HELP !! Granddaughter going to Ireland

74-911 · 07-22-2010, 01:14 PM

Granddaughter is going to Ireland next week. I know of lot of you Pelicans do a lot of traveling so....

What is the best way for her to carry money? Travelers Checks or ???
Where is the best place to exchange dollars ??
Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

Jack

vash · vash's Garage

here is what i do..

little bit of american money. few hundred for emergencies..whatever.

credit card. call the credit company and let them know she is traveling. they will put some travel alert on it so it works. i found the best exchange rates from an ATM over there. oh, she will need a PIN #. hide a debit card.

have her email herself all the bank's contact info, including account #, just in case her stuff gets up and walks away.

tell her to have a great time..lucky woman!! i need a vacation BAD!

targa911S · 07-22-2010, 01:30 PM

She will LOVE Ireland. Been there a bunch of times. Stay in B&B's get to know the people.

BRPORSCHE · 07-22-2010, 01:47 PM

I went out of the country this summer and did a lot of research into all those questions.

Call the bank let them know you are going to be gone and see what your daily limits are, if any.

Have a couple hundred U.S dollars on hand for emergencies. This isn't spending money. Use only if you have to.

As soon as you get to the country go to an ATM at the airport and take some money out. The rates will be a lot better than what you will get at your bank.

Make sure she has a good head on her and she will be fine. I was a nervous nancy because I was on my own, and everything worked out just fine.

imcarthur · imcarthur's Garage

As above. An ATM card with a backup credit card always works for us. I always like to have cab fare in local currency on arrival - just in case - which you can order from a bank. Exchanging foreign cash or cashing travelers checks can be very time consuming and/or impossible. And yes, phone the issuer of both to prevent a fraud lock.

Ian

mikeatfhc · 07-22-2010, 02:48 PM

Have her call her cellular carrier to let them know she is going overseas.... might keep her phone from getting cut-off.

Limit the calls to home $$$$.

vash · vash's Garage

ipod touch, with wireless and a skype account. cheap communication!

74-911 · 07-22-2010, 03:21 PM

My granddaughter and I both really appreciate all your responses. When she asked me for advice I told her I didn't know but I had access to the Pelican Brain Trust and it never failed in times of need.

thanks again,
Jack

vash · vash's Garage

no problem. nobody buys travelers checks anymore..

i believe they have a credit card backed version now. you put in cash, and can take it out at an ATM. when i travel, i try not to put all my eggs in one basket.

BRPORSCHE · 07-22-2010, 03:28 PM

Anytime. She will have a blast.

Is it ok to ask the age of your granddaughter? I hear that darn green rock is a darn fun place.

74-911 · 07-22-2010, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BRPORSCHE

Anytime. She will have a blast.

Is it ok to ask the age of your granddaughter? I hear that darn green rock is a darn fun place.

If not in school, she has lived with us since she was a jr. in high school. She graduated from UT-Dallas in June and turned 21 in July. Very proud of her, she definitely has her head on straight... to straight I sometimes think. She definitely needs to get out and have some fun... not to much of course.

She is really looking forward to the trip to say the least.

Hugh R · 07-22-2010, 05:16 PM

What others said, ATMs give a better exchange rate. If her phone has a SIM card, get her to buy a local one with a local number. I use one and call back to the USA for about 14 cents/min, versus $1.19 with AT&T or Verizon. She has to call you with the new temporary number. Prepay and upload money from a CC on line or at the store.

cashflyer · 07-23-2010, 04:54 AM

What part of Ireland is she traveling to?

Contrary to the above advice, I always travel with cash. I guess it depends on how long you're staying, what you're doing, and what type of person you are. The credit card / debit card advice is probably best for 99% of the people, though. Although I find crap rates on exchange at my local US bank, I usually get good rates at the Bureau de Change offices in Ireland. This may be dependent on if you are traveling to the north (using Pounds) or to the south (using yooroes).

Fuel prices are cheaper in the south.
Beer prices are cheaper in the north.
The train is *never* on time.