Page 358 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Ireland

356  SUR VIV AL GUIDE

Banking and Local Currency Debit and Credit Cards
Throughout Ireland you can
The Republic and Northern Ireland have different currencies. pay by card in most hotels and
The euro is the currency in the Republic and the pound restaurants, petrol (gas) stations
sterling is the currency in Northern Ireland, the same as in and many shops. An increasing
Great Britain. When travelling between Northern Ireland number of stores have
contactless technology, which
and the Republic, there’s no shortage of money-changers can be used with debit cards
in towns near the border. Check online or in the daily that have a contactless symbol
newspapers for the standard rate of exchange to give for purchases of under €30. Visa
yourself a guideline. Some tourist attractions offer money- and MasterCard are the most
changing facilities but for the best exchange rates use the widely accepted credit cards;
banks or bureaux de change. fewer businesses take American
Express and Diners Club cards.
Traveller’s cheques are largely
obsolete. A travel money card is
Banks and Bureaux at the main banks, there a good alternative – you can
de Change
are some private bureaux de preload this with money and
Banks throughout Ireland change in large towns and cities. use it with a PIN at ATMs, in
generally provide a very good As with most other exchange many restaurants and shops.
service, although opening facilities, bureaux de change
times can vary significantly. stay open later than banks. Wiring Money
Both north and south of the Check their rates first before
border, there are fewer bank undertaking any transactions. The cheapest way to get money
branches in small towns than from home is to have your own
there once were, so it’s advisable bank wire funds to a bank in
to do your banking in the bigger Ireland. This process is very slow,
towns if possible. Danske Bank logo often taking several days; it’s
In the Republic of Ireland, much faster, though expensive,
retail banks include the Bank ATMs to use a com pany such as
of Ireland, the Allied Irish ATMs or cash dispensers, Western Union (tel: 1 800 395395).
Bank (AIB), the Ulster Bank, are common in most towns
and the Permanent tsb. The in Ireland, in and outside of DIRECTORY
usual banking hours are banks on main streets, in large
Monday to Friday from 10am shops and at shopping centres. Bureaux de Change
to 12:30pm and from 1:30 to Using these machines is the
4pm, but most branches now fastest and most convenient Joe Walsh Tours
stay open during lunchtime. way to manage your money 69 Upper O’Connell St, Dublin 1.
There is extended opening while on holiday, and Tel 01 872 2555.
(until 5pm) on one day of the exchange rates are good. ∑ joewalshtours.ie
week. In Dublin, Cork and most Cards in the Plus, Link, Cirrus Thomas Cook
other cities and towns, late and Maestro networks, and Belfast Park S.C.
opening is on Thursdays. Visa and MasterCard credit Tel 084 4335 7068.
Branches of the Permanent tsb cards, can be used in ∑ thomascook.com
remain open at lunchtime and most ATMs. Travelex
up to 5pm on weekdays. Some Be careful to protect your Belfast International Airport.
rural areas are visited once or PIN at all times and avoid Tel 028 9444 7500.
twice a week by a mobile bank. using ATMs that appear to ∑ travelex.com
Check locally for days and times. have been tampered with.
In Northern Ireland there
are three retail banks: the Ulster
Bank, the Bank of Ireland, and
the First Trust Bank, along
with Danske Bank, which was
formerly known as Northern
Bank. Most are open from 10am
till 4pm, though a few close for
a lunch hour at 12:30pm.
In both the Republic and in
Northern Ireland, all banks close
on public holidays, some of
which differ from North to
South (see p55). In addition to
the foreign exchange counters Ornate post office and bureau de change in Ventry, County Kerry

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Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Practical template “UK” LAYER
(Source v1.5)
Date 5th November 2012
Size 125mm x 217mm