About GPS, you can download the offline maps on Google Maps and that works very well. With offline maps you don’t need phone signal/internet, just GPS, which is also what you need with a stand alone GPS anyway.
Google Maps is way better than a GPS , after driving you only need to put the building into the maps and switch to walking to get to your destination, if you are going to the trouble of buying a GPS then just buy a phone PrePay, no contract and have full coverage on the Island of Ireland.
Just spent a week driving in southern Ireland. My thoughts as a US driver: 1. Most important thing... Always look right at roundabouts and intersections. 2. Waze worked perfectly everywhere we went. 3. Everyone else on the road was attentive, patient and courteous. (US drivers could lean a few things) 4. Have some coins for tolls. 5. You get to use new motoring terms such as lorry, bonnet, and petrol. 6. At intersections, it's not always clear who has a stop sign and who does not. Take it slow. Great video! Was helpful to me.
When renting a vehicle ask for one that uses LPG at € 1 per ltr, it has lower emissions, The Dacia Duel Fuel is a compact vehicle, LPG and Petrol. It switches automatically from Petrol to LPG. There are filling stations for LPG , Flowgas and Calor, the location is available online. In Northern Ireland there may be more filling stations.
I am Irish and years ago , I got lost in the mountains in Kerry, when I went way off the beaten track, I had no signal on my phone and diesel was getting low, so I really couldn’t afford to waste anymore gas getting more lost , so then we spotted a cottage up the side of the mountain it was such a steep gravel road up to it I didn’t fancy driving up , so we walked up to it looking for directions, though it looked almost derelict from a distance, it was beautiful, we ended up staying for lunch and a two and a half hour chat 😂 although TBH I could barely understand the elderly couples thick Kerry mountain brogue, 😂but thinking back it was pretty Irish and pretty special.💚
I’ve driven in Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand, all as a tourist. Heartily agree with everything but would suggest a few additions… 1. Don’t forget to get the NON-DEDUCTIBLE DAMAGE insurance. (See left side mirror getting damaged from hitting a hedgerow. Just saying.) It’s more expensive but it’s worth it to not worry about it when you’re on vacation. Plus it saves you the time and aggravation of listing EVERY SINGLE scratch and ding when you pickup the car. Because there will be damage on it when you pick it up. 2. Don’t roll down the passenger (left) side car windows. (Again, see left side mirror hitting a hedgerow and all the debris coming into the open window.) 3. If you have to quickly change lanes in a panic, don’t think when you flip on the turn signal that it will work. More likely the windshield wipers will come on instead because your muscle memory will kick in and you will hit the wrong lever.
I hate you but i laughed .... that pic of a hair had me for a minute trying to clear my screen ..... but then I realised and I laughed ... still hate you for it though 🤣
The best way to explore Ireland or any country for that matter. Is to intentionally get completely lost, you Will see amazing sights by using this method. Don't worry about getting back, the locals Will point you in the right direction.
Didn't watch the whole thing (but most of it) so I'm going to add the one thing I think he missed. My wife said to me suddenly, "Look right!" "What?" "When you're entering a roundabout, you have to look right." Up until then I felt so stressed and confused entering these "backwards" roundabouts, but as soon as she said that simple thing, it fixed everything for me.
A tip for any Americans anxious of driving in Ireland, just follow the traffic in front of your car, the rest will sort itself out, drive as slow as you want except on the Motorway/Freeway., we are used to beginner drivers and inexperienced drivers on the roads and in the cities so take your time and enjoy your trip.
Just a reminder for the people from America. Our fuel stations sell Diesel and Petrol (gasoline). If your phone has GPS. As long as you have coverage use your phone as the Sat-Nav's have maps that can be anything up to 12yrs out of date.
I wish one day all of us who are watching and dreaming about traveling can actually travel more to learn about different cultures and end hate in this loving journey of life.
Note at least with Enterprise car rental. We had USAA credit card which covers it. We actually had to provide a form from USSA saying they will cover in Ireland.
