Frequently Asked Questions
What is the voltage in Ireland?
Voltage is 220V AC, at 50Hz. You should check the ratings of your electrical items before bringing them to Ireland. Electrical items from the US or Canada generally will not work in Ireland.
To convert your electrical items, you can purchase a small, cheap adaptor at Dublin/Shannon Airport.
Should I bring much cash to Ireland?
We recommend using a major credit card such as an ATM card to avoid carrying a lot of cash with you. You should check with your bank before you arrive in Ireland to ensure that there is not a high charge for using your card in Ireland and also to advise them that charges will be made to the card in Ireland - they tend to block foreign transactions as a security precaution.
What is the distance between each of the locations I am travelling to and from?
We generally set out your itinerary so that you are travelling for no longer than between 2-3 hours. If the driving time is more than that, we will advise you and you can decide if you are happy with this distance or not. We recommend that you use the following link to determine the distance between each point:
http://www2.aaireland.ie/routes_beta/
I have a full Australian Drivers Licence, do I need an International Driving Permit?
At the time of rental, the driver must have a valid National Driver's Licence which has been valid for at least one year. For all Non-European renters, we recommend an additional International Driving Permit.
Where can I hire a GPS unit?
We can reserve a GPS unit for you with the car company. This will cost €10 per day. We advise against this if you are taking a long tour as it would actually cost less to purchase a GPS unit than to rent one for the duration of your stay.
Will our Private Chauffeur be with us all the time?
Your Private Guide will be with you throughout the day but they leave you for the evening. This allows you to get the most from your guide during the day and enjoy the company of your party during the evening and night.
Can we check in early to our accommodations?
Hotels in Ireland begin to check in at 2pm. They will generally allow for early check in however as they understand that you have been travelling overnight and may wish to get some rest before exploring for the day. As long as the rooms are serviced, they will most likely allow you early check in.
How much money will I spend each day?
Everybody has different spending habits so it is difficult to advise as to exactly how much money you will need each day - we can provide the following prices however as a guide for you:
Lunch - €7-€10 per person
Evening Meals - €20-€25 per person
Petrol/Gasoline: €1.65 per litre
Many people choose to take full advantage of the breakfast which is included in the cost of your room stay - they then have only a light lunch and a good evening meal.
How much should we tip our driver for our Private Chauffeured tour?
Gratuities are not included in the cost of your tour - it is entirely at your discretion if you would like to tip your driver and the amount can be decided amongst the members of your party.
Do I have to stay in Dublin for my first night or can I begin travelling straight away?
Flights from the US and Canada tend to fly overnight and arrive in Ireland early in the morning. We generally recommend that people stay in Dublin on your first night as you may not have slept well during the flight - your safety is paramount to us. We can of course arrange for you to stay elsewhere if you wish to travel on your first day.
Will I be able to drive in Ireland?
It's completely natural to be a little nervous about driving in Ireland as you are driving on the opposite side of the road and will be sitting on the opposite side of the car. We tell our clients that once you are confident driving at home - you should be fine driving in Ireland and will easily adapt to the changes. It is a good idea to upgrade your car to an Automatic if you feel that driving a Manual will add to your fears about driving in Ireland.
Will my Driving Licence be accepted in Ireland?
As long as you have a valid state licence for at least 2 years and are 25 years old or more, you can drive in Ireland. Some of the larger vehicles require the driver to be at least 30 years old. We will check this for you upon booking if you think that this may be an issue.
What is the best way for us to see Dublin City?
We recommend taking the Dublin Hop on Hop off Bus Service as the best way to sightsee in Dublin. Further information can be found on this service at the following link:http://www.dublinsightseeing.ie/
Is it possible for us to bring our dog on a Cottage Holiday in Ireland?
There are two Cottage Properties on our accommodation list that will allow pets to stay. There is an additional fee of €20 per pet per night.
What Castles are available to us in Ireland?
We have contracted rates with the following Castle Accommodations in Ireland -
Ballynahinch Castle, Connemara, Co. Galway:http://www.ballynahinch-castle.com/connemara-hotel
Ballyseede Castle, Tralee, Co. Kerry:http://www.ballyseedecastle.com/
Dromoland Castle, New-Market on Fergus, Co. Clare:http://www.dromoland.ie/
Abbeyglen Castle, Co. Galway:http://www.abbeyglen.ie/
Adare Manor, Co. Limerick:http://www.adaremanor.com/
Ashford Castle, Cong, Co. Mayo:http://www.ashford.ie/
Will the car be big enough for us plus all of our luggage?
We cannot guarentee that the car will have sufficient space for your party plus luggage as different persons have different packing habits and varying amounts of luggage. Each group size of hire car can also come in various models we cannot give you an exact guarantee. We recommend that you visit our section on Car Hire to view the models that we have in our fleet (http://irishdreamtours.com/selfdrivetours/?category=42&tour=57). Should you feel that you will not have sufficient space, it is absolutely no problem for us to upgrade it for you.
If I am collecting my car on the second day, how do I get from the Airport to my first accommodation?
