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General Visitor Information
Guidebooks and Other Information for Ireland
General Visitor Information
Discover Ireland is one of the best places
for travel information on Ireland. (www.discoverireland.ie) For Northern Ireland, check the
Northern
Ireland Tourist Board (NITB) at 1.800.326.0036.
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Passport Visa Express specializes in obtaining Passports for United States Citizens who wish to travel internationally within the next 30 days. We work directly with the U.S. Passport Agency assisting you in expediting your passport application in as fast as the same day! Our passport consultants have many years of direct experience working with the Passport Agency. |
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Your Irish Roots - Over 50 million people in the world believe they are of Irish descent. Some struggled to escape Ireland on ships in the famine, others keen to explore brave new worlds. Are you one of these people? If so this site can help you trace those roots in Ireland. Check www.youririshroots.com and see if you are Irish.
Recommended Books About Ireland
One of the things I like to do is read-up on the destination to which I intend to travel. I normally use Fodor's guides as I find them very informative and easy to read and understand.
Fodor's Ireland - No matter what your budget or whether it's your first trip or fifteenth, Fodor's Gold Guides get you where you want to go. I will admit that Fodor's is my favorite guidebook with insider information that always up to date. Every year local experts update each guide to give you the inside track, showing you all the things to see and do -- from must-see sights to off-the-beaten-path adventures, from shopping to outdoor fun.
You'd be hard-pressed to find a more comprehensive, engrossing and just plain fun-to-read guidebook than the Eyewitness Travel Guide: Ireland.
Frommer's Ireland From $50 A Day has everything you need for an unforgettable, affordable trip: Inviting places to stay, from country mansions to Victorian townhouses--for as little as $24 per person per night! Great dining at unbelievably low prices, from $6 Dublin pub lunches to a three-course gourmet supper at a cozy inn for $19. The best of the Emerald Isle: Norman castles, Celtic sites, city strolls, literary landmarks, day hikes, fishing villages, gardens, and museums--plus a complete guide to Ireland's beautiful countryside.
Ireland Guide: Be a Traveler -- Not a Tourist - This is a terrific book for the traveler returning to Ireland. It provides more detail for someone who is already familiar with the country, adding sights that may be just off the beaten path a bit.
Frommer's Ireland - You'll never fall into the tourist traps when you travel with Frommer's Ireland . It's like having a friend show you around, taking you to the places locals like best. Our expert authors have already gone everywhere you might go--they've done the legwork for you, and they're not afraid to tell it like it is, saving you time and money.
Click here for language helps, dictionaries, electronic translators, language software and other helps for learning a foreign language. Being able to speak at least some of the language in the country you are visiting will help you have a better time and enjoy your trip more. Jim.
| The two most popular points of arrival by air are Shannon (near Limerick City) and Dublin. One of the best ways to get to Ireland is on Aer Lingus (1.800.223.6537), the flagship airline for Ireland. Aer Lingus has regularly scheduled fights to Shannon and Dublin form JFK, Newark, Logan, O'Hare. Delta Airlines is a partner with Aer Lingus and also has departures daily from Atlanta. Flying time from New York is about 6 1/2 hours. |
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British Airways (ba.ccom)
flies between Cork and London Heathrow,
and between Dublin and London Heathrow and Gatwick.
| From Britain you can take a bus to Ireland, but there can sometimes be delays. Buses to Ireland from Britain take either the Holyhead-Dublin or Fishguard/Pembroke-Rosslare ferry routes. For additional information contact National Express (0207/724-0741) or Slattery's (0207/482-1604). |
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Ferry to Ireland
Irish capitals Dublin and Belfast are natural
attractions for most travelers. With daily routes from throughout the UK to
both cities and new faster crossing times from the top ferry operators traveling
to the Emerald Isle has never been easier. Other top Irish destinations include
Rosslare, Dun Laoghaire and Larne.