Try this for the narrow roads with no shoulders or lines: tip your passenger-side mirror so you can see the side of your car and the edge of the road. It helps while you're getting used figuring out where the car is on the road.
Hi Mark! My name is Mark too, but I just wanted to thank you for all your videos. We've used your videos a lot for tips to travel, and you've come out with yet another useful video. We 've watched so many videos, we feel like we know your family. Anyway, keep posting all that you post, and all the relevant info you provide. Thanks!
I’m Irish and only learning to drive now at old age of 30 (living away most of my 20s in cities with good transport). Honestly the roundabouts scare me and I’ve being going through them as a passager my entire life
@@Nature_with_Peter_Kane Tbf I’ve dyspraxia so I think that doesn’t help. I am actually moving to Canada in the next year, so might have to pass a Canadian test (depending on province) to keep on driving
@@Nature_with_Peter_Kane actually learning French was my pandemic hobby (paid apps and online tutors and lots of Netflix) and I’m hoping to move to Montreal. It’s my favourite city. I’m fairly intermediate but need to knuckle down harder
The last point is especially important because there are so many roadside sights to stop and see n Ireland (one of the best parts of renting a car in Ireland tbh for the flexibility of stopping off at these places..whether old castles, churches, graveyards, pubs, etc.) and its notorious winding roads in the countryside(most countryside roads are one lane in each direction) will almost always extend your ETA :)
Driving on the left can be intimidating at first, but you're right after doing it for a short while you get used to it. Just take your time and be patient with yourself. I drove on the left for the first time in St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands. If I can do you can too! 👍😊
I drove on the left in Scotland last year. It is true that after one hour of driving you het used to it. I was also helped by the rental car i was issued, a fantastic KIA X-Ceed, the electronic assist mode helped a lot in preventing mistakes, especially the road lane assist. While i only drove for 4 days in my return i frlt weird to now be driving on the right because i had gotten used so fast to drive on the left.
Just was in Ireland early April, took 45 minutes to adjust to Left, Recommend the Insurance because one thing I noticed and dealt with myself is flat tires are common. I got a Flat 25 minutes into renting a car and the rest of the trip I saw people getting flats all over. The insurance covered the charge of the new tire I had to get. ALSO some tolls you need to pay online BEFORE or AFTER usage. N50 near Dublin is one of those tolls that the local had to give me a heads up about. It is easy to avoid the toll but still.
Consider buying an 'On Line' Collision Damage Waiver Access cover Policy [ C.D.W.] BEFORE you get a Rental Car at in any Irish Airport, otherwise you shall pay dearly at the Desk. better still just Pre - Book and then you and your car are sorted... hitting the ground running, and you won't be stuck with the only Brain Surgeon in Town...
Also for filling up with gas, when you see the prices at the gas stations, they'll be listed 1.88 for unleaded, or 1.96 for premium. Don't think that you've hit the way-back machine in gas prices. Remember those prices are for a LITRE of gas, not per gallon! So it's more like $7.00 for a gallon of gas! As we get close or are at those prices here in the US, it may not be as much of a shock as it would have been before 2021, but it's still good to keep in mind.
I LOVE driving in the UK! It was a bit nervy at first, but literally wishing 30 to 60 minutes I was having a blast!!! Also, if you have American Express cards, you can get great insurance that automatically activates when you rent a car. Did this for Scotland and Iceland and it was a big money saver!
This was GREAT! Another good thing to mention is the toll road that goes across Ireland (from like Doolin to Dublin). You don’t pay AT the toll, you have to actually log in to a computer at your hotel & pay the toll. Apparently, it really racks up per day that you don’t pay it.
You're talking about the M50 motorway which is in Dublin. There are signs everywhere on that motorway to remind you to pay although I can understand as a tourist you wold have brain overload while driving on a different side of the road and you might miss them or not take them in. It used to have toll booths way back but obviously that was a bottleneck and now there are cameras that record the car registration number. That's the only road in Ireland though with that system, all others have toll booths.
I went to London last week after watching one of your videos. Those tips you gave about the mirrors and roundabouts are tops! Drove for like 5 hours without any problems on back roads. Thanks dude!
