First trip abroad (with or without caravan!)
Looking forward to taking our caravan abroad this summer on trip to Ireland. It's my first time abroad under any circumstances, although I have experience of ferries thanks to a trip to the Isle of Wight in the past.
We are staying at the Club associate Glen of Aherlow which is near Tipperary and taking the Stena Line ferry from Holyhead to Dublin.
Does anyone have any useful tips re nice places to visit, currency issues - access to ATM's - using UK Debit cards?
Any information is most welcome 
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You will hardly know you are abroad I would say except for paying in euros! I can't remember about the ATMs sorry but there is probably a charge! I travel with a prepaid card which works out quite well and avoids carrying too much cash. Mine is Caxton FX but I think the Post Office do them too. Have a great time its a lovely country.
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We also have a Caxton but last year opened a Nationwide Flex Plus account as it was cheaper, at £10 a month than the cost of our previous travel insurance alone, so was attractive and came with a free to use card for cash withdrawals along with other attractive benefits.
I have the visa app on the phone so would check the rate and get cash accordingly and used the balance on my Caxton for card purchases.
I will be keeping the Caxton as one advantage is being able to load it when the rates are good-if of course that ever happens again! Last time we loaded for a holiday it in late 2015 it was at €1.4 to the £.
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I imagine that being physically connected to part of the UK you should have no problems using any of your UK cards in the Republic. In recent years we have used a Halifax Clarity Card in Europe (other similar brands available) which is a credit card that gives full interbank rate and does not have any charges except for a small amount of interest if you leave paying the balance until the due date and when I say small it is!! We use it in Europe for getting cash out of ATM's and rarely use debit cards. You can use prepaid cards but personally I have never felt the need.
David
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I have travelled extensively around the Emerald Isle and can guarantee that you'll have a wonderful experience!
They're a little like the Germans in restaurants/bars when you're outside the cities or main towns, whereby some will not accept credit cards. There are plenty of cash machines, so no worries there, but take a bit of currency with you, just to be sure to be sure, as they say.
If you need anything and you need advice-just go into the first bar you see. They're generally the centre of all communities and they'll be only to happy to help you! If you want a cafe for example, you could drive all day and not find one - just go into the nearest pub/bar/hotel.
The Irish live life at a gentler pace than we do (away from the cities) and where you're staying is almost a gateway to probably the nicest part of Ireland-the south west. The coastline on the Dingle peninsula is, imho, some of the most spectacular and dramatic anywhere in the world. Waterford, Limerick and Cork are all about an hours' drive away, whilst Killarney, and then Dingle, Bantry and Kinsale are further afield, but each are worth seeing (particularly Kinsale if you like eating fresh fish!)
Wherever you get to, enjoy the Craic.
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Thanks for all the advice - I will certainly be better prepared because of it. It all sounds really good and special thanks to jonray57 you have certainly whetted our appetite - will let you know how we go on. It sounds right up our street - cant wait
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We also use Halifax Clarity for both purchases and cash, we never buy euros before we travel.
We have 2 cards so this year will use one for cash and one for purchases as it will then be easier to repay the cash should we wish.
Santander seem to have a similar card now, the Zero card, could also be interesting.
Whatever type of card you use, never allow the shop or ATM to convert to £s for you......that will work out very expensive compared to letting the card company do it.
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Stayed at this site last summer. The pub down the road serves a very nice pint of Guinness. You are not too far from Cork. Near to Cork is the last stop the Titanic made and there is a Titanic experience museum there. Well worth a visit. Also there is some nice walking near this site.
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Thanks KjelNN, will consider applying for a card, if it's practicable. Will call at the pub, Mitsi Fendt, though I have to say I am not a Guinness fan - maybe the Irish version is better than those I have tried in England! We enjoy walking so it's good to know there are some nice walks nearby - thank you.
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Another vote for Nationwide Flex Plus account £10 but that includes worldwide travel insurance, free ATM withdrawals plus other benefits - car breakdown, cover extended electrical warranties, mobile phone insurance and help with identy thrft. Also their credit card to this account commission free for purchases. Plus 5% interest on balances up to £2500. As far as I can see win win 😆. Don't forget the free insurance doesn't include existing conditions but I've found them very reasonable. We've had the account from introduction and regularly travel to NZ. No charges decent exchange rate and interest. Have a fabulous time.
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