Do I need a smart phone traveling to Ireland

Yes, a basic phone works just fine. Do you need the phone? I've gotten by on many trips with no phone.

Sooooooo……what are you going to do at the group meals when everyone is looking down at their smart phone? Maybe RS should have a non-smart phone supplement for those who want to sit at a separate table for group meals and just talk travel adventures???? (just kidding!)

I can't believe you have to ask.. we never take ANY phone to Europe.. and that included last summer , 4 weeks in Europe, including a week in Ireland.. although I did cave to technology and brought my tablet this time.

People have travelled and enoyed it for many hundreds of years ,, without phones.

I don't get this constant need to be in touch on vacation.. I did 3 months back in the 80s.. my friend and I phoned home like twice ( because it was expensive and a hassle back then).. people wrote postcards.

Don't take a phone.. I promise you will live. You can get information from your Ipad the night before going somewhere ( checking hours , rates of admission , how to get somewhere etc) and you will have one less expensive thing to worry about pickpockets taking.. or losing it yourself.

s,

YES, you can absolutely get by with your iPad and an inexpensive PAYG phone. You don't "need" a phone but I've found that having one is very useful at times during travels.

I'm sure you won't have any trouble finding a mobile phone shop. If you don't spot one after you arrive, the hotel staff will be able to direct you to the nearest one.

There's a difference between NEED and WANT. In my opinion and travel practice, I do not NEED a mobile while traveling overseas. (I do stay in touch using free WiFi e-mail).

Last winter we experienced the only occasion where we needed a mobile. The train station in Austria was unstaffed and the taxis did not wait at the train station. There was a sign at the station with numbers to call for taxi service and none of our group had a phone activated for Austria. A young mother with two children, one in a stroller, helped us by calling our hotes using her mobile, then called the taxi service and waited with us for a call back confirming the service request. Lesson learned was people are kind and we didn't NEED a mobile phone.

Don't need a smart phone or any phone for that matter. Remember, many of us traveled when a post card was hi-tech. We finally gave in to the dark side (sons call us late, very late adapters) and take a ipad for checking emails, etc. at the hotel in the evening. However, doubt if our sons could get by with anything less than two smartphones.

Thanks for the great replies! I think I will stay living in the stone age and do without a "smart phone". I use my hands for a knife and fork, pint of ale, and maybe some golf!