I’m Irish. Whenever I’m in country that drives on the right I make sure to have a couple of post it’s on the dash and windscreen to remind me to drive on the right 😊
Don't trust the GPS to get you there with the "shortest route" option. We had some adventures on roads which barely qualify as roads...more like two ruts in the dirt between two massive hedgerows, with zero viability on turns and no room to meet another car. Getting stuck on one of those roads for an hour is a nightmare. Sometimes the longer route is the faster route.
Same for any country. We were going to Vegas and it sent us through a dirt road / reservation with bullet holes in the few signs that were on the route.
@@dcar There are stories of Google maps getting people lost in the middle of Death Valley, where the “roads” gradually disappear into nothing, leaving people without enough fuel and water to get out again.
I have driven in both left and right. The easiest and most practical way to remember either driving left or right is you will be seated always towards the middle/center of the road while driving. If you are driving and you are in the corner of the road you are on the driving on the wrong side. Plain and simple.
I experienced a custom on “two lane” secondary roads. When someone wants to pass, they will flash their lights. Move over to the left, oncoming traffic will move over as well. The passing vehicle splits the lane and goes up the middle. After a few passes I wasn’t as terrified as the first one.
Here's a few tips-Stick a post it on your dash or steering wheel to STAY LEFT! And Be Extra careful at T junctions, pull out into the LEFT LANE! On country country roads slow down and stay as close to the LEFT ditch as possible. The local lauds think they're rally drivers and there's a lot of farm tractors also. Avoid Driving at night and very heavy rain if possible!
Make sure you are heading into the Ring of Kerry hugging the inside.. (not the water side) you'll be in less peril! White knuckle when the tour buses come by!
We rented a car in Ireland for 10 days and once I got used to it I loved it. My biggest challenge was the first day, getting out of the airport in Dublin, driving on the left and shifting with my left hand. Otherwise I had no problems.
For non-motorway roads add 50% to what google says for road conditions, add anouther 50% for stopping to look at scenery. Run through a roundabout or two on google maps, odds are the one outside your airport will be the worse, figure that out and you'll be ok. Driving in Ireland is half the point, dont rush, get a little lost.
I live in the US and I've been driving stick for years. I call it my built-in anti-theft device. Thanks for the great vid. I'm hoping to make it to Ireland and definitely want to travel to those far out places. The idea of driving on the left has me really nervous. This vid helped a bit. Thanks!!!
Keep in mind too that driving on the left means you also will need to use your left hand to change gears so even if you drive stick at home it can be daunting!
#1 one for anyone travelling from the US...if your phone is unlocked, buy a Vodafone (or other) Sim card for 30 euro. Unlimited data and calling in EU with over 100 minutes to US...is good throughout EU. You can buy the card at a kiosk or any phone store...there are lots of them.
I think the phone gps is a better route, as long as you predownload the maps! Plus, nowadays you can enable high accuracy gps so it's instantly updating.
We honeymooned in Ireland in 1998 and on my first day driving I came around the corner and sure enough clipped my mirror on a fruit stand on the edge of the road 🤣. My husband brings it up almost monthly!
I think it's more to do with how serious it is if people don't drive on the correct side. It doesn't take too many of those oopsies before there is a serious problem
I drove for the first time on the other side from Edinburgh to Kilkady. I counted 32 roundabouts. After those, Ireland was a breeze and I actually enjoyed them. It is so smooth and quick. The one lane roads were tricky but mostly people cooperated and it was fine. I actually loved driving after a bit. I did have to put Adblue in my Diesel because it was low...not fun.
Having used a rental car in Ireland and Northern Ireland on many occasions, we have had mixed experiences with rental agencies. One insisted that we had to have a letter, no more than 3 months old, from our credit card company stating that the insurance they provide is relevant in Ireland. Other companies didn't seem to care. Our best rental was when we were told not to worry about scratches low down on the passenger side of the car, as scraping along the hedgerows was just accepted as normal wear.
