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some questions:Do I just need one passport or do I need to do something special if travelling to two or three different countries in one trip?Where can I find the exchange rate for dollars to Euros? If I convert my money to Euros is it better to do that here or in Europe? (Ireland uses the Euro, right?)Is renting a car called "hiring a car" in Europe? If my auto insurance covers car rentals, would it cover it in Europe as well? Found out if you travel to Belfast in a rental, you need additional insurance. Need to find out how much more that is.Dublin to Cork is about 150 miles in a straight line. Approximately how long a drive would that be if going along the Irish Sea coast? Are the highways pretty big (can you drive fast?) in Ireland? Also, is Cork a fairly large city with a lot of hotels?Are the ATM's and use of credit cards pretty much the same as here?
some questions:Do I just need one passport or do I need to do something special if travelling to two or three different countries in one trip?
Highly likely just one passport. I think generally if you stay longer than 30 days in a country you are supposed to get some sort of visa, but not for mere tourism.
Where can I find the exchange rate for dollars to Euros? If I convert my money to Euros is it better to do that here or in Europe? (Ireland uses the Euro, right?)
Banks will point to the rate, though it will differ depending on where you go. I think that airports have a worse exchange rate than banks do. I think you may want to exchange a small amount in the U.S. so you have it when you arrive, but not too much.
Is renting a car called "hiring a car" in Europe? If my auto insurance covers car rentals, would it cover it in Europe as well? Found out if you travel to Belfast in a rental, you need additional insurance. Need to find out how much more that is.
Not sure about the "hiring a car", though sounds very possible. I think your insurance company would be able to tell you if it covers you in Europe, since the policy may differ depending on the company.
Dublin to Cork is about 150 miles in a straight line. Approximately how long a drive would that be if going along the Irish Sea coast? Are the highways pretty big (can you drive fast?) in Ireland? Also, is Cork a fairly large city with a lot of hotels?
From what I recall driving through Ireland, there were not many big highways. The route we took from the western part to Dublin was beautiful, with many winding roads through green and purple mountains (smaller ones, that is) and valleys. Manual transmissions are the norm there (I think) because of mileage, and remember you're driving on the left side of the road with the steering wheel on the right. Cork is a large city and should have a decent number of hotels there.
Are the ATM's and use of credit cards pretty much the same as here?
Yes, and from what I recall these are pretty convenient. Check the exchange rates on them, though.
Thanks! Hmm, not too sure about the car now if the roads are like that, but I do like the freedom a car gives. If “hire” is rent, an automatic is about $500/wk and a manual is $200. So are you saying the exchange rate is different for credit cards? Have to check that out more.
I think fees could vary based on ATM and perhaps by the issuing bank. Here are some accounts of people using ATMs to withdraw money in Europe. Seems somewhat inconsistent to me.http://www.ricksteves.com/graffiti/graffiti81.html
some questions:Do I just need one passport or do I need to do something special if travelling to two or three different countries in one trip?
One passport is all you need. Most of Europe is in the Schengen zone so most crossborder travel is just like travelling to a different state in the states.. you only need to stop at the border post if you want a stamp because they are cool.
Where can I find the exchange rate for dollars to Euros? If I convert my money to Euros is it better to do that here or in Europe? (Ireland uses the Euro, right?)
Here is a good site to check exchange rates: http://www.oanda.com/convert/classic Remember you will not get the interbank rate. Banks charge a premium for converting currency. Avoid the airport exchange places if at all possible, they are rip-offs charging 5-10% more than elsewhere.
Is renting a car called "hiring a car" in Europe? If my auto insurance covers car rentals, would it cover it in Europe as well? Found out if you travel to Belfast in a rental, you need additional insurance. Need to find out how much more that is.
Not familiar with renting a car in Ireland, but you might want to look into getting an international drivers license. There is no test, and you should be able to get one at your local DMV or they can tell you where to go, where I live it as at the county clerk's and costs about $5.
Are the ATM's and use of credit cards pretty much the same as here?
Your ATM card should work at just about every machine. Credit cards are a different matter. In my experience, they are not widely accepted except in tourist areas. In France you can use your CC to pay tolls though. ATm fees are variable but also generally higher than in the states. An ATM fee of 5 Euro per transaction was standard 3 years ago but it may have went up since then, your bank will probably also charge you a percentage of foreign currency withdrawals as well, I would check with my bank first.Thats about all I can think of. Hope you have a good trip.
Thanks, probably not going to be for another year or so. And who knows, when I take Ancient Greek, I may end up going to Greece instead.But then again, if the Ireland Rugby team is going to be the powerhouse I suspect it to be next season, then Ireland it is. I'd love to see a major rugby tournament match over there.
Before you go I should be able to give you more specifics. I will have been in Europe for about a year then. I plan on traveling to England to visit family, my mom is English.
The real adventure is figgering out how to flush the commodes. Every one seemed to work differently.Then there was the experience of getting locked in the restroom in Munich airport but that is another story :-[
