Ireland (Lonely Planet, 9th Edition) - Fionn Davenport [625]
For greater detail, map aficionados and walkers should look out for the Ordnance Survey Discovery series, which covers the whole island in 89 maps at a scale of 1:50,000. They’re available at the National Map Centre (Map Click here; 01-476 0471; www.mapcentre.ie; 34 Aungier St, Dublin), through www.osi.ie and many bookshops around Ireland.
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MONEY
To get a general idea of food and accommodation costs in Ireland, Click here and Click here, respectively. Tips of around 10% are expected for metered cabs and in restaurants where the service charge isn’t included.
ATMs & Credit Cards
Most banks have ATMs that are linked to international money systems such as Cirrus, Maestro or Plus. Each transaction incurs a currency conversion fee and credit cards can incur immediate and exorbitant cash-advance interest rate charges.
Charge cards such as Amex and Diners Club don’t have credit limits, but may not be accepted in smaller establishments. Visa and MasterCard are more widely accepted, though some rural B&Bs and some smaller or remote petrol stations still deal only in cash.
Remember to keep a note of the emergency telephone number to ring if your cards are lost or stolen.
Cash & Travellers Cheques
Most major brands of travellers cheques are accepted in Ireland. Amex and Thomas Cook travellers cheques are widely recognised; branches don’t charge a fee for cashing their own cheques. Travellers cheques are rarely accepted outside banks or used for everyday transactions. Eurocheques can be cashed in Ireland, but special arrangements must be made with your home bank before you travel if you are thinking of using personal cheques.
As for cash, we suggest you arrive with some cash in the local currency (both euros and sterling, if travelling to the North) to tide you over.
Currency
Ireland’s currency is the euro (€), which is divided into 100 cents. While the notes are all the same throughout the 12 countries of the euro zone, the Irish coins feature a harp on the reverse side – though of course all non-Irish euro coins are also legal tender. (Remember that the UK is not a participant, so if you’re travelling to Northern Ireland you’ll have to change euros into pounds.)
The British pound sterling (£) is used in Northern Ireland, where it is known as the Northern Irish pound. Northern Ireland notes, while equivalent in value to British pound notes, are not readily accepted in Britain, but British banks will swap them for you.
The best exchange rates are obtained at banks. Bureaus de change and other exchange facilities usually open for longer hours but the rate and/or commission will be worse. Many post offices operate a currency-exchange facility and open on Saturday morning. Exchange rates at the time of writing are on the inside front cover of this book.
Taxes & Refunds
Value-added tax (VAT) is a sales tax of 21.5% that applies to most luxury goods in Ireland, excluding books, second-hand clothing, and children’s footwear. Visitors from non-EU countries can claim back most of the VAT on purchases that are subsequently exported from the EU within three months of purchase.
Most shops in the Republic and Northern Ireland operate a taxback scheme – the most popular are Cashback and Ireland Tax Free – which operate roughly as follows: if you’re a resident of a country outside the EU and buy something from a store displaying a Cashback or Ireland Tax Free sticker, you’ll be given a relevant voucher with your purchase which can be refunded directly on to your credit card or in US, Canadian or Australian dollars, British pounds or euros at Dublin or Shannon airport; one advantage of Ireland Tax Free is that you can reclaim your tax at the nearest Travelex office, usually Thomas Cook.
If you claim more than €250 on any of your vouchers you’ll need to get the voucher stamped at the customs booth in the arrivals hall at Dublin or Shannon airport