The advice about expecting things to take longer is a really good one that nobody talks about, and can be a surprise especially for someone from the US or Canada who hasn't driven in that region before. A lot of roads off the main highways are incredibly narrow, winding roads with stone walls on one side. Places like Google give you time estimates for your route based on driving at exactly the speed limit but in real life those turns sometimes feel treacherous going at half that speed. It also can make driving more tiring because of that. Meanwhile, as you said, you kind of just get used to driving on the left pretty quickly.
I would say make sure you get an automatic car even if you drive a manual in the US. I made this mistake make sure you get a manual because you need to switch gears with the left hand instead of the right. Also, as Wolters World says pay the extra for the GPS. The GPS on your phone may not work as well in Ireland. Consider bringing a magnet for the back of your car reading: "STUDENT DRIVER PLEASE BE KIND".
When driving out on the country roads, raise one finger from the steering wheel and 'salute' oncoming drivers. They will often do the same automatically but look a bit confused as they wonder who you are. Try it! ☺️
Awesome video.. first time finding walters world. Really like the structure of your practical advice and jolly delivery. All of a sudden I want to buy some tickets to Ireland and check it out myself..
You are awesome. I've been prepping for a trip to Birr and your videos are great. Love that you're out here filling us in on euro travel tips. Thank you 🙏
Check to see if your credit card provider gives you rental car insurance coverage overseas too, you may save the rental company Insurance fees which can add quite a bit to the tab.
Unfortunately, Ireland is typically one of the few countries that are explicitly excluded from most credit cards’ car rental coverage (the other countries usually excluded are Israel, Italy and Jamaica). Therefore, you want to check your card’s terms and conditions very closely, especially if you are going to be renting in one of the four aforementioned countries.
A tip from a friend that traveled to Ireland and rented a car is to take copious pictures of the car beforehand. In his case it became a fairly significant scam, where the car rental place tried to charge him $2500 for every small cosmetic mark or dent that already existed when he picked it up. I have heard the same scam happen to travelers to Hawaii that rented cars.
Tip- If you are in the countryside try to avoid driving at night on the country roads , especially if it's raining. Visiblity is an issue when there is no lighting and oncoming cars can blind you with their headlights.
Always get the insurance in Ireland , and in fact you can’t rent a car without it . I had damage on my car when I returned it , someone put a big dent in it with their door or kicked it . You easily get used to driving on the left , and freedom of mobility is the best way to experience Ireland. Other drivers seem to be more courteous to motorists making driving there a positive experience. I didn’t go into Belfast on our visit , but with the proper instructions I would certainly do so when I go back there .
Mark is right about driving on the left. You will acclimate quickly so don't worry about it. Reserve your car in advance so that you can get an automatic.
It's so easy. Especially on busy streets where it's impossible to drive on the right . But on the highway it took a minute to realize the right lane was the passing lane
My first left driving was in Australia. I was scared a bit and after getting the rental car I nearly put myself on the wrong lane but it was 7am in the morning on a Saturday with nearly no traffic. Had the car the whole weekend, nothing happend at all - and then, 300 meters before the rental car agency to return the car I hit a (thanks god plastic!) trashcan - which spread its contents on the street. No dent or scratch on the car...
Bless you people of Ireland we are nervous about driving on a different side of the road in ireland but your highway markings and signs look pretty informative
Suggest you americans understand that anything you have learned in America about drving does not apply in Ireland. Our roads are excellent, we never overtake on the inside of the car in front, always use indictors expecially at roundabouts, you cannot turn on any RED light ever., always give way to the traffic coming from your right and enjoy our country... ☘
My wife and I are in Ireland for our honeymoon, we're from IN so it's definitely a huge culture shock. After being here for a few days (we spent time in Dublin but renting a car today to explore the countryside for a few days) I'm less worried about "driving on the left" and more worried about how the actual roads are designed, walking through Dublin people drive so fast and carelessly that I'm scared I won't have time to think about my next move before I get hit, and definitely a little worried about the highways and junctions lol wish me luck everyone
@@Paulhartrocks Pretty well actually, it's not much harder than driving in the US, but you have to remember that everything is backwards. I only struggled with the roundabouts, but after a short while It got easier.
