euro's ireland

[SLINKYKATE]

I am going to Ireland feb.1 for 5 days,coach tour,A/I
when should i get my money changed ,how much spending money will i need,i am an o.a.p.in a wheelchair so i wont be out clubbing,where do i get best exchange rate. someone said i need a passport, but someone else says i just need identification,appreciate all the help i can get fron all you young ones

[mancmo]

I have just come back from Ireland and the Euro is pretty dire at the moment. I think the rate at the moment is 1.00

The easiest place is probably the post office, but generally m&s and the travel agents are all the same rates.

Have a lovely time, bring plenty of warm clothes!!!

[SLINKYKATE]

do i need a passport

[Eve]

I was in Cork back in October and was surprised how much more expensive everything seemed to be and the exchange rate has got worse since then.

Do you mean a passport to go to Ireland or to exchange money?

[dzug]

You do not need a passport to visit Ireland. The Irish will (indeed have to) let you in without one.

However travel companies often insist on photo ID for security reasons and a passport is the easiest but not the only way of providing this.

Airlines virtually always insist - by ferry it's not often required but best to have it in case.

Best exchange rate is often a debit card in an ATM at your destination - don't know how easy it would be for you to use one though. It's usually sufficiently better to outweigh the fees your bank may charge for euro withdrawals.

[Dusty Bin]

Post Office is the easiest place to exchange your pounds for Euros. Exchange rates elsewhere will not be much better if at all and it's so straight forward at the P.O.

You don't need a passport.

This probably won't apply to you, but just in case you do have a Nationwide Flex account, I think they still let you withdraw money from cash machines in Ireland and don't charge you for doing so; very handy if you're uncomfortable with carrying all of your cash around with you every day.

[Whickerman]

if you're using atms here in ireland, they all usually take al major credit cards, as well as any card with a cirrus symbol on the back.

Exchange rate is rubbish now - sterling has lost a huge amount of value on the international markets - and the cost of living here is high enough. Allow what you'd spens on a good 5 days out in the UK and you should be ok, add 20% for comfort.

As stated, most airlines require passports but a photo drivers licence is accepted by some.