Traveling to Ireland

[imported_yovonbishop]

I leave JFK Dec. 31st for Ireland and will be returning Jan. 7th. My fiance and I have only student Visas (limit $1000 each) and don't want to carry too much cash. Since we're renting a car and have purchased the vacation as a package, we will be incurring a $400 cost at Dan Dooley Car Rental due to the fact that we're young. So that leaves us with not a lot of money (not considering the fact that the dollar is worth zilch in Europe right now). Does anyone know if most places will take those Visa gift cards? They work like debit cards, and I just want to make sure we're not wasting our time purchasing them.

Also, does anyone have an idea of how long it will take for us to get through security and such? I just want to guesstimate the times between flights and such.

Thank you and happy holidays!


EDIT: I'm wondering if I should leave my engagement ring home. I don't know how much it's worth but I'm assuming over $1500, closer to $2k. We haven't gotten it insured yet and I don't want to risk anything happening to it. I'm not really so much concerned with it being stolen, but moreso about a stone or something falling out.

What do you think my risk is? Should it stay or should it go?

 

[DainBramaged]

I don't know the answer to your question but know that I'm jealous and hope you have a good time.

 

[mooglemania85]

Originally posted by: yovonbishop

Also, does anyone have an idea of how long it will take for us to get through security and such?

Depends on whether you're planning on smuggling any illegal narcotics up your ass.

 

[imported_yovonbishop]

Originally posted by: DainBramaged
I don't know the answer to your question but know that I'm jealous and hope you have a good time.

Haha, thanks for your honesty

 

[imported_yovonbishop]

And I probably won't be smuggling in anything illegal, but thanks for factoring in all of the possible variables. Just the normal clothes and toiletries and such.

 

[mooglemania85]

Aren't there international ATMS over in Ireland? It's not like its some 3rd world hole in Africa.

 

[imported_yovonbishop]

Originally posted by: mooglemania85
Aren't there international ATMS over in Ireland? It's not like its some 3rd world hole in Africa.

There are, but like I said, I don't want to carry a ton of cash and sometimes charges don't show up immediately for payoff. So I guess I just want to know if the gift cards are accepted over there

 

[mooglemania85]

Originally posted by: yovonbishop

Originally posted by: mooglemania85
Aren't there international ATMS over in Ireland? It's not like its some 3rd world hole in Africa.

There are, but like I said, I don't want to carry a ton of cash and sometimes charges don't show up immediately for payoff. So I guess I just want to know if the gift cards are accepted over there

?
You wouldn't be carrying a ton of cash. Just withdraw when you need, like back in the states. As for your question:

linky

Can I use my Visa Gift card outside of the United States?

If your gift card states "Valid only in the United States" on the front, your provider has issued a Domestic Use Only card. Although your gift card will not be accepted at locations outside of the United States, it's welcome at millions of locations within the United States where Visa debit cards are accepted.

Make sure they're euro denominated?

Also,
Visa electron in Ireland

Can't you just call + ask?

 

[imported_yovonbishop]

Originally posted by: mooglemania85

Originally posted by: yovonbishop

Originally posted by: mooglemania85
Aren't there international ATMS over in Ireland? It's not like its some 3rd world hole in Africa.

There are, but like I said, I don't want to carry a ton of cash and sometimes charges don't show up immediately for payoff. So I guess I just want to know if the gift cards are accepted over there

?
You wouldn't be carrying a ton of cash. Just withdraw when you need, like back in the states. As for your question:

linky

Can I use my Visa Gift card outside of the United States?

If your gift card states "Valid only in the United States" on the front, your provider has issued a Domestic Use Only card. Although your gift card will not be accepted at locations outside of the United States, it's welcome at millions of locations within the United States where Visa debit cards are accepted.

Make sure they're euro denominated?

Also,
Visa electron in Ireland

Can't you just call + ask?

Thanks. Looks like we're the only 2 people running this thread right now. I could call, I just was wondering if anyone knew offhand from experience. I've gotta call a good 15 or so places before I leave, so I guess I was just trying to make 1 less phone call.

And as for the cash thing, I consider basically any cash a ton of cash. I'm terrible with cash as it always seems that I lose it. I don't know why, but I do. That, and I don't like all of the ATM fees that I incur every time I want to get out some money.

 

[Eeezee]

Visa gift cards... I don't know if that's such a good idea. A lot of places in the countryside will be cash only (euros). Also, you may get screwed on the higher exchange rate if you use ATMs/gift cards.

The best way to do any foreign country is to take the local currency with you. I know you said you don't want to take too much cash, but trust me, it will save you a ton of money (and crime isn't a big problem in Ireland from what I've seen/experienced). Find the bank that will give you the best exchange rate (those booths in the airport will massively rip you off) and buy as many euros as you'll think you need, then add an extra 100 euros just in case.

You can use ATMs, credit cards, etc. but that doesn't mean you should. In fact, there was recently a class action settlement that gives everyone a small refund if they used a debit/credit card overseas because everyone was being way overcharged; this does not mean that the exchange rate charged by your bank/CC company is as fair as it should be, though.

Dublin is a dirty old town, but be sure you take the tour of the Guinness factory if you visit.

 

[mooglemania85]

You're probably going to cringe more from the exchange rate than from the atm fees.

 

[pontifex]

take me along!!

