But just because everyone speaks English doesn’t mean there are a few things that could trip you up. It is still a European country, after all. And things are fantastically different than what you might be used to at home. Here are the top 10 things I think you should know before you visit Dublin. Northern Ireland is not the same thing, Ireland and Northern Ireland are two separate countries. Northern Ireland is part of the UK and uses pounds for their currency. Ireland, where Dublin is the capital, is an independent country that is part of the European Union and uses euros as their currency. Nothing will tell them you’re an American faster than asking for corned beef on St. Patty’s Day. Corned beef is an Irish-American custom and not something you’ll find in Dublin. Double check to be sure that your device is a dual-voltage device or the electrical currency will melt your product down. Specifically things like hair dryers and curlers are of concern. Your cell phone and most laptops should be safe but definitely double-check before you plug it in. Use the keycard you’re given for opening the door and insert it into a card slot on the inside of your hotel room near the door. This will power on the electricity in the room and activate the rest of the light switches. In fact, you will quickly discover that tap water actually tastes better than the bottled water sold at convenience stores. Bring your own reusable bottle and just fill up at the tap. While sometimes a European bathroom may have a white pull cord that powers on the electricity for the room, a red cord is specifically an emergency contact cord and should be avoided. I made the mistake of bringing my American Express to Ireland because it has no foreign transaction fees but it was hardly accepted anywhere at all. I had no choice other than to use our bank card, which immediately got hacked within the first 24 hours of use. So definitely look for a travel-friendly card that will help you avoid the foreign transaction fees which really add up over the course of a trip. You’ll still find delicious options, but might be surprised to see how American-feeling they tend to be. Think: hamburgers, chicken tenders, nachos, and the like. You can see my list of 14 foods to try in Ireland here. You can try it. Just know what it is first so you’re not shocked. He shared with us several stories and insider tidbits over the course of the trip but one of the bits I enjoyed hear most was that real Irish folk don’t actually drink all day like the stereotypes say. They wait till the evening and drink with friends at the pub as a social experience, generally not something to be done alone.
