Ireland will be mainly along twisting and not overly smooth country roads and a good map is required to ensure that that you reach the correct destination.
As a consequence of the economic boom, there are larger volumes of traffic on the roads particularly around the major cities with many roads becoming overcrowded at peak times and drivers are asked to be vigilant and patient.
Speed limit in Ireland
- Motorways/Freeways 70 mph (112 kph) and 50mph (80 kph) when towing
- Regular non-urban roads 60 mph (100 kph) and 50mph (80 kph) when towing
- Urban areas 30mph (48 kph)
The Irish police frequently conduct speed checks and there are a number of speed cameras in place on the major routes to ensure that the speed limit is adhered to.
Drivers should be in possession of the following documents
- Valid drivers license
- Vehicle title document/registration certificate or vehicle rental agreement
Alcohol and Seatbelts
Caution should be exercised when driving under the influence of alcohol. The legal tolerance limit is 0.08%, which roughly translates into one pint of beer or one glass of wine. Generally, it is better to avoid alcoholic drinks completely if driving. The penalties for drink driving are severe so avoid this at all costs. The wearing of seatbelts is compulsory in both front and rear seats.
Direction Sign Colours for the Road System
- Freeways/Motorways = Blue
- National Primary & Secondary Routes = Green
- Regional and Local Routes = White
Toll Bridge Charges
Tolls are payable at two points in the Dublin area – the M50 Ring Road between the N4 and N3 interchanges only and on the R131 East Link Bridge. In each case the toll is under IR£0.80 (€1.00) for cars, with higher tolls for vans and trucks. There are no tolls on other motorways or national routes.
Breakdown & Emergency Services
In the unlikely event that your car should breakdown, please call either of the following numbers for motoring assistance. Irish Motorways have emergency phones at intervals, but if driving on your own, it is advisable to have a mobile phone.
- Tel. 1-800 667 788 (0800 887 766 in Northern Ireland)
- Tel. 1-800 535 005 (0800 828 282 in Northern Ireland)
Renting a Car
All of the major car hire companies have a presence in Ireland. Most cars are manual but you can hire an automatic at a marginally higher rate. Note that you must have a full clean license for at least two years and be aged between 23 and 70 to be eligible to hire a car in Ireland. Most car hire companies will also insist upon payment by a credit card.
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There are no definite rules for tipping. If you feel that you have received good service, then you may wish to leave a tip. In Ireland most restaurants and hotels add a service charge of approximately 15% to the bill. In these cases, a further tip is usually not necessary. Tipping in a pub is not necessary, unless your drinks are served to you away from the bar, in which case a small tip is sufficient. Taxi drivers generally expect a 10% to 15% tip but again, this is discretionary
Tipping Caddies
Caddies are requested for customers but cannot be guaranteed, as they are effectively self-employed. The standard cost for a caddy at most clubs is between IR£20 (€25) and IR£30 (€38) per bag. Gratuity varies depending on your satisfaction but a tip of between IR£5 and £15 (€6.50 and €20) is recommended. The rates vary from course to course and you should check with the caddy master at the course on the day of play.
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Shops generally open Monday to Saturday from 9:00am to 5:30pm or 6:00pm. In popular visitor areas, many shops stay open until later in the evening during the summer, while in larger towns and cities, there is usually late night shopping until 7:00pm or 8:00pm on Thursday evenings throughout the year. Some shops are open on Sunday from 11am to 5.30pm. On Bank Holiday Mondays, Sunday shopping hours apply. In the smaller communities across Ireland many of the local shops tend to close on Sunday and also may close on a particular afternoon during the week.
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Non-European Union residents are entitled to a refund of Value Added Tax (VAT) on the purchases they bring back home with them. Be sure to obtain the tax refund documentation from the store where the item is purchased. The refund is processed at the refund agency's counter at the airport of departure. A refund service charge is payable, and the balance due to you can usually be credited to your credit card account or paid in a currency of your choice.
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The standard voltage in Ireland is 220V 50Hz and 230/240 V 50Hz in Northern Ireland but the same plugs can be used. Plugs are 3-pin 1363 type. Most shaving sockets also support 110V with the 2-pin international shaving plug. Many hotel rooms provide hair dryers. A lot of bathrooms have two-pin 110V to 120V plugs for shavers and if adapters are needed, they can be purchased in electrical shops, borrowed from hotel reception or purchased from a shop at your departure airport.
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Travel insurance is the best way to protect yourself against financial loss and is highly recommended. The most useful plan is a comprehensive policy that includes coverage for trip cancellation and interruption, default, trip delay, and medical expenses (with a waiver for pre-existing conditions). See the Travel Insurance section in Travel Tools.
Without insurance, you will lose all or most of your money if you cancel your trip or have to cut it short, regardless of the reason. Default insurance covers you if your tour operator, airline, or cruise line goes out of business. Trip-delay covers unforeseen expenses that you may incur due to bad weather or mechanical delays. Study the fine print when comparing policies.
Before embarking on your travels, one of the most important components of travel insurance is its medical coverage. Check if your existing health insurance policy covers you in the unlikely event of medical attention and hospitalisation. If not, health insurance is strongly recommended and will provide peace of mind and cover the cost of medical bills incurred should you get sick or injured while travelling.