 

[imported_yovonbishop]

Alright, thanks for the tip Eeezee. I realize a lot of the rural places in Ireland will probably only take cash, so I guess I'm not going to get out of it. And thanks for the tip on not going to the airport to exchange money. I know from my trip to Canada a while back that quite a few of the places give you a crappy exchange compared to others.

And yes mooglemania85, I know the exchange rate is going to make me cry. I'm already freaking out about it. I'm just glad we paid for the trip (hotel, car rental, airfare) a long time ago, before the dollar was worth close to nothing.

Pontifex, we're renting a 3 bedroom, 3 bathroom townhouse for a week - and at a fairly reasonable cost. So keep your eye out and go sometime!

I'll be sure to fill ATOTers in on how everything went when I get back though.

Thanks!

 

[mooglemania85]

Originally posted by: yovonbishop
Alright, thanks for the tip Eeezee. I realize a lot of the rural places in Ireland will probably only take cash, so I guess I'm not going to get out of it. And thanks for the tip on not going to the airport to exchange money. I know from my trip to Canada a while back that quite a few of the places give you a crappy exchange compared to others.

And yes mooglemania85, I know the exchange rate is going to make me cry. I'm already freaking out about it. I'm just glad we paid for the trip (hotel, car rental, airfare) a long time ago, before the dollar was worth close to nothing.

Pontifex, we're renting a 3 bedroom, 3 bathroom townhouse for a week - and at a fairly reasonable cost. So keep your eye out and go sometime!

I'll be sure to fill ATOTers in on how everything went when I get back though.

Thanks!

Be sure to post lots of pics......
















































of the fiance!

 

[imported_yovonbishop]

Originally posted by: mooglemania85

Originally posted by: yovonbishop
Alright, thanks for the tip Eeezee. I realize a lot of the rural places in Ireland will probably only take cash, so I guess I'm not going to get out of it. And thanks for the tip on not going to the airport to exchange money. I know from my trip to Canada a while back that quite a few of the places give you a crappy exchange compared to others.

And yes mooglemania85, I know the exchange rate is going to make me cry. I'm already freaking out about it. I'm just glad we paid for the trip (hotel, car rental, airfare) a long time ago, before the dollar was worth close to nothing.

Pontifex, we're renting a 3 bedroom, 3 bathroom townhouse for a week - and at a fairly reasonable cost. So keep your eye out and go sometime!

I'll be sure to fill ATOTers in on how everything went when I get back though.

Thanks!

Be sure to post lots of pics......



of the fiance!

I'll be sure to post some pics, but probably not of my fiance. He doesn't want his face on the internet

 

[mooglemania85]

Originally posted by: yovonbishop

I'll be sure to post some pics, but probably not of my fiance. He doesn't want his face on the internet

Body shots are fine.

 

[pyonir]

Originally posted by: mooglemania85

Originally posted by: yovonbishop

I'll be sure to post some pics, but probably not of my fiance. He doesn't want his face on the internet

Body shots are fine.

"he" and body shots are not needed.

 

[mooglemania85]

Originally posted by: pyonir

Originally posted by: mooglemania85

Originally posted by: yovonbishop

I'll be sure to post some pics, but probably not of my fiance. He doesn't want his face on the internet

Body shots are fine.

"he" and body shots are not needed.

:laugh:

I don't know if the OP is male or female. However, I make enough assinine requests for pics of the women that I feel obligated to be pc and balance it out now and then by requesting pics of the guys.

 

[BarneyFife]

Get American Express Travelers checks.

 

[imported_yovonbishop]

Originally posted by: mooglemania85

Originally posted by: pyonir

Originally posted by: mooglemania85

Originally posted by: yovonbishop

I'll be sure to post some pics, but probably not of my fiance. He doesn't want his face on the internet

Body shots are fine.

"he" and body shots are not needed.

:laugh:

I don't know if the OP is male or female. However, I make enough assinine requests for pics of the women that I feel obligated to be pc and balance it out now and then by requesting pics of the guys.

Well, it's no secret I'm a female. But thanks for being PC :laugh:

 

[imported_yovonbishop]

Originally posted by: pyonir

Originally posted by: mooglemania85

Originally posted by: yovonbishop

I'll be sure to post some pics, but probably not of my fiance. He doesn't want his face on the internet

Body shots are fine.

"he" and body shots are not needed.

Thank you.

 

[Farang]

Don't worry so much going to Ireland is no different than taking a trip to Maine or Charleston or someplace in the States. Immigration doesn't care about you and money is easy to get.

 

[imported_yovonbishop]

Originally posted by: Farang
Don't worry so much going to Ireland is no different than taking a trip to Maine or Charleston or someplace in the States. Immigration doesn't care about you and money is easy to get.

Well I'm glad to hear that immigration doesn't care about me. Although I might feel differently when some man is going through my undergarments

 

[tontod]

Get money from ATMs there. I've been to Europe a few times, and the transaction fee is very minimal, it wasnt bad at all. Its going to be better than taking a bunch of cash and exchanging it for euros there.

 

[imported_yovonbishop]

Originally posted by: tontod
Get money from ATMs there. I've been to Europe a few times, and the transaction fee is very minimal, it wasnt bad at all. Its going to be better than taking a bunch of cash and exchanging it for euros there.

I was afraid the fee would be ridiculous, but if it's not that bad, I suppose I'll give it a shot considering most of my other options seem crappy. Thanks!