My first time there I sat in the rental car for about 10 minutes with engine off practicing going thru the gears and clutch.any cars back home were always manual shifts so I was use to that. I met a couple at a B & B that solved the problem by whoever was passenger did the shifting,that took some teamwork.I also did what you said by turning car in at end of trip,stayed at B & B in town of Sword and took buses into Dublin
From personal experience - if you're lost in the Wicklow mountains, don't drive towards Sally Gap. The road is terrifyingly narrow and has a big drop on one side. There's nothing and no one there either.
i still drive and have been most of my adult life driving manual transmission cars mostly volkswagen golfs and gtis and am really looking forward to driving a manual european hatchback when i eventually make my way over to the land of most of my ancestors.
If you are going to ireland im not sure how easy it would be to get a hatchback anymore, most hatchbacks in ireland have been replaced by crossover suvs, especially the manual ones
regarding gas/petrol: They charge by the liter, not gallon so while it may look the same as in the US, it takes twice as much to fill the tank! Also, you fill up then go in and pay, not pay first.
I'm sure many people have heard about the American woman who left the RAF base in England and drove on the wrong side of the road and killed someone. She was the wife of someone in the USAF or something and claimed diplomatic immunity (she wasn't entitled to) and ran back to the US. To my knowledge she still hasn't paid for her actions and the US government has protected her. Don't be like this woman.
As an American that booked my car through Hertz, be aware you are REQUIRED to purchase insurance in Ireland. I booked the car for $700 and when I arrived at Hertz I had to pay another $500 for insurance! (They will not recognize our insurance from the States.)
No you are not. But you must instead put down a deposit of about 1,500 Euro instead of full insurance. All rental cars in Ireland come with basic insurance.
I just got back from Ireland and Northern Ireland, and had a few comments to add on driving. Getting used to driving on the left side wasn't too bad, however getting used to traffic passing next to the right side of my head, that was a bit unnerving. In my experience the roads up in Northern Ireland seemed more narrow and twisty than down in the Republic, though that may have been that we went further off the main thoroughfare from Derry to Belfast in Northern Ireland, whereas in the Republic we went from Dublin out to Ring of Kerry, Dingle and then a trip into Blarney. One thing I will say is Northern Ireland has much better public transport in the more country areas. We stayed in Portrush and were easily able to hop onto a normal bus to go out to Dunluce Castle and Giant's Causeway, which helped a lot with how expensive and limited parking can be.
@@jonaskerkhoff9389 I’m not sure.. between the pandemic and it being summer season probably make it higher but I literally couldn’t find one for less than 300 a day unless you’re getting it for like a week.
@@samarimccloud4947 I think the police bought up alot of the rental cars along with dealers offloading their fleet during the pandemic (as there were no tourists to rent them) They are about €100 per day for a compact and more for something bigger. That is much higher than they were pre-pandemic.
@@yermanoffthetelly I'm looking at SIXT and with insurance, international surcharge, and young driver surcharge I'm looking at 200€ per day. Around 1400€ for the whole week. Like I can afford that but I really don't want to lmao.
Drove the back roads, and I mean goat path type back roads, in Ireland in a rental car for a week. This video is spot on with one exception. I used Google maps on my phone and it was spot on itself, including speed limits and warnings. The biggest challenge was the speeds on the back roads that have twists and turns every 50-100 meters with no shoulders and stone walls and berms right next to the road! Covered the whole west and south coasts. Driving a 6-speed stick left handed took an hour to get used to (in the rain), but it was a wonderful week!!
Thank you for the helpful tips! I really want to rent a car and drive when I visit the UK and Ireland because I really want to see the coast and the countryside. I'm personally not too scared at the idea of driving on the other side or using manual transmission but I will say the roundabouts do freak me out a tad 😂Also thanks for the warning about blinkers, I live in MT currently and nobody here uses them either except me haha! We also have a lot of dirt roads that can only fit about one car at a time. Safe travels! 🍀
After living in Japan for a few years, I found that driving on the left and manual transmissions are actually pretty easy. Problematic was repatriation to the US and not driving on the left for a couple of weeks!
