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Whenever you visit a foreign country, it’s always best to have a good idea about what you will encounter once you finally arrive.
If you’re looking for some tips and tricks for your long-awaited Ireland road trip, then you’ve come to the right place. I’ve put together a detailed guide to help you navigate around Ireland and hopefully make your trip hassle-free!
Having a Proper Itinerary
Believe it or not, the number of travelers who either forget to plan or don’t start planning until they set foot in their destination is truly mind-boggling.
If you don’t want to run into any inconveniences, then it’s best you put together a travel itinerary before you visit Ireland. With some countries, you can just go with the flow, but with Ireland that won’t be the case.
A good way to start creating an itinerary is to first look at which airport in Ireland you’ll be landing in. That’s usually your starting point; from there, the rest is pretty simple as you find interesting tourist spots close by. Then, naturally, you want to end up at your final destination by the end of your vacation period.
Ireland and Northern Ireland Differences
When traveling through Ireland, you must know the difference between Ireland and Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland comprises 6 counties which are all a part of the United Kingdom. Ireland on the other hand is an independent country. Usually crossing over from one to the other is unnoticeable (there is no concrete border separating the two) but, there are certain things you should be wary of.
You have to pay a large fee to cross over to Northern Ireland. The currency used in either parts is also different (Ireland uses Euros whereas Northern Ireland uses Pounds), so you might want to check the conversion rates before you travel.
Arranging Transportation
No matter what country you choose to visit, finding proper transportation is always such a chore. Assuming that you aren’t traveling with the help of a travel agency, an easy way to get around is to use public transport in Ireland; the two most obvious reasons for this are that it’s both cheap and easily accessible.
However, the public transportation service in Ireland is infamous for its delays and cancellations. Now, this doesn’t automatically mean that all services are bad. Some means of transportation are great, but they are up there in terms of price. If you’re ready for that extra expense, then by all means go through with it. Otherwise, you might want to do some digging around to find a public transport service that’s both affordable and well-reviewed.
Renting a Car
In my opinion, if you want to make the most out of your road trip, then renting a car would be the best option. With that being said, hiring a car in Ireland can cost you an arm and a leg; long story short, rent-a-car services can get expensive if you aren’t careful. Make you check around and compare prices thoroughly.
The rent-a-car industry in Ireland can be sketchy and confusing, so anyone who isn’t aware or well-informed might end up paying more than what’s necessary. In such a circumstance, you have to do thorough research or take the help of a local guide.
Driving in Ireland
Although some roads may be narrow or tricky, they aren’t as bad as they are made out to be. Before you head out to bring your rental vehicle, you can practice a little in order to learn the traffic rules of the country. With some practice, you can easily get used to the roads and it’ll be like you never left home.
Preparing for Any Weather
One of the most crucial parts of preparing for your road trip is to have everything you need to tackle all sorts of weather. Irish weather is all over the place and it doesn’t matter if it’s summer: it will always be unpredictable! It can go from sunny to stormy in the blink of an eye. So, with that in mind, pack accordingly. If you’re going to wear your favorite shorts, then you might as well bring some trousers and a light hoodie as well.
Being Unconventional
A road trip should be adventurous, so why not drive the roads which aren’t often traveled? Ireland is a gem of some of the most breathtaking natural landscapes. Taking the conventional roads might deprive you of all that beauty. Of course, in order to do that, you must have good knowledge of the roads and their conditions. Make sure you ask for directions so you don’t get lost!
Getting a Heritage Card
A Heritage card will come in handy when you’re on a budget. This card allows you access to different heritage sites all over Ireland for one year. All you have to do is look for a website that will provide you with the card and pay a set amount of money (rates are higher if you are traveling with family). After that, you’re good to go.
Smart Shopping
Assuming that you aren’t a European traveler, you will often get a tax refund for certain purchases (mainly things you will be able to carry in your hand luggage, like souvenirs). It doesn’t apply to anything else, however, so keep that in mind when you’re paying for hotels or regular items.
Getting a Dublin Pass
If you happen to cross Dublin during your trip, you have got to get a Dublin Pass. This card, like the Heritage card, is also intended to save you some money. It’s a sightseeing card that allows you to visit some of Dublin’s most renowned tourist attractions (e.g., the Dublin Castle).
Tipping in Ireland
Unlike the US, tipping isn’t customary in Ireland But of course, it’s warmly accepted by anyone you choose to tip. However, this practice is usually only carried out where people are served food.
Irish Festivals
Now, St. Patrick’s day isn’t the only thing that’s celebrated in Ireland. You may have heard that Ireland hosts a lot of festivals – some are localized while others are widely celebrated all across the country. An example of a localized festival is the Puck Fair in Killorglin. It’s already August, so if you are visiting now, try and visit Killorglin to attend the fair.
Drinking Responsibly!
The Irish are known for their alcohol, so if you’re in for a drink then you won’t have to look too far. But remember to keep yourself updated with the Irish drinking laws and don’t go over your drinking threshold in order to avoid any trouble.
Getting Acquainted with Irish Culture
Drinking isn’t the only thing that’s interesting about Irish culture. Ireland has a lot of variety which includes loads of literature, music, art, language, and, of course, Irish mythology.
Understanding Irish Slangs
Lastly, let’s look at two tips that will help you socialize. If you’re going to get around Ireland, might as well get yourself acquainted with both the slang and jokes. Let’s start with the slang. If you watch Jacksepticeye (a popular Irish YouTube content creator), you might have heard a few here and there, but that’s not enough. Irish slang differs depending on both the region you’re in and the age of the people you’re talking to. It might get a little confusing, but it’s nothing a little google search can’t solve. Some common ones include ‘bang on’ (to be correct about something), ‘acting the maggot’ (fooling or messing around), ‘coddling ya’ (to be tricking someone), ‘How’s she cuttin?’ (How are you?), and ‘locked’ (to be very drunk).
Understanding Irish Humor
To finish off, we’ll look at Irish humor. No conversation is life without a few jokes, right? Well, Irish humor can be difficult to understand. From an outsider’s point of view, a joke might sound offensive or rude, but that isn’t the case at all. So don’t get thrown off when you catch a few buddies bickering in a pub. It takes a little time to get your head around it, but once you do, your trip is going to go from good to epic.
Safe travels, and good luck!
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