This page may contain affiliate links that could earn us commissions at no cost to you. Bank cards can be an essential travel accessory, but some banks charge costly foreign transaction fees when using ATMs abroad.
Travel credit cards offer you an effective solution for saving on these fees and making a trip to Ireland much cheaper. Continue reading to understand your options.
Know Your Cards
If you plan on taking debit or credit cards with you on your trip to Ireland, it is advisable to be familiar with which are most widely accepted. In general, cards bearing either the Visa or Mastercard logos will be widely accepted while American Express and Discover tend to be less widely used. When using ATMs be sure to choose ones within your bank’s network in order to avoid non-network fees that could add up quickly.
Before embarking on any travel plans, it is always a wise idea to notify both credit and debit card companies of your itinerary and travel plans. If traveling internationally, this step is especially essential as this ensures your cards do not get blocked due to suspicious activity while away. Also be sure to request and memorize a PIN so as to save yourself the hassle of calling up card companies at unexpected moments!
Get a Travel Card
If your trip involves extensive spending and withdrawals, obtaining a travel credit card to avoid extra fees makes sense. With several cards that waive foreign transaction fees or offer travel benefits such as car rental insurance coverage available to choose from.
Visa and Mastercard are two popular travel cards; some establishments also accept American Express and Diners Club cards. When selecting the ideal card for you, keep an eye out for perks as well as annual fees and ease of redeeming rewards earned.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred card earns 2 points per dollar on travel-related purchases, such as airfare and hotel stays, earning two points for every purchase made with it. You can transfer those points to airlines such as Aer Lingus and Air France/KLM as well as enjoying benefits such as airport lounge access or potentially earning a waiver on car rental collision damage fees – you can learn more here!
Get a Back-Up Card
Backup cards can save you money. For maximum peace of mind, consider carrying at least one debit or credit card from another bank just in case your primary one is declined or blocked for suspicious activity by your home bank.
Additionally, having an alternative phone number in Ireland that you can use if necessary to reach your tour company or B&B could save international roaming charges on your mobile phone bill back home.
Travelers looking for another solution might also consider purchasing a pre-paid card that works at ATMs, like the Mastercard Travelex Currency Card. They allow travelers to pre-load euros onto the card, which will then be accepted at hotels, larger shops and restaurants as well as some car rental agencies – many don’t charge ATM fees either – further saving you money! Check out some of these cards that don’t charge ATM fees to see what options may be best suited to you!
Know Your PIN
Most shops and restaurants in Ireland accept both credit and debit cards; Visa, MasterCard and American Express cards are widely accepted while Diners Club and Discover cards may also be acceptable depending on where you shop or dine.
Purchases made using debit and credit cards in Ireland typically involve inputting your PIN into a pinpad rather than signing. ATMs can be found at most banks as well as many cities, towns and villages; some ATMs charge a nominal fee while others do not.
Carrying an extra card, ideally one with a chip, when traveling abroad can be useful in case your primary one becomes lost or stolen. Be sure to notify your bank that you will be traveling, so they can alert you of any suspicious activity that might take place while abroad. Some credit cards offer travel benefits like primary rental car coverage and travel accident insurance – use our card compare tool to help narrow down your options!
