Traveling in Northern Ireland
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Safety
We’ve been traveling to
Northern Ireland since 1991 and have witnessed the positive changes over
that time. Many statistics show that Northern Ireland is actually one of
the safest places
to visit in Europe (click here for recent statistics in PDF file format). Of course,
when traveling, you should always be aware of your surroundings and
cautious, especially in large cities.
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Maps
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Currency
Since
it is part of Great Britain, Northern Ireland uses the British pound
as its unit of currency. Many stores in Northern Ireland will accept
Euros as payment, particularly in larger cities and tourist areas.
Major credit cards are accepted at many stores and restaurants. One
note of caution – some bed & breakfasts do not accept credit cards,
so it’s always a good idea to have enough local currency with you to
pay for a night’s lodging.
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Driving
Yes,
they drive on the left side of the road in Northern Ireland. And
yes, it takes a little practice to feel confident at it, but not too
much! There are some multi-lane motorways in Northern Ireland
(primarily close to major cities), but most of the roads are small.
An easy way to remember which side of the road to be on is to
remember this: Driver in the middle (meaning that the driver – not
the passenger – should always be nearest the middle of the road.)
For many people the most difficult things to remember are which way
to look when crossing the road and which side of the car to enter!
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Renting a car in
Northern Ireland
Typically, a valid driver’s license, which you have
had for at least two years, is required to rent a car in Northern
Ireland. Many other requirements and costs, (such as age
restrictions and cross-border surcharges) vary a great deal between
car rental companies. Northern Ireland Travels can help you find a
car rental agency that works best for you.
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Electricity
Northern Ireland
uses 230 volts and has different wall sockets. If you plan to plug
anything in (battery charger, cell phone, hair dryer etc.) you will
probably need an adapter (changing the prongs on your plug to
their version) AND a transformer (transforming the voltage
down for appliances used in North America). Don’t make the mistake
of just using the adapter (like one of our relatives!); you’ll burn
out your appliance. Some newer appliances, like laptop battery
packs, may not need a separate transformer, but verify that before
you use it!
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