Irish Fireside Travel Tips
by Irish Fireside Listeners and Readers

iPod Roadtripping
We used our FM transmitter to play and charge our iPod while traveling. We had special playlists of our favorite Irish music for each region we visited. We even played the Irish Fireside podcast for the Rock of Cashel as we drove from Cahir Castle.

– Dan, Portland, OR

Fold Those Mirrors
Fold in your mirrors when parking on narrow Irish Streets. This will help assure they are still attached when you return. The spring-loaded mirrors are also very forgiving when you get a little too close to a wall or hedgerow. – Tom P. Narrabri, NSW, Australia

Bring Your Walking Shoes
I packed four pairs of shoes on my first trip to Ireland and only ended up wearing one -- my most comfortable walking shoes. – Debbie, Burlington, IA

It's Not A Flea Market
When we asked about flea markets, our host suggested a Boot Sale. The name comes from vendors selling their wares from the boot (or trunk) of their car. Sundays are popular days for boot sales. – Jenny C. Plymouth, MI

Choosing A Credit Card
Capital One was the only credit card I could find that didn't charge a 1% international Service Fee for purchases made in Ireland. – Rudy, Milwaukee, WI

Plan For Rain
We used our hooded rain jackets for four days straight in Ireland. While other visitors were fighting umbrellas in the wind, we marched right passed them staying high and dry. – Michelle and Mike, Waukesha, WI

Get Your Fill
Irish gas stations have a fantastic supply of pre-made sandwiches and salads. They tasted great and they were a lot cheaper than food in restaurants. – Carrie, Evanston, IL

E-mail Family & Friends
There was an internet shop in each town we visited. This allowed us to keep in contact with home for just a few euros a day. – John & Em, Chicago, IL

Count Those Bags
Many airlines have different baggage restrictions for transatlantic flights than for flights within Europe. Our two checked bags from Boston to Dublin were over the limit when we traveled from Dublin to Amsterdam on another airline, and we had to pay extra – Roger, Boston, MA

Stick To One Color
I always wear black when I travel to Ireland. That way all my pants, shirts, sweaters and shoes are interchangeable. I then add colorful scarves or jewelry…many that I purchase while traveling…to punch up the outfit. Blues, grays, browns, greens and khakis also work well. – Barb, Milwaukee, WI

Dinner In A Manor House
We couldn't afford to stay in a castle, but we did splurge and had an amazing dinner at a old manor house. It was the best meal of my life, and the setting was so gorgeous. – Shannon, Palm Springs, CA

Just For Honeymooners
My daughter let her B&B hosts know she and her husband were on their honeymoon when she made reservations. Each host had something special waiting for the newlyweds when they arrived. – Rhonda, St. Louis, MO

DART To Malahide
After two days in Dublin, my girlfriend and I took the DART (train) to Malahide. We loved the views of the ocean and then had a romantic stroll around the grounds of the castle. – Bart, Johnson Creek, WI

Get Some Direction
Before we left for Ireland, I printed driving routes from www.aaroadwatch.ie. The directions and distances were very helpful. However, their drive times were way off...we only averaged 35mph in Ireland. – Kelton, New York, NY

Let 'Em Know You Care
Take a moment this month to tell your favorite Irish website hosts how much you enjoy their site. After talking to the honorees of our Best Websites list, we discovered that a little positive feedback goes a looooooong way! – Corey & Liam, www.irishfireside.com

Tax Free Shopping
We got over €200 back by turning in our Tax Refund forms at the airport. We asked for the forms at stores when we purchased gifts we were taking home. Of course, we ended up spending it all at the at the airport Duty Free. – Terry, Atlanta, GA (Visit irelandexpert.com/abcs_vat_7-16-99.htm for more information on tax free shopping)

Free Photo Downloads
I use www.kodakgallery.com to upload my photos while in Ireland. I just visit an internet shop, upload the pics and print them when I get home. Meanwhile, I can email my family links to my galleries so they can to see what I've been up to. – Erica, Galveston, TX
(also try www.flickr.com, www.photobucket.com and others)

Rental Car Photo Op
Before we leave the airport parking lot, we use our digital camera to take pictures of our rental car from every angle. Not only will we have documentation of previous damage, but after a week, we also have fun comparing the photos of the shiny,clean car with the mud covered one we are returning. – Jack, Menominee, MI

Great Deals With Email
I get offers all the time for cheap flights, hotel bargains and other deals for traveling in Ireland. I simply signed up for email updates from some of my favorite websites including www.discoveryireland.com, www.shamrock.org, www.aerlingus.ie and www.tripadviser.com. – Chris, Ormond Beach, FL

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