| Irish Ferries offers you great savings on all popular ferry routes. They use real-time online ferry booking engine to find you the best deals from the top ferry providers. Click on http://www.irishferries.com for information on booking a ferry to Ireland |
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At
Travelocity, not only can you find
the lowest fare or best schedule on over 400 airlines, but you can also
find
Great
Car Rental Deals, Low hotel rates when you click on |
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Elegant and simple! Touch the screen and hear turn-by-turn directions with
street names as you enjoy your driving experience throughout Europe. Customize
your navigation method or route, to travel safely and stress-free. The Garmin
Nuvii 370 contains premium detailed maps for all of Europe, including highways,
regional freeways and local roads with attributes such as turn restrictions, one
way streets and other navigation features. It contains general map detail for
most cities and towns throughout Europe. Metro areas listed are covered in the
greatest detail. The Nuvii 370 also displays points of interest such as: food
and drink, lodging, golf courses, theatres and cinemas, gas stations, hospitals
and more. Full Coverage available for: Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Ireland, Spain and Switzerland. Full detailed coverage in major cities of: Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Norway and Sweden. Coverage in Eastern Europe includes: Estonia (Tallinn), Latvia (Riga), Lithuania (Vilnius), Slovakia (Bratislava and Kosice), Hungary (Budapest, Balaton, Debrecen, Miskolc, Eger and Tokaj), Slovenia (Ljubljana and Maribor), Croatia (Zagreb, Rijeka and Pula, Split, Selin, Zadar, Dubrovnik and the Island of Krk), Bulgaria (Sofija), Romania (Buburesti (Bucharest) and Timisoara). |
Getting Around In Ireland
Probably the best way is by using a combination of train and bus. It is
also a great country for renting a car and doing it on your own. Buses are
cheap and there are so many of them going just about everywhere that you can
make your travel plans very flexible. Contact Bus Eireann (01/836-6111) for
more information.
If you plan to rent a car, and plan to visit both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, be sure to check with the rental agent as there may be some differences in insurance coverage. Most of the major car rental companies are there, but for local agencies, try Argus (01/490-4444 in Dublin) or Dan Dooley (1.800.331.9301). You might also be interested in ECL Chauffeur Drive (01/704-4062) which offers chauffeur-driven Mercedes sedans, minivans, and coaches.
A temporary visitor to Ireland may legally drive throughout the country providing he or she holds a valid license issued in his or her country of residence or an international driving permit. Note that the holder of a license for a vehicle with automatic transmission, for example the majority of American cars, may only drive automatic cars in Ireland.
Driving Tips for North AmericansDriving styles and regulations differ in every country. It usually takes between a few hours and a day to get used to a new driving environment, particularly if you have not driven in the country before.
If you are used to an automatic you will want to be sure and specify a car with an automatic transmission when making your reservation. Most cars in Ireland have standard transmissions and that is what you will be given if you do not ask.
When you drive the car for the first time, take it around the block at the airport a few times to get used to the controls and driving on the left-hand side of the roadTry and avoid the narrower R roads for the first day or so until you are familiar with your car and the driving environment
Take your time - drive slowly at first until you gain confidence. Watch the signs carefully!Check AutoEurope for the best in rental cars! They also can help you with your airline reservations, with some excellent air fares, make your hotel reservations, and, in several countries, even rent you a cell phone!
Car Rental
| Need to rent a car in Ireland and drop it off in another country? Getting Away and Auto Europe have joined together to allow you to rent a car in Austria and drop it in dozens of countries throughout Europe and Eastern Europe, the Middle East, the UK and even some places in Africa. Click on Auto Europe more information. |
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Want a car, but don't want to rent. If you need a car for at least 17 days, and you are at least 18 years old, Getting Away and Auto Europe can hook you up with a new Peugeot through the exclusive Peugeot Buy Back Program. Or, if you want to leave the driving to a professional while you sit back and enjoy the scenery, check out the Chauffeur Service offered by Getting Away and Auto Europe. You can also find sports cars, vans and even luxury vehicles at Auto Europe. In Australia, France, Germany, New Zealand and Spain, you can even rent a motor home. |
Air travel is not as popular in Ireland as in some other countries. However, a recent increase in the development of regional airports may soon be changing that. Some of these regional airports also have flights from the United Kingdom making them arrival points. Some of these cities include Derry City (for Donegal), Galway, Kerry, Knock, Sligo town, and Waterford.
