Can you seasoned travelers tell me if they provide hair dryers in the accommodations on the Best of Ireland tour? Any tips on things provided in the rooms would be appreciated.
Hotels may be different on different tour dates. About a month before your tour, RS will post a list of hotels for your entire tour inside your tour account. You can go on their websites and see what they provide. You can also email them to get specific information.
That said, I have found that virtually every hotel in Europe has a hairdryer in the room. However I have not been to Ireland.
I've now been on two Rick Steves tours, going on three, and I have yet to find a hotel without hair dryers. If you can't find one in your room, ask the front desk. There was one occasion (France) where it wasn't in the room because they were short staffed, but they did have them at the front desk. I have long curly hair and never travel with a blow dryer, especially to Europe.
I don't know about the Ireland tour but I've been traveling overseas for decades and no hotel (or B&B for that matter) has ever not had a hair dryer. In fact the only hotel I've ever been to that did not have a hair dryer was a crappy Comfort Inn outside Chicago.
In the UK I assumed our hotels didn't have hair dryers until I stumbled upon one inside the desk drawer. I then learned that there's something in UK safety regulations about not having an electrical appliance like a hair dryer in the bathroom with the risk of water contact -- and that the desk is considered a sort of dressing table.
I have no idea whether this also holds true in Ireland, but if you don't see a hair dryer, I suggest checking the desk drawers.
Most Electrical converters specifically instruct not to use for US hair dryers, curling irons. Often hotels will also post that, some even adding that you are held responsible for utility outages, damage.
We found that at some B&Bs they will lend you an in-country hair dryer.
Because of my wife's back disability she uses a heating/vibrating heating pad. When we are in Ireland we will simply buy a cheap one and leave it behind when we leave. This may seem amazing but, Ireland is not a 3rd world country (as it seemed in 1973 on our Honeymoon). "They actually have electric toothbrushes, and other devices just like us! "
I am so grateful for all these responses! Thank you so much!