Haha so much emphasis on driving on the left. For those of us coming from Australia to America , nobody had to say anything about driving on the right. We were treated like adults, to which I thank my American brothers and sisters for trusting I was quite capable of handling it.
Local drivers in Northern Ireland who have passed their driving test must not drive over 45mph in their first year and they have to drive at 45 mph on the motorway which the speed limit is 70mph. Yes it's. a stupid law and is dangerous on the motorway . Thats why you need to be alert I have had to slam on the brakes because of this. it is annoying.
Thanks for this information.The law should mean, those drivers aren't allowed on the faster roads. They should take alternate routes. That's my opinion, due to safety. In the USA, we take the students onto the freeway (60-70mph) on their third or fourth lesson. (They should have at least 4 hours practice.) Freeway is easier than city driving. PS It is way too easy to get a license in the USA.
Yes, get insurance. But don't get just liability insurance. Get full coverage - liability, comprehensive, collision and uninsured/underinsured motorist. And get zero deductible. Yes, it will cost more but it will cost less if you end up needing it. The roads are narrow, people drive fast in Ireland, people park very close to the edge of the roadway and there are lots of roads lined with hedgerows that grow right on the edge of the roadway.
Reverse! I once spent most of a French lunch hour in the rental car parking lot due to not knowing how to get the car into reverse. Back in the US , my work truck was a Ford F250 5- speed---- I knew how to drive a manual, just did not know the trick of getting a Fiat into reverse.
I just returned from Ireland. I was very intimidated about driving, but I got in the car and tooled around the parking lot a bit. Once I pulled out into the road, I was good to go. It was fine. If you want an automatic, you have to specifically request it, which I did. And I agree, rental cars are a must have. Uber does not exist outside Dublin, and in the city, Uber works, but will only bring you a cab, which is fine. And yes, don't drive in the city.
If you are going to drive the same "loop" thru the country like all the tour busses do, go in the same direction as the busses do. The roads are narrow, and you don't really want to share corners with the oncoming busses (or semi trucks). Joke from the bus drivers: Ireland is known for its musicians and poets, not for its engineers.
May be wiser for those coming into Dublin off a long flight or flights, to stop over in Dublin for a night or two visit the city, then once the jet lag and general tiredness has worn off, then go rent a car. Also, on the motorways, don't be a "Granny lane camper" well a "right lane Camper" there are no fast or cruising lanes, only passing lanes, and speed limits are very much a maximum, not a target. If you are on a empty road do keep to the left, also passing on the left (The passenger side ) is not allowed. always pass to the right.
Love your comment on breaking a mirror. I hit a chuckhole /culvert near Loch Ness and jarred my teeth. It was a prespective thing from the left. But it was a fun challenge! Can't wait to give it a go in Ireland.
Love the part about the reverse gear. I discovered that on an Opel in RSA once. I drove fine from the airport to the hotel. Next morning I had to reverse out of parking and ...what the heck??? Actually had to check the owner's manual 😕😆
This is why I made my husband drive. lol. He did great! Didn’t even lose a mirror. I thought we would for sure. GPS is great until you stay in a castle hotel that doesn’t have an address. Still hands down my favorite vacation. We literally drove all over Ireland
@@UlliStein, a couple of them did, but a couple of them didn’t. The craziest thing was finding where my ancestors were buried. I had to use latitude/longitude to find that location along with the town folk directions. lol
As someone who lives in the UK, the amount of times I've seen people drive straight into a roundabout without looking is quite scary. I've had a couple of near misses with that. I'd maybe add considering using a dashcam whilst you're driving as a tip.
Hitchiking from Dublin to Galway in January as experienced first hand you may not need to know as much as to drive in Ireland. You need to know only to wear very warm clothing.
You should be aware that crossing the border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland might be easy technically BUT crossing into another jurisdiction usually is not allowed by your car rental company. And they have their cars equipped with GPS trackers, so they will know!
