From About Ireland Travel and Lonely Planet:
Money Costs The collapse of the economy in the space of six short months over
late 2008 and early 2009 has left the country in a state of flux: prices are
coming down in many areas, but they’re coming down from such a height that
to many visitors Ireland remains a pretty expensive destination. For a decade,
Irish wallets were at the mercy of a rip-off culture that stung everybody,
including visitors, who felt it most when it came to bed and board. In Dublin,
the bare minimum to survive is about €50 a day: €20 to €25 for a
hostel and €20 for sustenance, which leaves enough for a pint. If your
purse strings are a little more relaxed, you can get a decent bed for around
€80 in the capital, €60 outside of it. For €120 you can sleep
pretty luxuriously most anywhere except those very special places. Outside the
capital things are a little better, but not much: if you’re in a tourist
hot zone, it’ll be reflected in the prices, which are only marginally
better than in Dublin. Although restaurants are closing down all over the
country, the new economy hasn’t resulted in a marked decrease in the price
of food. For less than €10, don’t expect much more than soup and what
comes between two slices of bread. Very ordinary meals will cost €20 or
more; the better restaurants won’t blink twice when charging €35 for
fish in a fancy sauce. In Northern Ireland, the bite isn’t as deep. The
‘rip-off Republic’ tag that for so long dogged the south wasn’t
as much of an issue north of the border, but it certainly hurts them if they go
south: exchange rates make the eurozone very expensive for anyone using pounds
sterling (as they do in Northern Ireland, which is part of the UK). Once in the
north, though, you can get by on £35 a day without too much bother if
you’re on a budget and limit yourself to hostels or self-catering
accommodation. Accommodation costs generally mirror the Republic, but
you’ll find real savings in food – you can get excellent two-course
lunches in lots of good restaurants for £10 or less, while main courses in
Belfast’s best eateries range from £14 to £18. Car rental is
costly throughout the island. Be sure to check your car-insurance policy back
home before accepting the exorbitant insurance policies offered at car-rental
agencies. If your credit card usually covers car-rental insurance, confirm that
the policy applies in Ireland. ^ Back to top Money Tips of around 10% in
metered cabs and in restaurants where the service charge isn’t included
are expected. ^ Back to top Cash & travellers cheques Nothing beats cash
for convenience – or risk. It’s still a good idea, though, to arrive
with some cash in the local currency (both euros and sterling, if travelling to
the North) to tide you over. Amex and Thomas Cook travellers cheques are widely
recognised and they don’t charge commission for cashing their own cheques.
Eurocheques can also be cashed in Ireland. Travellers cheques are rarely
accepted outside banks or used for everyday transactions (as they are in the
USA). Take most cheques in large denominations. It’s only towards the end
of a stay that you may want to change a small cheque to make sure you
don’t get left with too much local currency. ^ Back to top International
transfers The most practical way to receive money from overseas is by
telegraphic transfer. There are two ways to do this. The first can take up to
eight days through the banking system. Your bank sends money to an Irish bank
nominated by you. You will need identification, most likely a passport, before
the money is paid to you in euros, minus the transfer commission. The
quickest way to receive cash from home is to transfer it through Amex, Thomas
Cook or Western Union. It is not practical to receive money by bank draft.
Irish banks are notorious sticklers about drafts and won’t allow you to
cash them unless you first open a bank account, a small bureaucratic nightmare.
Even then, it can take three weeks to clear. If you’re not planning a long
stay, stick to telegraphic transfers. ^ Back to top Taxes & refunds
Value-added tax (VAT) is a sales tax of 21% that applies to most luxury goods
in Ireland, excluding books, children’s footwear and second-hand clothing.
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 reclaim 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 before you can get your refund
from the Cashback desk. In Northern Ireland, shops participating in the
Tax-Free Shopping refund scheme will give you a form or invoice on request to
be presented to customs when you leave. After customs have certified the form,
it will be returned to the shop for a refund.
Weather Thanks to the moderating effect of the Atlantic Gulf Stream,
Ireland’s climate is relatively mild for its latitude, with a mean annual
temperature of around 10°C. The temperature drops below freezing only
intermittently during winter, and snow is scarce – perhaps one or two
brief flurries a year. The coldest months are January and February, when daily
temperatures range from 4° to 8°C, with 7°C the average. In
summer, temperatures during the day are a comfortable 15° to 20°C.
During the warmest months, July and August, the average is 16°C. A hot
summer’s day in Ireland is 22° to 24°C, although it can
sometimes reach 30°C. There are about 18 hours of daylight daily during
July and August and it’s only truly dark after about 11pm. One thing you
can be sure of about Irish weather is how little you can be sure of. It may be
shirtsleeves and sunglasses in February, but winter woollies in March and even
during the summer. And then there’s the rain. Ireland receives a lot of
rain, with certain areas getting a soaking as many as 270 days of the year.
County Kerry is the worst affected. The southeast is the driest, enjoying a
more continental climate. When to go The Irish weather works on the ‘four
seasons in a day’ principle, which basically means that you
can’t predict a thing when it comes to the behaviour of the sky. Some
basic assumptions, however, can be made. In summer, from May to July, the days
are reasonably warm and – most importantly – very long: at the height
of summer you won’t need to turn on lights until after 10pm. It is also
peak tourist season, which means there are far more people just about
everywhere but the most remote corners of the island, and prices are at their
highest. Not surprisingly, most of the yearly festivals occur during these
times so as to take advantage of the crowds and the more favourable weather.
Spring (February to April) and Autumn (August to October) make good
alternatives, although the country’s ever-growing popularity as a tourist
destination can often blur the lines between mid- and high-season tourism.
Still, you have a better chance of some peace and quiet, and the weather can be
surprisingly better in April and September than in mid-July – again,
it’s all part of the uncertainty principle. Spring festivities include the
ever-popular St Patrick’s Festival. Although temperatures will barely
venture below freezing, winter (December to February) can be brutal, but huge
parts of the country – the west and northwest in particular – are at
their savage and beautiful best in the cold winter light. Crowds are at their
thinnest, but many of the country’s tourist attractions and services close
down in October and don’t reopen until Easter, which paradoxically leaves
visitors with a more convincing taste of how Ireland is experienced by most of
the Irish: it’s cold, grey and dark by 5pm, but there’s always a pub
to escape into when the rain starts sheeting down. |
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