We advise taking either the shuttle bus (visit this link for times and prices for this service -www.aircoach.ie)or taking a taxi. There is generally an abundance of taxis waiting outside of the terminals - you may wish to prebook one with the following companyhttp://www.dublinairporttaxis.com/)
On a CIE Tour, how do I get from the Airport to my first accommodation to meet the group?
We recommend arriving in Dublin Airport no later than 10:30am should you wish to avail of the free bus transfer from the Airport to your first accommodation. These transfers operate until 12 Noon. If you miss the transfer, we advise taking an alternative means of transport such as the shuttle bus (visit this link for times and prices for this service -www.aircoach.ie)or taking a taxi. There is generally an abundance of taxis waiting outside of the terminals - you may wish to prebook one with this companyhttp://www.dublinairporttaxis.com/)
What is CDW?
CDW stands for Collision Damage Waiver. Your Car Rental Package will come with all compulsory car insurances. There is an excess deductible on the policy however and this can range from €1,200-€1,600 depending on the car make and model.
This means that the Car Hire firm will place a hold on your credit card for this amount. In the event that the car is returned without damage and with fuel - the hold is released.
This excess deductible can be reduced to just €100 for €17 per day but this is an optional upgrade and you may not wish to incur this additional cost.
Can we collect our car in Dublin City Centre as opposed to Dublin Airport?
We can of course arrange for you to pick/drop your car in the City Centre Depot. We do advise that it can often be difficult to locate the depot and this will mean that you will begin driving in the City Centre which is often quite congested.
What size beds can we expect in our accommodations?
In Ireland, the bed size terminology differs from that of North America. The following table will give you a general idea of the sizes - these can vary slightly from one manufacturer to the next:
North America Ireland Width Twin Single 3 Feet Full Double 4 Feet 6 Inches Queen King 5 Feet King Super King 6 Feet Can we decide where we want to stay as we travel?
You have the option of leaving your accommodation choices open should you not wish to stick to a specific itinerary. We can provide you with your prepaid vouchers for accommodations plus a guidebook with the best Bed and Breakfast accommodations in Ireland - you then pick and choose where you stay as you travel.
We generally advise against this method of travelling if possible as we cannot guarantee availability if your accommodations are not pre-booked, particularly during the peak seasons of travel.
What is the difference between B&B and Hotel accommodations?
Bed and Breakfast accommodations are generally small, family run homes and can often give an intimate insight into life in Ireland. The proprietors are friendly and welcoming and only too delighted to make you feel at home away from home. All of the Bed and Breakfast rooms that we use are allocated their own private bathroom. A Bed and Breakfast can generally have between 3-7 rooms for their guests. They are generally located about 10 minutes away from the town centre by car.
Hotels tend to be more centrally located and have their own bars and restaurants on site. We use only upper high 3 star, 4 star or 5 star hotels for our clients.
Can we stay in B&B accommodation on a Private Chauffeured Tour?
We will be happy to arrange B&B accommodation for your Private Chauffeured tour but we would recommend staying in a hotel as they tend to be more centrally located.
As your driver can only be with you for between 8-9 hours per day by law. This means that they will not be with you at night and should you decide to dine out or visit a pub, being centrally located will mean that you will be a short walking distance from the town and generally within walking distance. Your safety is of course paramount to us.
How far away are the B&Bs from the town centre?
B&Bs are generally on the outskirts of the towns. On average, it will take about 5-10 minutes to drive to the town centre from a B&B.
B&Bs in Ireland tend to be family run homes and help to give you a more authentic Ireland experience. They are all highly approved by B&B Ireland and each room has private bathroom facilities.
In Dublin, the B&Bs are generally located on the outskirts of the City Centre so it may be worth upgrading to a Hotel here for an additional €20 per person per night.
Will I get the exact accommodations that I select from the site?
We will check availability for you with any of the accommodations that you select from the site - we cannot guarantee that rooms will be available however but we are here to work with you and get your vacation as perfect as possible for you so if the one you chose is not available, we will try your second choice and so forth. All of the accommodations are of the same high quality standard.
Why is there such a difference in the price between a car with manual and automatic transmission?
Hiring a car with an automatic transmission in Ireland is more expensive than one with a manual transmission. The majority of people in Ireland drive cars with a manual transmission and the resale value for automatic cars on the Irish market can be quite poor. Approx. 90% of the hire fleets are manual with the remaining 10% being automatic. The automatic cars are then hired at a premium price.
Will I see all of the Attractions that I want to see?
Different people travel at different paces. Some people cover the daily route quickly and manage to see all of the available attractions - others travel at a slower pace and manage to see a selection of the available sights. This is the beauty of the Self Drive Tour - you can choose to travel at your own pace and add or omit any attractions you like. Due to the difference in touring habits, we cannot guarantee that you will see everything but it is achievable at a quick (but safe) pace.
On a Private Chauffeured Tour - we will have pre-booked many of your attractions for you and your driver will ensure that you get to see everything listed on your itinerary. Should you have surplus time, they will take you to the attractions they think you will be most interested in.
Do you provide Airfare?
We are 'land only' providers meaning that we do not arrange airfare but we have a flight search function built into our website - just click on the Book Flights Online tab on the left hand side of the screen - this will allow you to enter your dates and search many different airlines at the one time to ensure that you get the most competitive price possible.
