Wanderlust: Warm and Welcoming Ireland

Ireland is where strange tales begin and happy endings are possible.

Charles Haughey 

Ireland is like your favorite local bar where everyone is happy to see you the moment you walk through the door.

Rebecca Lake Pool 

Quick backstory:

My Husband is Bolivian 🇧🇴. After we got married we delayed our honeymoon for a little over a year until he received his green card because we wanted to travel to Europe. We were originally planning on going to Italy and London for our honeymoon because I was pregnant and in my second trimester. I figured I could eat for two in Italy 🍝 and see shows 🎭 in London. However, this was my first time traveling with a non US Citizen and my husband’s first time traveling out of the states since he moved here. We found out the day before leaving for our trip that he needed a visa for Italy and England.🤦🏼‍♀️ Whomp, whomp, Whomp! 

So on a moment’s notice we scoured the internet for places we could visit visa free. Ireland was willing to welcome us with open arms! 🤗 We unpacked our warm weather clothes, packed up our cool rainy weather clothes, booked a hotel in Dublin, rented a car, changed our flight, and headed out for a 10 day trip! 

I’ll break up our experiences into several blog posts so they are shorter to read. (We don’t want to bore you! 😉)

First up, things to do and know before you go: (some of these tips apply to any international travel) 

1. Ireland is a pretty small country. You can rent a car and drive around it. (If you’re feeling adventurous. We were and did since we had very little planning time.)

2. When you rent a car in Ireland you either need to pay for rental insurance or put down a large deposit. We have rental car insurance on our credit card so we didn’t want to waste money purchasing the rental insurance from the car rental place. It would have cost 415 Euros. We opted for the deposit. Our deposit was 1200 Euros and was not expected so it did put a strain on our budget. (It was refunded when we returned the car.) We recommend taking pictures of the car before you leave the lot and send them to your email so they are dated.  

3. If you’re driving around Ireland, it’s important to note most cars are manual and they drive on the left side of the road. Also the roads are incredibly dark at night, even the highways. 

4. If you’re a US citizen (or Bolivian Citizen) you don’t need a Visa to visit Ireland. (You do need your passport🛂). Make sure to double check well in advance if you’re a citizen of another country for visa requirements. 

5. If you want to use your phone while traveling internationally make sure you call your phone company to update your plan to include international. Ask them about their options so that you can save money. It’s very expensive to make calls and use data while traveling. Pro Tip: turn the data off on all your apps before leaving. If you don’t, you may be using data that you’re not aware of. (I have a million apps so this was huge for me.) Putting your phone in airplane mode will keep you from using data but allow you to still take photos and videos. 

6. It’s usually rainy and chilly in Ireland. We packed light weight rain jackets with hoods and comfy hiking/walking boots. We ended up wearing the jackets and boots most days.

 

7. Check with your bank about foreign transaction fees. If your bank doesn’t have them, I find I get the best conversion rate taking money out of the ATM. If your bank has foreign transaction fees, make sure you order Euros in advance from your bank. We used euros for taxis and tours. 

8. Take photos or make copies of the front and back of your credit cards, passport, and any other IDs you’re bringing with you and leave them with someone you trust at home. (I left ours with my mom). This way if you lose them or they are stolen you have the information accessible. Write down important phone numbers and keep them with you. 

9. Pick pocketing isn’t huge in Ireland but it’s still good to get a travel purse that protects against it. This is the one I used: 

Travelon Anti-Theft Classic Essential Messenger Bag, Black, One Size https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005AIIA4A/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_FkV0EbB26AY5A

10. Did you pack your toothbrush, toothpaste, underwear, socks, chargers and meds? (The things I always forget.) Make a list and have someone else check it for things you didn’t think of and check them off as you pack. ✍️

11. Speaking of chargers. If you’re from the US, you’ll need outlet adapter for anything you want to plug in. Something like this:

UK, Hong Kong, Ireland Travel Adapter Plug by Ceptics – Usa Input – Type G – Safe Grounded Perfect for Cell Phones, Laptops, Camera (3 Pack) – Dual Inputs – Ultra Compact – Light Weight (CT-7) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MZD5T3E/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_drV0EbYS912Q8

(Ireland uses a type G electrical outlet) 

12. Label your luggage with your info before you get to the airport and put a hair tie or ribbon on your luggage so it’s easily identified. 🧳

13. Make sure you know where the embassy is just in case you need it. It’s good to know!  

14. Leave extra room in your suitcase to bring home whiskey🥃(or other souvenirs). Just remember to keep each checked bag under 50lbs.

15. Don’t forget things to do on the plane. ✈️(Headphones, switch, charges, etc.) Bring gum to chew during taking off and landing! Pro Tip: I like flying at night so I can sleep on the plane when heading to Europe. 

16. This is the most important part.….download Galway girl by Celtic Thunder to your music and listen to it on your plane ride to get you into that Irish mood. 🇮🇪🎵

Hey you! We know you love travel, Disney, and a little imagination. So do we! Subscribe to our blog and you’ll never miss a single tip, story, or recommendation!