Irish Travel Tip of the Day

Take pictures of Signs, Plaques and Maps. Irish signs can be both interesting as photo subjects and helpful in reconstructing your trip. Some of the town names and locations can be difficult to remember and spell. Having a photo will make it easy to remember and be in sequence with your other images. Take pictures of the site signage as well with the details of the site. These are often quite wordy and having a picture makes it easy to read at your leisure. I've also taken a picture of an area map that shows several sites and reviewed on the camera throughout the day. Close up of plaques will give you the detail of the full statue image you just took.

Irish Travel Tip of the Day

If you check the box that says you've been on a farm or in a pasture on your return trip paperwork, you'll have to pull out the shoes you were wearing and have them sanitized. There is usually a separate line at the airport that you have to go through that is marked Agricultural. Either wear the shoes on the plane or have them easily accessible in your luggage. It isn't easy to be in Ireland without being in a pasture at some point. Allow some cushion if you can as this process can take some time.

Irish Travel Tip of the Day

When you arrive at the airport, don't be cheap. Rent a cart (one or two Euro) for your luggage, you'll usually get it back when you return the cart. It will lower your stress, and make looking for a rental car or other transportation easier. You'll probably have a long walk to the car and carrying all your luggage will be tiring. This is especially true in Dublin Airport but applicable to Shannon as well. Many grocery stores charge for the carts as well, but return the money when you return the cart.

Irish Travel Tip of the Day

Rent your car online prior to leaving, it is cheaper and easier than negotiating at the airport. Use Irish Car Rentals as they have the best prices. Get a manual if you can drive one, they are a lot cheaper than an automatic. Make sure you allow for people and luggage in your vehicle choice. Get the smallest car possible, the roads are narrow, but make sure you are comfortable and have room for your luggage. We found the Opel Zefira to be a good choice when traveling with older people. It is easy to get in and out of and holds a good deal of luggage. It sits up a bit higher than a car allowing for better visibility.

Irish Travel Tip of the Day

Take travel adapters for your electronics when traveling from the US to Ireland. Irelands electricity supply is 220 volts at 50hz, whereas the United States uses 120 volts at 60hz.
Make sure that your electronic device can switch to accommodate 220 otherwise you'll need a travel converter (most include one each of the different adapters).
The plugs in Ireland look like the first two images below. Your normal plug goes into the back. I usually carry about 3 or 4. The second image is a good travel converter with different plugs. Don't forget your battery chargers for your phone, camera and GPS! (see the Digital Ireland Travel checklist)

Irish Travel Tip of the Day

How to purchase and drink a pint of Guinness. The first key is to go to the bar to place your order. If you get a seat at a table, it would be a good while until someone comes over to take an order. Place your order with the bartender, pay if he asks or if you're only having one pint and then go sit down. Guinness takes awhile to pour properly and unless there is one partially poured, it will take a few minutes. Keep an eye out for the bartender to signal you that your pint is ready. Go back up to the bar and collect it and return carefully to your table. You don't want to spill it after all this time.
At this point techniques will vary. I've heard you can tell by the rings of foam on the inside of the glass you can tell the nationality of the drinker. If there are 12-15 rings, you're American. If there are 8-12 rings, you're English. If there are 5-8 rings, you're Irish. If there is 2 or less, you're Australian. In any event, you can choose your method and enjoy your pint.

Irish Travel Tip of the Day

Scampi can have a different meaning in parts of Ireland. Most people would assume that scampi refers to shrimp cooked in butter and herbs. We saw scampi on the menu in a restaurant and asked for it, they were out. We returned a few nights later and, oh joy, they had it. When it arrived it was shaped more like a pack of gum than a shrimp. On further investigation it proved to be a fish stick. They were fine as fish sticks go, just not an adequate substitute for shrimp when your mouth is set on it. The waitress confirmed that scampi meant "fish fingers" there. The Irish couple next to us said that they always thought it meant shrimp too. The lesson is to look for "shrimp scampi" or ask what the waiter believes scampi to be.

