Ireland is famous for its vast, green landscapes and lovely views over the Atlantic Ocean. Getting to Ireland is not easy, however. It can be expensive to travel there because it is one of Europe’s furthest points.
If a visit to the Emerald Isle is something that you are interested in pursuing then it is vital to meticulously plan your trip. Not planning could prevent you from getting the most out of your vacation to Ireland.
This post will offer a detailed guide designed to help you effectively plan your trip to Ireland:
What locations do you want to visit
One of the advantages of visiting the Republic of Ireland is that you will then be able to visit the nation’s island territories, like the Aran Islands. You can get to the Aran Islands from Doolin, a popular village on Ireland’s west coast. Create a list of all of the places that you like to visit before flying to Ireland so you don’t miss anywhere important.
Booking hotel rooms as early as you can
When you are taking a travel to a foreign country it is a good idea to try and save as much money as possible. This is especially true when you are travelling to Europe, one of the world’s most expensive countries to live and travel in. Booking your hotel rooms several months in advance of your trip can be a highly effective way of saving yourself money. Hotels usually give travellers discounts of up to 10% when they book early. Booking early also helps you to ensure that you secure rooms in your chosen hotel.
Organising your flights and using coupons
Hotel rooms aren’t the only thing that you should book in advance, you should also book flights early. Booking your flights early will help you to save money and guarantee that you get plane tickets. Ireland is an immensely popular travel destination, so it is not uncommon for hotels and airlines to sell out fast. Another way of saving money on flights is to use coupons. There are a lot of different airlines that offer coupons and discount codes. If you have a credit card then you may also have points built up that you can use to save money on airline flights.
Planning out each day’s activities in advance
A holiday isn’t a holiday if it isn’t filled with fun activities. Unless you are staying in Ireland for a long period of time then it is a good idea to plan each day’s activities several weeks before you fly there. Planning each day’s activities early will make your trip much more manageable. Waking up and trying to think of activities every day will cause you a lot of unnecessary stress. If you are travelling with friends and family then consult them and ask what kind of activities they are interested in.
Check your travel destination’s weather forecast
Ireland is notorious for rain and bad weather. Unless you enjoy to spend the entire duration of your trip stuck indoors, check the weather forecast. The difficulty with checking the forecast is that you can only see it one or two weeks in advance. Use an online weather prediction tool to get an idea of what the weather will be like at your time of travelling and then check the forecast to confirm everything prior to flying out.
Exchanging local currency for euros (or pounds)
Don’t forget to change your local currency for euros or pounds. You will get a better conversion rate if you change money domestically, rather than in Ireland. Northern Ireland is a part of the United Kingdom and therefore the nation’s currency is the British pound. Some stores will still accept euros, however. The Republic of Ireland is part of the European Union and only accepts euros. You will have trouble finding stores that accept the pound.
Visiting your local Irish embassy
Depending on where you are traveling from you may need to get a visa. The best way to find out whether or not a visa is required is to visit your local Irish embassy.
Ireland is an exciting, beautiful, and diverse island nation located a stone’s throw from Great Britain. On your visit there you could take the opportunity to cross the channel and visit Wales, England, or Scotland too. Wherever you decide to go make sure that you meticulously plan your trip. The better the planned vacation is, the more enjoyable it will be.