Ireland is an idyllic western European nation where you can indulge in some Guinness and explore stunning medieval castles. Take your credit card along for travel to this popular tourist spot.
Make sure that the credit card you select doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees and includes travel perks. Notify your bank that you will be traveling to Ireland as soon as possible.
Get a card with no foreign transaction fees.
Credit cards provide travelers with an efficient and cost-effective way to track purchases and book reservations without being concerned with currency conversion rates. However, transactions conducted in foreign currencies may incur foreign transaction fees levied by card issuers in order to cover their processing costs of international transactions.
Most travelers don’t realize these fees until their next statement arrives; however, some travel cards offer these as a cardmember perk. If you plan on making multiple international purchases with a single credit card account, consider one with no foreign transaction fees such as Chase Sapphire Preferred Card or Capital One Venture Rewards Card for best results.
Visa and MasterCard cards are widely accepted in Ireland; American Express cards may work in some locations; Discover cards may not. When asked what currency to charge purchases with, always request having it charged in either euros or pounds as this reduces the risk of Dynamic Currency Conversion.
Get a card with travel features.
With a good travel credit card, you can save money on currency exchange fees while earning miles to offset travel expenses. There are various cards with unique benefits; to select the ideal card for you, carefully research its bonus categories and terms prior to selecting any specific one.
If you’re seeking a card that can help reward your travel expenses, look no further than Capital One Venture Rewards card. Offering no foreign transaction fees and rewards on dining, air travel and more; as well as generous trip interruption coverage in case an unexpected event at home causes you to cut short your Ireland tour, trip interruption coverage can cover costs such as last-minute economy airfare home and any unused lodging expenses that were prepaid and not used. There are other travel-oriented credit cards with low foreign transaction fees as well; examples being Chase Sapphire Preferred card and American Express Platinum Card.
Get a card with a back-up card.
As shown in the video below, having a credit card without foreign transaction fees can save money when traveling abroad. Furthermore, having an emergency back-up card gives peace of mind should one of your cards get lost or stolen during your visit to Ireland.
Your credit or debit card should work smoothly in Ireland, as most ATMs belong to either Visa or Mastercard networks. Diners Club and Discover cards may only be accepted at select merchants but should still work. Contactless payments of up to EUR50 or PS45 can also be made using contactless technology (which uses “tapping” your card).
Your Wise card will prove an indispensable travel companion on your tour of Ireland, enabling you to spend and withdraw cash at over 150 countries where both Visa and MasterCard are accepted. In addition, it converts dollars to euros at midmarket rates – saving money when purchasing goods and services abroad.
Get some cash.
Credit cards in Ireland provide convenience, safety, and peace of mind in cashless transactions; however it’s essential to carry small bills for cash withdrawal from private ATMs (such as those at airports and convenience stores) or as emergency funds should any unexpected costs arise.
Before your trip, you can also get Euros through currency exchange kiosks in airports or local banks and offices in most cities, though this method typically charges high fees with poor exchange rates compared with using Revolut, which enables you to purchase Euros nearer the actual exchange rate.
There are fortunately numerous cards that do not charge foreign transaction fees and even offer travel benefits; so, if you’re ready to begin planning your trip, take a look at these cards that may help save on both transaction fees and exchange costs while exchanging cash in Ireland.