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Elegant and simple! Touch the screen and hear turn-by-turn directions with
street names as you enjoy your driving experience throughout Europe. Customize
your navigation method or route, to travel safely and stress-free. The Garmin
Nuvii 370 contains premium detailed maps for all of Europe, including highways,
regional freeways and local roads with attributes such as turn restrictions, one
way streets and other navigation features. It contains general map detail for
most cities and towns throughout Europe. Metro areas listed are covered in the
greatest detail. The Nuvii 370 also displays points of interest such as: food
and drink, lodging, golf courses, theatres and cinemas, gas stations, hospitals
and more. Full Coverage available for: Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Ireland, Spain and Switzerland. Full detailed coverage in major cities of: Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Norway and Sweden. Coverage in Eastern Europe includes: Estonia (Tallinn), Latvia (Riga), Lithuania (Vilnius), Slovakia (Bratislava and Kosice), Hungary (Budapest, Balaton, Debrecen, Miskolc, Eger and Tokaj), Slovenia (Ljubljana and Maribor), Croatia (Zagreb, Rijeka and Pula, Split, Selin, Zadar, Dubrovnik and the Island of Krk), Bulgaria (Sofija), Romania (Buburesti (Bucharest) and Timisoara). |
Northern
Ireland
Here is a short list of things
to see and do in Northern Ireland: The scenery of Northern Ireland, the great
city of Belfast, the Mountains of Mourne, the town of Derry, the
Glens of Antrim; the Sperrin Mountains, Lough Neagh, and
the Causeway Coast are all areas worth visiting.
For additional
things to see and do, click on the
Northern
Ireland Page of Getting Away,
Welcome
to Northern Ireland, or visit the
Northern
Ireland Tourist Board site, or call 1-800-326-0036.
The currency for Ireland is the euro. At the time of conversion to the euro, the exchange rate was as follows: 1,936.27 Italian liras = 1 euro. You should check for the current exchange rate at Onada.com and get a cheat sheet.
The euro is the single currency of the European Monetary Union, which was adopted by 11 Member States from 1 January 1999. The 11 Member States are Belgium, Germany, Spain, France, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Austria, Portugal and Finland. Greece became the 12th Member State to adopt the Euro on 1 January 2001. The name "euro" was chosen by the European Heads of State or Government at the European Council meeting in Madrid in December 1995.
There will be 7 euro notes and 8 euro coins. The notes are in denominations of 500, 200, 100, 50, 20, 10, and 5 euro. The denominations of coins are 2 euro, 1 euro, 50 euro cent, 20 euro cent, 10 euro cent, 5 euro cent, 2 euro cent, and 1 euro cent.
If you have used "foreign" currency in the past in your travels, you will find that, just like using than old national currency, it is pretty much the same. The real difference you will see is when you travel to other countries in the euro area. There will be no more currency exchange - which means no more exchange commission to be paid - no more time spent calculating price comparisons, and no more time wasted shopping around for the best exchange rate.
Click on Quest for just about all the information you will need for the euro.
Driving Information
A temporary visitor to Ireland may legally drive throughout the country providing he or she holds a valid license issued in his or her country of residence or an international driving permit. Note that the holder of a license for a vehicle with automatic transmission, for example the majority of American cars, may only drive automatic cars in Ireland.
Driving Tips for North Americans
Driving styles and regulations differ in every country. It usually
takes between a few hours and a day to get used to a new driving environment,
particularly if you have not driven in the country before.
If you are used to an automatic you will want to be sure and specify a car with an automatic transmission when making your reservation. Most cars in Ireland have standard transmissions and that is what you will be given if you do not ask.
When you drive the car for the first time, take it around the block at the airport a few times to get used to the controls and driving on the left-hand side of the road
Try and avoid the narrower R roads for the first day or so until you are familiar with your car and the driving environment
Take your time - drive slowly at first until you gain confidence. Watch the signs carefully!
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Getting
Away Rental Car Finder! |
Some Things to See and Do in the Republic of Ireland
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Blarney Castle
is one of those places that it seems everyone should visit at least once during their lifetime. Garnish Island. Dublin Castle. Bunratty Castle. The Irish National Stud is a good site to visit if you are into horses. |
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When you do the Ring of Kerry one thing you must take the time to stop and see is
The Kells Sheep Centre. Don't miss it!
