We're spending 7 days in Ireland next month ( May). We'll rent a car and will stay in B & B's 5 of 7 nights. 4 of the 5 B & B's take only cash. We'll rent the car from Dooley which we pay beforehand by C Card. AAA has a pre-loaded debit card that you can use to get cash at ATMs and wherever purveyors of food or petrol accept debit cards. They pose a bit of a problem because of fees charged to access cash. I've heard a debit card from a small Credit Union can be a good alternative. We need Euro 330 in cash for the 4 nights B & B. Is there a relatively safe amount of cash you can carry around with you and use the debit card more sparingly. Are Traveler's Cheques a viable alternative at all? Can they be obtained in euros as opposed to $USD? Things to ponder. Help/ideas/thoughts/suggestions welcome. Thanks!
(euros)
Posted by
CA, USA
333 posts
Definitely ATM for cash. The Irish banks won't charge you a fee to use the ATM however your bank probably will. I'd get your daily limit increased to the maximum amount and make a few big withdrawals. You are probably looking at the most a $5 fee per withdraw which is far better than what you would get using any other form of money that is not native currency.
Outside of the cities there is very little crime and while there is a very off-chance you could be pick pocketed by a stranger I'd say it would be extremely remote. You'd be more likely to lose the money yourself than to a thief.
Most small pubs and a lot of the smaller museums still run on cash so always make sure you have enough for meals, drinks, etc.
Posted by
Ocean Shores, Wa, USA
124 posts
Shawn,
As for the amount to carry around, it all depends on how you do it. The most fail-safe method is an under clothing money belt to carry cash as well as other "can't lose" items like: passport, credit cards, debit cards etc. During 2 trips to Ireland since 2006, my wife and I each carried 300 plus Euros in our money belts. Last time, we also carried $1000 dollars US cash each in newer (pink colored) 50 dollar bills. That was 20 bills each, and it fit comfortably and easily in our money belt. We found that the exchange rate from dollars to Euros at Major Banks was not that much more expensive than using an ATM. I wouldn't advise everyone to carry that kind of cash, but it worked for us. (Some banks won't take older 50's and also 100's due to conterfeiting potential.) Our newer 50's were alway accepted without a moment's hesitation. We just didn't feel comfortable using our Debit Card which is hooked up to our personal checking bank account, with all the electronic and credit/debit card fraud going on these days. Again, it is not how much you carry, it is how you carry it!
Dan
Posted by
Bloomington, IL, USA
9363 posts
If you're nervous about using your regular ATM card, open a separate checking account (preferably at a separate credit union) with only your travel funds in it. My credit union charges nothing for foreign withdrawals, and as mentioned above, the Irish ATM won't charge you, either. You don't say where in Ireland you will be, but I would have no worries about carrying any amount of cash there. It's not a high-crime place. And a definite NO to traveler's checks!
Posted by
Atlanta
1358 posts
There's ATM in the airports, you can get euros right after you get your luggage. I always use a money belt, I'll get around 200-300 euro out at a time. In some of the more rural areas, ATM's can be hard to come by, so make sure you always have cash on hand. And make sure your bank knows you're going overseas (and your CC company) and check what your daily withdrawal limit is.