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 ELSIE'S TIPS FORTRAVELING SMART IN IRELAND

It is our wish at Elsie from England that you have the mostenjoyable, stimulating, yet relaxing and anxiety-free holiday in Ireland.  To this end, we offer information, tips,and some advice that we trust you will find helpful before and during your trip.

BANKS:                 

CLOTHING:           

Casual wear, sweaters, and jeans for sightseeing: jacket and tie or cocktaildress for fine dining.  Rainwear andcomfortable shoes are advisable.

CURRENCY:           

The national currency is the Irish pound (punt).  There are 100 pence in the Irish pound.  Notes are issued in denominations of50.00, 20.00, 10.00, and 5.00 punts, while coins are issued in denominations of1 punt, 50 pence, 20 pence, 10 pence, 5 pence, 2 pence and 1 penny.  Punts can be purchased at foreignexchange departments at US banks or at any bank in Ireland.  Check with your bank for currentexchange rates.

CUSTOMS INFORMATION:           

Customs operates on the red and green channel system.  Visitors to Ireland are are allowed 142.00 Irish punts worth of goods(about US$200 or Can$300) per adult (73.00 Irish punts for those under 15 yearsold), 200 cigarettes, 1 litre of spirits, 2 litres of wine, 60ml of perfume, and250ml of eau de toilette.  USvisitors can take home US$400 worth of goods per person, including 200cigarettes and 1 litre of spirits or wine. Canadians are allowed Can$500 worth of goods per person, including 200cigarettes and 1.14 litres of spirits or wine.

DISABLED TRAVELERS:        

Ireland has many facilities and accommodations suitable for the disabled.  If Elsiefrom England is planning an independent itinerary for you and you have a need toaccommodate a disability, please advise us as soon as possible so that the righthotel or B&B may be booked for you.

DOCUMENTS:        

A valid US or Canadian passport is required, along with an airline ticketshowing departure from Ireland. No visas or inoculations are required.  For non-US or non-Canadian citizens, orfor information on permanent residency or work permits, please contact thenearest Irish Consulate for entry requirements and visa information.  HINT: If you are taking prescriptionmedication, have a copy of the prescription with its generic name together witha note from your doctor, in case you need a refill en route.

DRIVING RULES ANDHINTS:        

Ireland is a compact country with a good road and motorway system.  It is therefore easy to get around ifyou remember to DRIVE ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ROAD.  The changeover is not difficult, but youmust remain alert, especially when making turns or entering roundabouts (trafficcircles), or on little-traveled roads where it is easy to forget.  Driving on the left means keeping thecentre line of the middle of the road NEXT to the steering wheel.  Always look right when setting off andovertake on the right.  Give way tothe right on roundabouts.  Trafficcoming from the right has the right of way and you must yield.  An advantage of roundabouts is that ifyou're not sure of the exit, you can keep going 'round and 'round until you aresure.  Unless signs indicateotherwise, speed limits are 30mph in cities, 55mph on the open road, and 70mphon the motorway.  Mileage is postedin both kilometres and miles.  Seatbeltsmust be worn at all times by drivers and passengers.  Ireland has a strict drinking anddriving law, so please DO NOT DRINK AND DRIVE. 

ELECTRICITY:

Electric current is 220 volts (50 cycles): plugs are flat with three pins.  A transformer and adapter are needed toconvert American appliances, except for dual-voltage equipment, which needs onlyan adapter.

HEALTHINSURANCE:          

The Irish National Health Plan does not cover US or Canadian visitors.  Check withyour insurance agent to see if coverage is available to you while you're out ofthe country.  If it does not, Elsiefrom England offers inexpensive health coverage for the period of your trip.

HOTELS:           

Ireland offers a wide variety of accommodations to suit all tastes andbudgets.  These range from luxuriousfive-star properties to economical hotels. Rental accommodations are also available in castles, cottages, houses,and apartments.

LIQUOR LAWS:           

Bars are open in summertime from 10:30am to 11:30pm Monday-Saturday,closing a half-hour earlier in winter.  OnSundays, bars are open from 12:30pm to 2pm and from 4pm to 11pm all year.  Nightclubs and discos operate until 2am.  Some have full licenses and others serveonly wine.  If you are travelingwith children under 18 years old, check on the pub's policy regarding under-agechildren before settling in.

PETS:

All animals entering Ireland are quarantined for a period of six months.

POST OFFICES:         

Generally open 9am to 5:30pm, Monday-Friday.  Closed Saturday and Sunday.

RAIL TRAVEL:           

Intercity passenger trains run between Dublin and cities and towns throughout Ireland, although travel in Ireland is best doneby car.  For your convenience when combining trips to Ireland andBritain, a BritIreland rail pass is available, which includes sea crossings.  The pass must be purchased beforedeparting the US or Canada.

RESTAURANTS:                       

Ireland starts out with the critical element forgreat food: superb natural ingredients.  Withits ample, rich pastureland, it boasts some of the finest dairy products in theworld: rich cream, delicious butter, and a growing number of world-classcheeses.  Surrounded by the sea,Ireland also harvests an amazing variety of fish and shellfish.  There are many places to eat, frominexpensive snack shops to expensive Epicurean dining establishments. To eatinexpensively, pick a spot with a "Tourist Menu" sign in the window,which means you'll be served a three-course dinner at a reduced rate, or opt forearly-bird or pre-theatre specials at city hotel restaurants.  Also, pubs offer quality, down-to-earthfare, but remember, pub hours can be tricky and smoking can be a problem,although many pubs have now designated their eating areas as non-smoking.

SHOPPING:                      

Shopping hours are from 9am to 5:30pm Monday throughSaturday, with late-night shopping until 8pm on Thursdays in Dublin and at mostshopping malls on Thursdays and Fridays.  Many larger stores are open Sunday from noon until 6pm.  Duty-free shopping is available at allinternational airports.  Ireland hasplenty of renowned, high-quality merchandise such as crystal, knitwear, tweeds,fine linens, antiques, silver, pottery, and Irish whiskey.

TAXREFUNDS:                       

The price of most goods includes VAT (value-addedtax).  As a visitor, you can havethis sales tax refunded at the end of your trip. Be sure to ask for a tax-free shopping form with each purchase and followthe simple instructions.  Redeem allyour checks at the ETS desk at Dublin or Shannon airport on your way home, orhave them stamped by customs and mail them in the international Freeportenvelope.  If you're traveling on to another European Union country, youcan save all you ETS checks and redeem them all at once upon leaving the EU.

TELEPHONES:                       

Phone the US and Canada from Ireland by dialing 00(international access code), 1 (US and Canada country code), the area code, andthe telephone number.  Irelandoffers card phones that use prepaid calling cards sold at telecentres and postoffices.

THEATRE:                      

Theatre in Ireland is highly affordable, withtickets starting as low as US$15.  Majorconcerts and special shows start at around US$30.  Dublin is full of small and thriving theatres.  The atmosphere in these small theatresis eager, friendly, and sky-high with enthusiasm. An excellent guide to what's on is In Dublin, a biweekly publicationwidely available in the city.

TIME:                     

Ireland is 5 hours ahead of Eastern time.  Ireland adopts daylight savings time afew weeks before the US. 

TIPPING:                      

Most hotels and restaurants add a service charge of10-15% to the bill.  Small tips areappreciated for good service.  Tippingisn't usual in pubs.  Tip cabs 10%and porters 50 pence per bag.

WEATHER:          

Ireland has a mild, temperate climate with summer temperatures ranging from60 to 70 degrees F.  The temperatures in the spring and autumn average inthe 50s F, and in winter average in the 30s and 40s F.  Showers can occurat any time of the year.