Shandy1977

Making my 2nd trip to Ireland in a week. Last time I went, about 6 years ago, I just went to the ATMs when I needed more cash. My bank did not charge me a fee at the time and the Irish bank did not either. It made it very convenient because I could get cash when I needed it and did not need to carry large amounts all week.

Is getting cash from the ATM still the most common or recommended way to have euros on hand during our travels? Is there a better/easier way you advise?

Also, do most gas stations accept credit cards, as they do in the US?

Thanks! Excited for our trip! It will be my wife's 1st visit. We were a bit worried since weather.com says it is rainy pretty much all day every day on the west coast right now and we did not want 10 days of endless rain... but reading other threads on the forum here has convinced me that 10 days of Irish rain is not as bad as 10 days of Boston rain. =)

I am sure I will have more questions in the next few days as we prepare... so thanks in advance for all your help!

P_M

Yes, the ATM is still the way to go.

Beware of merchants who want to charge your credit card in US$. This is a growning scam where they offer to charge you in US $ instead of euros but this is a bad deal because they use a terrible exchange rate. Always insist on being charged in euros.

I don't know about gas stations but I'm sure someone else can answer.

Have a great trip.

Alec

Yes, Ireland is the birthplace of dynamic currency conversion (DCC)! Unlikely to be a problem at gas stations, but anywhere else where they have a large tourist trade will try to play the scam on you, as it's to their advantage. They are usually good at asking you first - always say Euro please, repeat after me, <b>Euro please</b>!

As stated, ATM is the way to go for getting euro. Never exchange dollar bills or TCs, as exchange offices and banks give you lousy rates.

Shandy1977

Thanks for the Euro/US$ tip!
Much appreciated!

Now, my question is: Does this apply to rental cars and hotels, too? We have our car through Avis right now, and staying at large hotels like Ashford Castle, Radisson Blu in Galway, and Aghadoe Heights in Killarney. I think some may have given me my rate in US$ when I did it online. Should I go back and try to re-book with Euros? Are are the larger companies/hotels less of an issue?

Tony2phones

The $ v € thing works out about 3% extra if billed in € for small things this is negligible for car hire and Top end Hotels this can mount up. Just insist at the desk that your card is charged in € at the same price you were quoted. No need to rebook In fact with the likes of Ashford you will no doubt have received the favourable US punter rate unavailable to locals.

Tony2phones

The above should read extra if charged in $

P_M

I recently visited the Radisson Blu in Madrid. I used my credit card when booking but the final charge wasn't made until I checked out. They asked me if I wanted to be charged in euros or $ and of course I said euros. Usually the credit card is used to hold the reservation and it is only charged when you check out. But if you have pre-paid then it's too late anyway.

Shandy1977

Thanks. I thought of that after I posted, that the car hire and hotels have not really been paid for yet... just a small deposit. So it is good to know what to ask for when I check out and they make the charge. I think some, like Ashford, didn't give me the option anyway. I think some just quoted prices in Euro.