FAQs

Question

How long is the flight?

Answer

It’s about 10 hours from Portland or Seattle.

Question

What will the weather be like?

Answer

Ireland in May usually has a high of around 60. We’re hoping for some sunshine, but definitely plan on rain as well. It will probably be in the 40s in the evenings.

Question

What should we pack?

Answer

Bring clothing that is easy to layer as the weather tends to be irregular. Also, an umbrella and an extra pair of shoes are probably a good idea because it may rain. I recommend a good pair of walking shoes for those of you planning on doing sightseeing. Most of what you’ll want to see in Dublin and Belfast will be centralized, but plan on walking around 3-5 miles a day depending on what activities you choose to do.

Question

Do we need to rent a car?

Answer

Most of the things people want to see will be pretty centralized to the downtown areas, so a car is unnecessary. There are some things people want to see outside of Belfast, so we are looking into renting a bus for the day.

Question

How much do meals cost, and do I tip? Do I tip for tours?

Answer

Meals are about the same as in the US (around $15 per person), but you generally only tip between 5% to 10%. There are many options for food, including cheap cafes if you’re looking to save a little cash. If we stay together at an Airbnb we may also buy food to cook at the house for breakfast or dinner if anyone is interested. You should tip if we do some tours. Usually you tip between $5-$10 per person, but you can give as little or as much as you’d like.

Question

What kind of food is available?

Answer

Dublin is fairly international and has every type of food you can imagine (except for Mexican 😭). We will have no problems appeasing even the pickiest eaters. Belfast is a little smaller, but still has a wide variety. If nothing else, there’s always a burger joint around. For those of you wanting the full experience, beware. The bacon is more like ham, and the sausage that comes with the classic English breakfast is just a bland mush. However, I definitely recommend trying haggis, and tattie (potato) scones!

Question

Will people understand us, and more importantly, will we understand them?

Answer

They will understand you, but they might make fun of your accent. Just rib them right back, they can take it. Dublin and Belfast are big tourist destinations, so they shouldn’t have issues understanding what you’re asking. Whether or not you’ll understand them is another question entirely. You’ll notice a big difference between the Irish and northern Irish accents. You might understand one and not the other, both, or neither. Any way you slice it, Chris and I will be around to help. That is, if he can understand them.

Question

Do we need to bring something dressy for the wedding?

Answer

We’re planning on having the ceremony outside, and sightseeing before or after, so I’d say wear something nice for the ceremony but being comfortable clothes with you. There will be opportunities to change clothes. Also, we’ll do dinner in town to celebrate, so bring something a little dressy for that.

Question

How do I send you my photos?

Answer

As you probably know, we love photos! The whole week with all of you is something we will want to remember forever. To make it easy to gather all the pictures in one place, Chris and I have created a Dropbox where you can send us all of your photos: https://mega.nz/megadrop/EXhb3WEYVU0

Question

Will my phone work in Ireland?

Answer

That depends on your carrier. We recommend you contact your carrier about two weeks to one month out from the trip. They can tell you if you’ll be able to text or use internet, and if there are extra costs. If you are able to connect to the internet or use data, I recommend downloading WhatsApp. That will probably be the easiest way for everyone to communicate about meals and other activities.