A Few Misc Questions
 

Hey all,

In June, my two daughters and I will be visiting the south and west of Ireland. I can't begin to tell you how excited we are, but I have some things I am clueless about and seek help from those of you in the know:

1) I assume I need to get an electrical adapter, is Ireland fully on the type G (as used in the UK)? Do I need voltage adapters?

2) How's the bug population? Do I need to pack bug repellent?

3) Will my DVD's work or are there specific regions that they work in?

4) The only cell phone I have is from work. Should I leave it home and buy a prepaid? I certainly don't want to wrack up huge fees for my employer. I don't need to make calls, it's more for emergency or calling ahead to where we are staying.

Thanks for any help.

The Irish electrical system is as the UK no need for converters if your equipment is modern duel voltage, Hair dryers and (Irons?) things that generate heat run Hotter because of the frequency basically use the accommodation provided or buy a cheap one rather than burn out expensive US kit..

Bug Repellent? if you are planning on exploring woodland or bogland in the summer cusp perhaps April/May or September/October provided its not raining or windy.. You can buy this over here if needed but I have never used any despite living in the forestry.. The SIL has an antihistamine injection from the Dr before she comes over because she is highly sensitive.

DVD's don't know some (very few & usually Pirate) are region sensitive only you will know that.

Cell phones (Pay as you go) are available from Tesco Supermarket and give good coverage plus 1 or 2 cent calls to overseas numbers http://www.tescomobile.ie/ a phone will cost under €35 including €10 credit which should be more than enough for a few weeks.

Thanks Tony. As always, your knowledge is appreciated.

Tony is plainly wrong on DVD's. Assuming you are American, then DVDs you have at home are Region 1 encoded, whereas Ireland is in Region 2. Furthermore, the US uses the NTSC system whereas Ireland is PAL like (most of) the rest of Europe. Unless you have a multi-region DVD player with full PAL/NTSC compatibility (I have a Sony one, but they are pretty rare), it simply won't work. You'd be far better bringing movies etc already downloaded on a laptop/tablet.

PS: on electrical equipment, it's nothing to do with the frequency that causes US high consumption equipment to overheat in Europe - it's the fact they are designed to draw sufficient current from a much lower AC voltage that causes the problem.

I accept the correction on DVD's as said "I don't know" My DVD player plays anything except some dodgy car boot kids stuff that only plays on the laptop.

US electricity runs at 50 hz Ireland runs on 60 hz . Hz being frequency. But again I'm a Mechanical/Petrochemical/Production engineer at BSc levels not an electrician. ;)

My $17 travel hairdryer from Walgreens is dual voltage - http://www.walgreens.com/store/c/stu...157200-product

With the phone, check if it is a worldwide phone (many older Verizon phones only work in the US). If it is, then make sure that it is unlocked (you may need to call the carrier to find out). If it is worldwide/unlocked you can purchase a SIM card in Ireland.

I once had a dual voltage US travel hairdryer....until the 110 to 220 switch refused to turn and the whole thing ended up in a trash can in my room at Trinity College. I later brought an inexpensive dryer in a grocery in New Ross.

I was able to get ATT to unlock my mobile and purchased a SIM at Tesco for very few euros. The problem came when I came home, put the original SIM back in and had lost all my contacts. I will brain this out before the next trip.