Muckross House and Gardens
also makes a nice stop.
| Worldwide Riding Vacations : A Global Guide - Not just a guide to dude ranches, this handsome updated edition lists more strenuous and interesting equestrian trips by continent and then by country. Printed on heavy coated stock and illustrated with many color photographs, it includes over 100 entries. Each lists the company, address, phone number, E-mail, FAX, closest airports, price, and when available. There are descriptions of accommodations, meals, activities, and the horses and riding equipment, as well as a list of equestrian travel agencies and associations. British equestrian writer Ruler writes frequently on riding vacations and is an amateur horseman. Sacks, a former college professor, now owns a horse farm. Includes several locations in Ireland for riding vacations. |
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Think you may be Irish? Click here to find out!
Some Suggestions for Dining in the Republic of Ireland
The Ireland Tourist Board offers a good guide, Dining
in Ireland.
Dublin
One of the things I really enjoy when in Great Britain is a good order of fish and chips.
Leo Burdock's Fish and Chips is a good place to find them in Dublin.
Dublin Events is a great resource for anyone visiting (or living) in or near Dublin. They have all of the current information you will need to make your visit to Ireland's Capital City an interesting and enjoyable experience including events, highlights of the city and much at the click of your mouse. With the help of Dublin Events you can plan your a short visit, overnight, "night on the town," or an entire holiday or vacation. You will also find lots of special offers that are updated regularly. And, when in town, be sure to look for their guide, "Events of the Week" which you can find free of charge in over a 1,000 places throughout Dublin. For more information you can call (+353) 056 89300 or send them an email request or question at guide@dublinevents.com or visit their website - Dublin Events
To Top
Some Favorites in the Republic of Ireland
Trinity College and the Book of Kells Exhibit.
Leo Burdock's Fish and Chips
in Dublin.
Don't leave Ireland without a drive around the
Ring of Kerry.
Ireland Business Etiquette and Culture - An excellent
guide to business culture and etiquette in Ireland.
Executive Planet™
provides valuable tips on business etiquette, customs and protocol for doing
business worldwide. Our guides are co-authored by experts in international
business etiquette, who are available to answer your questions on the discussion
board.
This guide to Ireland business etiquette and culture covers many aspects of doing business in Ireland. It is our goal to provide practical, accurate, and up-to-date tips on Ireland business culture and etiquette, written by experts in business consulting in Ireland. We encourage visitors to leave questions or comments on our discussion boards, moderated by experts in intercultural training and business. Click On: Executive Planet - Ireland
This guide contains the following articles:
Let's Make a Deal - negotiating tactics, the value of connections, recommended
business card style and content, business card protocol, sitting and presenting
yourself in meetings, language for brochures and promotional material, pace of
business, preferred presentation styles, final agreements, thinking styles,
adherence to company policy, and more on Ireland business culture . . .
Prosperous Entertaining - typical mealtimes throughout the day, best venues for
business entertaining, punctuality for social events, dinner table seating
etiquette, mealtime etiquette, importance of alcohol, toasting, guidelines for
hosting a banquet/social event, what foods should be served/avoided, accepting
and declining invitations, and more on Ireland business etiquette. . .
Appointment Alert! - typical vacation times, recommended appointment times,
length of the lunch hour, signals that indicate beginning or end of an
appointment, best arrival time (early, late, right on time), and more on Ireland
business culture. . . Gift Giving - recommended gifts, gifts to avoid, good and
bad colors for wrapping paper, how to present a gift to individuals and groups,
guidelines for receiving gifts, and more on Ireland business culture. . . First
Name or Title? - using titles such as 'Doctor', naming conventions to avoid,
when to use first names, and more. . . Public Behavior - how to greet strangers
and introduce yourself, the rules for men shaking hands with women, acceptable
demeanor, rules for eye contact, gestures/sayings to avoid, and more on Ireland
business culture. . . Business Dress - is dress modest, conservative, etc.,
specific dress requirements for men and women, what visitors should wear to
social functions, and more on Ireland business culture. . Conversation - welcome
and unwelcome topics of conversation, the role of compliments, the tone of voice
to be used, whether your hosts are physical or more reserved, and more on
Ireland business etiquette. For additional information, click on
http://www.executiveplanet.com/index.php?title=Ireland