Irish Travel Tip of the Day

Sign distances posted could be in miles or kilometers, and are often not labeled with either one, just a number. Most are in kilometers now, but some signs in miles still linger. Distance also depends on the route. There is more than one way to get anywhere on the back roads.

Irish Travel Tip of the Day

Take reusable grocery bags to the grocery stores. You will be charged for shopping bags (as much as a Euro each), and it is easier to bring your own (sturdier) ones. We brought a couple nylon mesh grocery bags from home and kept them in the car. The bags at IKEA that sell for .59 are great as well. Dunnes Storeshave bags you can purchase for about 2 Euro that are large and reusable and make a good souvenir.

Irish Travel Tip of the Day

Sit at the bar if you want to talk to people. If you sit at a table they will assume you want to be left alone. You'll get service and not much else. If you sit at the bar, you're fair game. Buy a round or a pint for people at the bar, and you're sure to be popular.

Irish Travel Tip of the Day

I take a good many pictures when I travel to Ireland. I've used point and shootto larger fixed lens cameras to DSLRs.
My mileage varies as will yours. The trade off is portability vs. image quality. The point and shoot fits in your pocket or small bag, but you won't get the nice interior shots in low light that you can with a DSLR.
Of course you could be a tourist and use the flash, blinding everyone in the pub and disturbing the poor musician causing him to drop the family fiddle onto the flagstone floor. OK, you don't want to be that guy (or gal). Learn how to use your camera, turn off the flash and bump up the ISO setting.

Photo Tips

Consider staying in cottages for a week at a time instead of traveling constantly. This allows you time to scout photo locations and return in the morning or evening. It is also easier to only unload your luggage once a week rather than every night. If you're staying in B&Bs or cottages, ask your hosts about sites in the area that you can visit either that day or the following day while you're in the area. We stayed in a B&B called Moher Lodge (highly recommended) near the Cliffs of Moher. Our hostess told us to go there after hours near sunset and we wouldn't have to pay and we'd be pretty much the only ones there. On the Dingle peninsula we received some good tips from our hostess Phil at the Suan Tra Cottages (highly recommended as a central location in Co. Kerry).

Irish Travel Tip of the Day

Stop and "smell the roses," you may not go by this place again. Give yourself some extra time when driving between locations and don't overplan your day.
Unless of course, you are near a pig farm, then keep those wheels moving.

Irish Travel Tip of the Day

Get a map of Ireland, city maps are helpful too, especially in Dublin.
It may not always help, but at least you'll see where you should be. We live and die by our multi-paged atlas and make notes and highlight locations we want to visit. It doesn't show all roads, but enough to get around the back ways and figure out where you are. Combine this with the GPS features on your phone or GPS unit and life is good!

Irish Travel Tip of the Day

Guinness is better in Ireland. No, it is not because you're there or on vacation. It does taste better, has less preservatives, and you'll have less after effects. Do not try to keep pace with the gentleman at the bar who's matching you drinks, he'll win.

Irish Travel Tip of the Day

Directions from a local should be taken with a grain of salt. Getting a second opinion will probably make it worse.

Irish Travel Tip of the Day

Irish road signs are posted at the road entrance. No advance notice is given. Be prepared to backtrack a lot. Drive a bit slower for self preservation and to read the signs easily. Signs are often partially covered by overgrowth on less traveled roads or missing altogether.

Irish Travel Tip of the Day

Most music doesn't start in pubs until half nine (9:30) at the earliest, in spite of what the sign, bartender, or fellow who fiddles says. They are probably getting you in earlier to increase your Guinness intake.

Irish Travel Tip of the Day

Ireland is green for a reason! Take rain gear (umbrellas don't fare well outside the city), but don't be surprised if you don't need it. Irish weather can change hourly. Dress in layers.
Ireland is green for another reason, watch where you walk, the countryside is well fertilized.

Irish Travel Tip of the Day

Climb fences, climb hills, and go through gates to get to sites. Ask permission if there is someone around. If so, you may be charged a nominal fee. Most of the good stuff isn't where the tourists go. Watch for small road signs indicating landmarks, monastic sites and other points of interest. Watch for interesting stone piles on a hill or in a field. Take the back roads, you'll see a lot more.