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Visitors who become ill while in Ireland are eligible for free emergency treatment at National Health Service Accident and Emergency hospital departments. If however, you are admitted to hospital as a patient, or referred to an outpatient clinic, you will be asked to pay unless you are a citizen of a European country or a resident of a country, which has a reciprocal health-care agreement with the Ireland.
You do not need an International Certificate of Vaccination for entry to Ireland but you should check if one is required for re-entry to your own country. Ireland does have midges (small flies) that bite and it is recommended that you purchase some insect-repellent at a chemist.
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Ireland has an excellent telecommunications network, however long distance telephone charges from hotel rooms are subject to a hotel service charge, which can be extremely expensive. To avoid this, prepaid phone cards can be purchased in post offices and certain newsagents and can be used on the numerous public telephone boxes.
Making Phone Calls
Irish telephone numbers comprise an area code and then the local number. A typical Irish phone number would be (028) 20600. Whenever dialling another Irish phone number, one should always dial the complete number (both the area code and local phone number). Should you encounter any difficulties, the local operator can be contacted toll free by dialling 10, while directory enquiries can be reach at 11811.
If calling an Irish number from outside Ireland, first dial your own country’s access code for Ireland, then the international code for the Ireland (353), followed by the area code, dropping the first 0. Taking the above number as an example, the number would be:
International Access Code + Irish Code + Area Code + Phone Number
011 (Code from the US) +353 (Irish Code) +28 (Area Code) +20600 (Local Number)
When dialling a telephone number in Northern Ireland from the Republic of Ireland the area code will always be (048) and an eight-digit number will follow this.
Important Telephone Numbers
- Emergency services: 999
- Operator Assistance: 10
- Domestic directory enquiries: 11811
- International directory enquiries: 18818
There are three GSM mobile networks in Ireland operated by Éircell ESAT Digifone and Meteor (IRL-03) and one analog network operated by Éircell. Excellent coverage can be achieved in the vast majority of the country. GSM subscribers of other networks can use the Irish networks without formality for incoming and outgoing voice calls, fax, data and SMS. On a cautionary note roaming charges are expensive and making frequent international calls can be an expensive option.
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Ireland has nine public holidays for the year when all banks, commercial offices and the vast majority of the stores close for the day.
The following days are public holidays in Ireland. Good Friday is a church holiday and commercial businesses are not compelled to close, however many companies take the opportunity to close for the day.
- Christmas Day – 25th December
- St. Stephen's Day (Boxing Day) – 26th December
- St. Patrick's Day – March 17th (If on a Saturday or Sunday, holiday is on Monday)
- Easter Monday
- First Monday in May, June and August
- Last Monday in October
- New Years Day (If on a Saturday or Sunday, then holiday is on Monday)
If golfing, one should always pack golf waterproofs, which allow easy movement. While polo shirts, light trousers and even tailored shorts may well be required; it is essential to have adequate rain gear. Because of the variable weather, clothes should be flexible enough to allow for temperature change. Between May and September, it is usually warm but a light waterproof jacket should still be packed. From October to April, heavier sweaters are recommended, particularly if spending some time outdoors.
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Ireland has become increasingly cosmopolitan. Well-travelled, well-educated and affluent Irish people are returning home from abroad and bringing back with them different experiences and tastes. The result is that there has been a quantum leap in terms of quality and variety of cuisine on offer at restaurants and bistros.
For details on restaurants recommended on this site, one should check out the Restaurant Section under "While You’re Here".
Irish restaurants, including those in hotels, usually open from 12:00 noon to 2:30pm for lunch and from 6:00pm to about 11:00pm for dinner, although these times do vary. Country establishments often tend to close that bit earlier so it is important to pre-check. Last orders are often taken up to 45 minutes before closing. Many restaurants, bistros, and pubs remain open throughout the day for coffee, light meals and beverages.
Ireland’s pubs are world-renowned and play an important role within the community. The standard opening times for licensed premises are from 10.30am to 11.30pm Monday through Saturday, while most pubs have late licences, which entitle them to serve until 12:30am from Thursday through Saturday. Some bars in the cities remain open even later, while some pubs in rural communities tend to be quite lax on the closing times. Bars generally open on Sundays from midday until 11pm.
What to Pay
The price of food and drink varies considerably depending on the type of establishment you choose and the part of the country you are in. As a general guideline, eating out in a pub at lunchtime will cost from around IR£6.00 (€7.60), while it is usually that bit more expensive in a restaurant. Dining in the evening obviously varies greatly but one can expect to pay from IR£15.00 (€20) to IR£25.00 (€32) per person for a good meal.
Pubs are generally cheaper than hotel lounges when purchasing alcoholic drinks, while prices in the major cities of Dublin and Cork are generally more expensive than other regions. A measure or "shot" of whiskey costs approximately IR£1.80 (€2.30), while a pint of beer (ale or stout) costs around IR£2.30 (€2.90) or more. Lagers are generally a little more expensive than ale or stout, such as Guinness, Murphy’s and Smithwicks.
The vast majority of patrons drink beer by the pint, while visitors should make sure to sample a few pints of Guinness on their travels. Other recommended local brews include Murphy’s, Beamish and Harp.
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