I guess you guys don't do direct deposit in the UK? Here in the US I would say most people get their checks deposited via direct deposit so the only time they have to do a manual deposit is if they get a personal check or something. But my laugh in Dublin was more that there were three separate machines for each transaction. Everywhere else there were combo machines where you could do everything, why not in the airport?

Of course we have direct deposits but we also receive personal cheques!

With regard to the separate machines - I think it's quite a sensible idea - it means that if you just want to check a statement, for example, you aren't clogging up the ATM queue.

Mike, If you are headed out of the terminal to the car rental area, we saw an ATM machine just outside the doors (but still inside the building) on the right. There might have been one on the left too but I seem to remember the one on the right more.

We only had one incident of DCC at the Highlands Hotel in Glenties, Co. Donegal. One place to have US cash is if you go to Belleek Porcelain. I discovered that I got a much better rate if I paid cash and had the items shipped back to the US. Since I saved VAT, it only cost $10 to ship a rather large box. Kathie

shamrock,

Back to your question. I like to have about 100euro when I arrive for peace of mind. I get mine from my bank at a high rate or at my point of departure at a higher rate. Hotels will of course take your credit cards. I found a few guesthouses would give me a better rate if I paid in cash. Therefore taking out a good amount from an ATM. Also I think many B&B want to be paid in cash. Get a few euros, arrive in Dublin and use ATMs all over Ireland. Be sure to tell your banks.

Joan

I like having some cash before I arrive so I bought about 300 euros through my bank before we left with no fee. At the time I thought the exchange rate was a bit high but my friend kept exchanging dollars in Ireland and always paid a higher rate.

I used my debit card at an ATM for more cash and I used my Capital One credit card for shopping and the hotels and transportation since they don't charge a conversion fee (or didn't last year anyway).

Both times I have gone to Ireland I have returned with exactly 2 euro in my pocket. It sits on my dresser reminding me that it is ready to go back!

Response to Monica Richards, Dublin is not in the Uk. i just thought that should be pointed out, i mean no disrespect by this posting but felt it needed clarifying!

I know that, but the person who posted about needing to make deposits on business trips WAS from the UK.

The first person to make any reference to deposits was yourself when finding humour with the three seperate machines.

markgg, what are you trying to prove? I am satisfied that Monica knows that Ireland is not part of the UK, and that she had a context reason for mentioning the UK where she did.

My strategy for making the most of my travelin' moolah:
We bring about $200 US dollars to convert at the airport in an emergency (broken/closed ATM or such)- the rate to exchange isn't great BUT if we HAD to we could. I use the ATM all the way and carry the Euros in a $ belt.

Using a credit union ATM card (star, I think) means that we only have to pay 1% when the Euros taken out on vacation are converted on our statement- there are NO transaction fees. Thus we get the best exchange rate at the day the transaction from Ireland is posted at our bank and the 1% fee- that's it.

We pay cash 99% of the time (I pre-pay my car rental from home on the credit card) and always make sure that if we use a credit card that we are charged in EUROS. Although I understand the 1% fee for exchange, I hate paying the add'l 3% fee tacked on by the issuing bank of my credit card just because I don't think they deserve it.

As for being in Ireland and trying to always do the conversion to see what it "costs"- well, on one hand I agree with the others, on the other- sometimes ya gotta weigh the costs (especially if you are on a budget). I recently helped a friend and this came up- so I told her that if she couldn't do the exchange rate in her head very quickly then she should do the pre-planning budget in Euros before she left. (round up the exchange rate a few extra % and you'll have a better chance of staying on budget).

:) Dawn

<<I told her that if she couldn't do the exchange rate in her head very quickly then she should do the pre-planning budget in Euros before she left. (round up the exchange rate a few extra % and you'll have a better chance of staying on budget).>>

Or you could print out a cheat sheet from one of the online conversion sites such as http://www.oanda.com

The cheatsheets are the size of a credit card and show euros to dollars and dollars to euros. After checking it for a few days you'll get a good grasp of what you're spending.

So, it's cheaper to pay ATM fees than to go to a bank once in Ireland and exchange currencies?

<i>&quot;So, it's cheaper to pay ATM fees than to go to a bank once in Ireland and exchange currencies?&quot;</i>

Absolutely . . . .