We recommend finding accommodations closer in to the city centre. We'll have a list of decently located hotels on this website, and there is also airbnb and vrbo sites to look at.
YES!! Ireland is a beautiful and welcoming country. We cannot recommend seeing the sights both in Dublin and elsewhere. It's a relatively small country, but we still recommend picking an area (Shannon votes for Wild Atlantic Way and Billy would say Wicklow or one of the other Eastern counties). If you want specific recommendations, we're both happy to tell you our favorites.
You can expect lovely people and an emerald island. The Irish are part of the European Union and the EURO is their currency. In general, cash is preferred in most places, especially bars (see "Tell me about Irish pubs"). They drive on the opposite side of the road from the United States (like the British do), so while it's possible to drive, it is fairly stressful. We recommend hiring a driver or taking the train if you're heading out of Dublin. Northern Ireland (Belfast) is NOT part of the Republic of Ireland. They have different currency (British pound) and depending on Brexit may have different entry requirements at the time of our wedding. There is no visa required to visit Ireland and it is a great place to start or end your European travels as flights in and out to the rest of Europe are short and relatively inexpensive.
First, they are just called 'pubs' in Ireland ;-p They generally do not offer food and they don't care to 'carry a tab'. In other words, everyone takes turns buying rounds, no leaving a credit card open. Not saying you can't in some places, but generally, you'll get better service if you pay as you go. While there are many pubs throughout Ireland that you'll find traditional Irish music being played, many of these are in high tourist areas, like Temple Bar area of Dublin. You're just as apt to hear Beyonce and John Denver covers as you are U2 or Van Morrison covers. The Irish love music and they are not bound by their own very prolific musicians. So enjoy the live music which is everywhere, just don't expect it to all be 'traditional Irish' music. Some of the best buskers in the world perform on Dublin high streets.
Yes. Only sort of joking, there are other options and many resources out there to find great Italian, Indian and other cuisines. Ireland does have a local food movement, so much of their meat and vegetables are grown on the island and thus even the simplest salad is very good and fresh. We have a couple recommendations for some more traditional and casual places to grab some food which we'll post in the Things to Do section of the website.
NO!! NO!! NO!! For the most part, Irish pubs/bars do not have ANY food. They may offer you a bag of crisps (i.e. potato chips), but the nearest food is the nearest takeout/takeaway place. To be fair, most pubs will allow you to get take out and eat it there. We recommend grabbing food BEFORE your night in the pub and then grabbing food at the takeaway on the way home ;-)
The United Kingdom is a quick flight, drive, or ferry away depending on how you want to do it and where you want to go. Belfast is just a few hours north of Dublin. Just south of Dublin is the ferry terminal that will take you over to Wales and from there on a train or bus to anywhere in England or Scotland. And quite a few airlines do cheap flights to London. Just remember the UK is on the British pound, so you'll need to exchange money (easiest to do it in an ATM at the airport).
The biggest 'catch' is the size of luggage allowed. Many of the airlines have fairly strict luggage size limits, but you have a couple of options. First, bring a smaller bag and leave your large suitcase at a storage place and jet off for a few days in the European city of your choice, using Dublin (or Shannon) Airport as your entry and exit point. Second you can pay extra for the larger bags and plan a multi-city tour fare. One strong argument to go back to the United States through Dublin, is they have American immigration check point at the Dublin airport. This means no having to go through immigration when you land back home. It really cuts down on time and hassle.
Easiest way to 'change money' is to get Euros from an ATM using your debit card. You usually get a good exchange rate and Irish banks don't charge fees for debit withdrawals. Make sure you tell your bank (and all your credit card companies) when and where you're planning on travelling so there are no issues. Added bonus for those going to United Kingdom: there are special ATMs in the London airports that allow you to 'pick' your currency and even, in some cases, exchange currency. This allows you to move between British pounds and Euros fairly smoothly. You cannot exchange coins anywhere, so spend them!!
Yes. Contact or look up your provider information, most have an international option. T-mobile's is free and allows texts, calls and data, you just have to enroll in the program. Others have limits but generally all of them have some kind of international access options. Pick what is best for you and your trip. At minimum you should have texting ability to find friends and family out and about in Dublin town!
Taxi. Taxis are everywhere and relatively cheap. There are taxi stands throughout Dublin and you can flag them down. Same international rules apply - if their light is on they are available. I know Dublin has Uber, so that is an option as well. I've never actually needed to use Uber in Dublin as there's always been a taxi nearby when I want one. Since the wedding is in July, I also recommend looking into the DART, it's a train that goes along the Dublin coastline, so if you're looking for a quick afternoon at the beach, or just a scenic, non-walking excursion, DART is a great option. There's also the Luas, which is Dublin's light rail. Like all light rail lines around the world, if it's going where you're going, it's PERFECT. It's clean, straightforward and cheap. It does NOT go to the airport (which is weird). Dublin also has a very extensive bus system. I've found it pretty easy to figure out. You pay when you enter. Know where you're going.
Taxi or bus. The light rail does not go to the airport, so really the only two options are Taxi which is kinda spendy or bus. There are dedicated bus lines (Airlink is one) that will take you directly to Dublin's City Centre and from there you can walk/taxi/luas/bus to wherever you need. I've become a HUGE fan of TripAdvisor's ground transportation transfers. Go to Trip Advisor (www.tripadvisor.com) and search Dublin Airport Ground Transportation and you'll get a variety of options ranging from private cars to public buses. Even if you don't get a transfer through Trip Advisor, it gives you a good lay of the land for airport arrivals and departure options and the general price range you can expect (this works for ANY airport by the by).
Yes & No. Below are some fun (and funny) resource links to help you out (More will be added as we find them)! http://mentalfloss.com/article/582749/irish-slang Irish accents explained (which goes into the different Dublin accents!!): https://video.search.yahoo.com/yhs/search?fr=yhs-omr-001&hsimp=yhs-001&hspart=omr&p=irish+accents+explained#id=2&vid=1dc912fe448004508fb8dade223dfd43&action=click https://www.irishcentral.com/travel/irish-words-phrases-slang-to-learn-before-you-visit