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a) What is the currency
in Ireland?
The Currency in the Republic of Ireland is called
the euro, the symbol is a  .
This currency came into use 1 January 2002 and is the common
currency shared by many EU countries. If you are traveling between
Ireland and mainland Europe check to see if you can use your
Irish euro in that country.
Currently in euro denominations consist of: 500,
100,
50,
20,
10
and 5
notes, and 1
and 2
coins. Coins come in denominations of 50c, 20c, 10c, 5c, 2c
and 1c. The "c" refers to cent.
For more information on the euro, visit the website for the
ECBI, .
In Northern Ireland, the currency is the same as that
of the UK, which is not part of the euro system of currency
at this time. This includes Northern Ireland. If you are traveling
between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland you will
be required to obtain sterling currency. You can exchange your
euro for Northern Ireland sterling once you reach Northern Ireland
very easily.
In Northern Ireland, the currency is the same as that of the
UK. Currently denominations consist of: £100, £50,
£20, £10 and £5 notes, and a £1 coin
as well as 50p, 20p, 10p, 5p, 2p and 1p coins. The "p"
refers to pence, or pennies.
Note: Ireland has two countries residing on its shores
and as such there are two forms of currency and are *not* interchangeable.
If you cross borders in your adventure remember to exchange
your money at one of the appropriate places.
b) What are the exchange
rates?
The exchange rate fluctuates daily. The rates you
hear and read about that are posted at the end of the day may
not be the rate that is available at opening of business the
next day, but it does not fluctuate greatly within a day. However,
seasons of the year can pretty much dictate the range that you
can expect. Winter rates are considerably lower than Summer
rates because it's low tourist season. Peak tourist times of
the year will yield peak rates. On the average you can estimate
about $1.35US for every 1
Euro, as of March 2010.
Note: Every country will have their exchange rate that
corresponds with the euro. The US Dollar is given as the most
even exchange example. Here is a handy . Remember that most exchange rates are based on
the wholesale conversion between banks so your rate may be a
bit higher if you're exchanging cash or travelers checks.
c) Should I bring
cash or travelers checks?
Never, never, never, never....never travel
with large amounts of cash. Travelers Checks are the safest
form of currency if you're going to bring money. If lost or
stolen then can be replaced quickly. If you carry cash and it's
lost or stolen there is no replacing it. Period. American Express
and Thomas Cook both have offices in Dublin and are the most
reliable. Bring a small amount of your country's currency to
cash at the airport bank to get you through your first day in
Ireland, or until you can get to a bank to cash in your traveler's
checks. If the airport bank is closed, your ATM card should
work in the ATM machines in the airport terminal, usually located
beside the bank. Check with your bank to see what the foreign
transaction fees are, and also ensure your ATM card is linked
with CIRRUS, PLUS and/or ACCESS to ensure that it will work
in Ireland.
Note: The exchange rates are higher in airports for
this convenience of access, so only withdraw what you think
you'll need to get you to the bank. However, your own bank's
foreign transaction fee will be the same regardless of the amount
of withdrawal.
Also: Traveler's checks work slightly different in Ireland
than in America. They cannot be used like cash to make purchases
in shops or to pay for accommodation. You will be required to
show your passport when cashing any amount of traveler's checks.
d)
Where do I exchange my money?
The best place to change money is in one of the
main banks. Their Bureau de Change counters in banks usually
offer a better exchange rate than the Bureau de Change services
offered in some of the tourist sites. It pays to shop around,
as there is a big range of rates offered.
Most widely recognized banks in Ireland:
e) Will Irish money
machines accept my ATM card?
Ireland has a wide network of ATM machines but you
may find that the more remote areas do not have very many, if
any at all. The ATM's belong to the major banks in Ireland (eg:
Bank of Ireland, Allied Irish Bank, Ulster Bank, etc). All banks
accept cards that have the CIRRUS, ACCESS or PLUS symbol. These
machines will also give cash from your Visa, MasterCard, American
Express and Diners Club. Not all machines take all of these
but they will all take most of them.
Note: Check with your issuing bank as to the cost associated
with using the ATM network while in Ireland. There may also
be a foreign transaction fee on top of the regular bank fee.
Check with your bank to see which of your accounts is your
primary account, as you will not have a choice of what account
to withdraw money from here. Money is automatically drawn from
a primary account, which is generally the checking account.
Also, your pin number will not change once you're in Ireland.
f) What credit cards
are accepted?
While all major cards are accepted in Ireland (ie:
MasterCard, Visa, American Express, etc) you will find that
only larger businesses take them. A lot of smaller business
do not take credit cards, so ask a sales clerk before you try
and make purchases with them. If you are staying in B&B accommodation
and want to pay by credit card then check that they accept credit
cards when making your booking, as most B&Bs prefer cash,
or only take cash.
g) Is there a sales
tax? What is VAT?
The tax you will pay in Ireland is called Value Added
Tax, or VAT, and, depending on the purchase, can run from 12%-21%.
You will rarely ever see this tax though because it is already
added to most purchases. If you see an item selling for 10
it already has the VAT added to it. Many shops offer and you can reclaim this tax before departure.
is available only at your departure site.
Note: In most restaurants you will usually see the
words "service charge" on your bill which is in addition
to the tax. See below about tipping.
h) What is the rule
for tipping?
Restaurants:
When you get your bill for the meal you should see a Service
Charge of about 10-12% at the bottom. This is the gratuity/tip
that is divided up between ALL restaurant staff, not just your
server. If the Service Charge is already added to the bill there
is no need to leave more money unless you fee that the service
was exceptional and that the server went over and above normal
services. If this is the case, depending on the cost of the
meal, an additional 5-10% can be left on the table for the server
or given to them by hand directly.
Some restaurants won't have a Service Charge so tipping 10-15%
of the total bill is standard. Often, the restaurant will have
a bowl at the register for tips. It's customary for patrons
to leave the coins they received in change from their bill in
the bowl which is divided amongst all of the restaurant staff.
Note: If the service was poor, alert the manager so
that the bill can be adjusted to remove the Service Charge.
Or leave no additional tip after paying.
Pubs:
It's not customary to tip bar staff unless:
You've been sitting at the bar for some time and ordered
several drinks. In this case it's customary to either
tip the cost of a pint (usually 4-5),
or "stand" the barkeep a drink. This means to
offer to buy the barkeep a drink, which he'll usually
consume with you over a brief chat while standing at the
bar.
If you're seated in a lounge setting or at a table and
one wait person has been serving you for the evening.
In this case the customary tip is around 10% of the total
bill every time the wait person brings a tray of drinks
to the table. If you're sitting alone or with one other
person then a couple euro every other trip made by the
wait person is OK.
Remember that Irish pubs don't normally offer floor/table service.
You're meant to order your drinks from the bar yourself and
take them to your own table. But if one of the bar staff does
service your table, be sure to reward them.
Accommodations:
See
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