Page 16 - (DK Eyewitness) Back Roads Travel Guide - Ireland

14 BACK ROADS IRELAND

Communications note that the cards may not be
Telephone service is provided by interchangeable between the
Telecom Éireann in the Republic, Republic and Northern Ireland.
and by British Telecom in Northern Making calls from a hotel room is
Ireland. Irish phone numbers have generally expensive, as most hotels
a two- or three-digit area code add a high surcharge, particularly for
beginning with 0 and followed by a overseas calls. Check before dialling
local number of five to eight digits, whether there are any additional
depending on the region. When charges for local or toll-free calls.
dialling within the country, use the Mobile (cell) phones are more
full area code. It is only necessary to convenient but can be very costly,
dial the local number when calling depending on the roaming charges Above Fáilte Ireland (Irish Tourist Board)
within the same area code. levied by your service provider. Only shamrock sign for approved accommodation
When calling Ireland from abroad, digital phones with GSM and a
dial the international access code, roaming agreement will work on the Currency and Cards
followed by the Ireland country code, island. US phones need to be tri- or The currency in the Republic of Ireland
and then the local area code (minus quad-band. Money can be saved by is the Euro (€). One Euro is made up
the initial 0) and number. The replacing the phone’s usual SIM card of 100 cents. Euro notes come in
country code is 353 for the Republic with an Irish one, but the phone denominations of €5, €10, €20, €50,
and 44 for Northern Ireland. To make must be “unlocked” to do this. €100, €200 and €500. There are 1c,
an overseas call from Ireland, first dial Internet access is available pretty 2c, 5c, 10c, 20c, 50c, €1 and €2 coins.
the international access code 00, much everywhere now, with nearly Sterling is the currency in Northern
then the country code, area code all hotels, hostels and B&Bs offering Ireland. One pound (£) is divided into
and local number you wish to reach. free Wi-Fi; if they don’t, they’ll usually 100 pence. There are £5, £10, £20,
When dialling Northern Ireland let you access the Internet on their £50 and £100 notes, and 1p, 2p, 5p,
from the Republic, dial the prefix 048, computer. Most restaurants, cafés 10p, 20p, 50p, £1 and £2 coins.
and then the local number. Calls to and bars also have free Wi-Fi, though Bank debit and credit cards can
the Republic from Northern Ireland, you will of course be obliged to be used to withdraw local currency
however, are dialled in the same way use their services; there’s also an from ATMs, which are widespread
as those from the rest of the United increasing number of Wi-Fi hotspots throughout Ireland. The card provider
Kingdom: 00+353+area code (minus in public spaces, including tourist may charge for withdrawing cash
the initial 0) and then the number. offices, airports and ferry ports. abroad, but you may benefit from
There are public pay phone booths Otherwise, you could try public better rates than when exchanging
throughout Ireland, which take coins libraries, though time may be limited cash at a bank or bureau de change.
or cards. The easiest and cheapest and it may be necessary to reserve a Traveller’s cheques are fast becoming
way to make calls is to purchase a computer in advance. obsolete, but a prepaid currency card
pre-paid Callcard in the Republic The Republic and Northern Ireland is a safe alternative to carrying cash.
or Phonecard in Northern Ireland. have separate postal systems. You Debit cards and credit cards such
These are sold at newsagents, post must use Irish stamps to send mail as Visa and MasterCard are widely
offices, tourist offices and other from the Republic but British stamps accepted at hotels, restaurants, shops
outlets, in a variety of denominations. to send mail from Northern Ireland. and petrol stations, and increasingly
International phone cards are also Mail boxes are painted green and red at pubs, small businesses and
available, and can be the cheapest respectively. You can buy stamps at guest houses or B&Bs. Credit card
way to call abroad. Some are newsagents and in many shops as companies are ever more vigilant
rechargeable with a credit card, but well as at post offices. against fraud, so it is wise to let them

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