Ireland is a magical, enchanting place steeped in culture and tradition and is a must to visit when you’re in Europe. Before hastily packing your bags and crossing your fingers for that Irish luck to be with you when you travel though, it helps to know certain things about Ireland so that you start on the right foot and expectations about your vacation are managed.
Your travel actually begins with the research you make about the country and there are various sources of information which you can access. Internet sites abound on the topic and these provide you with anything and everything you need to know about the country. For your purpose of traveling certain details are more relevant as well as handy for you to know and to understand.
Ireland is basically a basin-shaped island with a land area approximating 26,000 miles rimmed with mountains (except for Dublin) and where the sea is never too far from any place. Best known around the world for its traditional Celtic music, Irish pubs and mystical land formations, Ireland is a melting pot of cultures boasting of an estimated population of 5.5 million. English is widely spoken around, as well as Irish (or Gaeilge as more commonly known) with most road signs, street names and most public facilities written in both languages. A sterling pound is the form of currency in Northern Ireland whereas the Republic of Ireland uses Euros.
First-time travelers to Ireland should remember to prepare the necessary travel documents such as visas and passports. British born citizens only need to carry their identification cards. This applies as well to citizens of the EU, Norway and Switzerland who shall only be asked to present their national identification cards. All visitors from other countries must carry a valid passport and in some instances, a visa for entry to Ireland. This can be applied for at Irish embassies and consulates abroad.
Should you fancy touring Ireland by car, planning and preparation should again be your first consideration. One helpful website to browse would be http://www.irishmotoring.ie. The site provides useful information for those who would like to drive around Ireland – ranging from rules of the road, application for provisional licenses, car rentals, crossing borders, driving tips, penalties, even up to buying or selling a car in Ireland. Buying a local map or a guidebook would also help you significantly in planning your road trips.
You can also get around Ireland through a variety of ways. Internal flights are a bit limited because it is a small county but there are flights from the capital city Dublin to most other cities and counties around such as Cork Kerry, Shannon, Galway and Belfast among others. There’s also a rail service and a bus network which is more extensive and cheaper than taking the train in most cases. And for traveling across seas, there is the ferry service where it is also advisable to check out island boat schedules due to the weather changes.
Weather can indeed be quite unpredictable in Ireland so it would do you good to pack appropriate clothing such as warm and waterproof gear. You can also check out the Irish Government Meteorological Service guide on the web for weather forecasts and statistics and for Irish towns you may also check out http://www.wunderground.com/global/IE.html
For emergencies you only need to dial either 999 0r 112 and you will be patched through a central operating system which will help direct your concern to any of the related services - the hospital ambulance, the local police, the Marine Rescue services or the Mountain Rescue Services.