The Ultimate Ireland How-To Guide

By: Sophia Johnette

As a part of a study abroad trip for my university, I traveled with 23 other students to Ireland.

Now that my trip has ended, I have curated some tips, tricks, and advice for your next trip. I will split this article up into sections because, if you’re anything like me, you’re only looking for certain pieces of advice. I’ll cover packing, preparation, locations, hotels, and things I wish I knew before going.

If you take away anything from this article, please let it be the section on what I wish I knew

before going. No matter how exciting your trip is planned to be, there are factors that come from yourself that will determine how the trip will go for you.

Packing

When they tell you that you’ll have multiple seasons in one day in Ireland, they weren’t kidding. Depending on the season, you’ll want to grab a rain jacket, waterproof pants, tennis shoes, waterproof boots, layers, and waterproof makeup (it can rain so hard that it’ll look like you got out of the shower). My group went in March, so I took a winter coat and warm gear with me. I’m getting ahead of myself, so first things first: your suitcase. I brought a checked bag, a carry-on, and a personal item. Out of the 24 of us on the trip, nobody brought just a carry-on bag. If you’re going for four days or less, then you can get away with not having a checked bag. Checked bags are usually pretty pricey, but this one on Amazon is less than 70 dollars!

Tip: if you’re planning on buying a new wardrobe in Ireland (which many of the girls did), you can buy your checked bag in Ireland (make sure you’ve paid for a checked bag through the airlines as well). You’d be surprised how much cheaper they are there. Just remember that there is an international fee when you purchase things with a card, so I would pay for some items with cash. Your carry-on can be a tiny suitcase, duffle bag, or a backpack. Every airline is different with the size limits, so make sure you’re aware of those requirements before you pack! I also recommend getting compression packing cubes. This is one of the biggest regrets I had (RIP to my gigantic sweatshirt that I had to throw away because it wouldn’t fit in my suitcase). It’s such a humbling experience to have to bounce on your suitcase to get it to smooth down.

Along with packing cubes, you’ll want to get travel bottles. Not doing this is another one of my regrets from my trip. I brought a bunch of travel-sized toiletries that ended up irritating my skin and was a waste of five dollars. The only travel-sized things you need are heat spray and toothpaste. Everything else can go into these refillable travel bottles. If you bring things

that you use every day, you won’t feel so out of whack and irritated like I did. The nice thing is that these bottles come in a clear case. Airlines have a big bugaboo about your liquids not being in a clear bag, so having one of these is nice.

You’ll also want to make sure you bring an adapter and converter that works in Ireland (not all of the European ones work in every European country, so you need to make sure you read before you purchase). The outlets in Ireland are very different, so an American phone charger won’t plug in without the adapter and converter.

If you use heat tools, be mindful that they might be too powerful for your adapter and converter. One of the girls almost caught the room on fire because her hairdryer was too powerful, creating a smoky smell in the room.

Preparation

Fun fact about Ireland, a lot of places don’t accept Discover cards. You’ll want to bring various forms of payment. For me, I only used cash and my Chase credit card and it worked out just fine. I did have a few other cards as backup in case one wasn’t accepted.

With getting cash, don’t wait until you get to the airport for cash. You’ll feel better having

everything you need before you get there. I took out 300 euros from my bank and that was plenty for me.

You’ll also want to make sure you call your banks and let them know you’re travelling abroad. Not only will it make you feel cool, it’ll also prevent your bank from flagging those international payments and not letting them go through. If you’re on medications, you need to make sure that you get a doctor’s note that says why you’re taking them. It didn’t happen to anyone on the trip, but sometimes they won’t let you take certain medications without authorization. And if you’re like me and have a container full of meds for every day of the week, make sure you don’t fill it up before you leave. Everything needs to stay in their bottles. I didn’t have an issue when I forgot about this rule, but some workers are very picky about this, so it’s better to be safe than sorry.

Another important part of travel preparation is safety. I know you’re probably feeling like I’m

sounding like your parents, but trust me, this is crucial. For my American friends, you’ll want to enroll in a program called STEP, which is short for Smart Traveler Enrollment Program. Ireland is a safe country, but no country is immune from terror attacks or violence. When you enroll in STEP, you’ll be alerted if something dangerous has happened in your area. This is a free program and is a key part of preparation.

The other part of safety preparation is to make sure you blend in. You’ll make yourself a more likely target if you’re constantly staring at Google Maps. Walk with confidence and figure out location plans in a private setting, away from the streets. And always, always, always be aware of your surroundings. If someone is fighting on one side of the street, go to the other. And if you’re ever in a situation where you feel uncomfortable, leave. I know we’re conditioned to not behave in a way that’s “rude” even if we’re uncomfortable, but I’d rather risk hurting someone’s feelings than risk my safety.

Tip: If you ever need to ask someone for directions, ask someone behind a counter. If they’re behind a counter, they can’t follow you. I’m sorry that this section was a little more heavy than most people would probably like. However, I do think it’s important to be informed. Knowledge is power, my friends. Okay, now onto the fun stuff!

Location One: Ennistymon

Ennistymon is a relatively small town but was an extremely charming and a wonderful

introduction to our trip. We stayed at the Falls Hotel and Spa, a luxurious hotel with a large free breakfast.

We stayed there for a few nights, but to be completely honest with you, you can get all you need out of Ennistymon in one day. Like I said, it’s a small town. It’s definitely a town I could not have gone without seeing, but I could’ve seen it all in 24 hours. However, I will say that this town is very close to the Cliffs of Moher, so it’s definitely an ideal place to stay if you want to visit the cliffs more than once.

Tip: You know how most cities have crosswalk signs? Ennistymon doesn’t. You just have to

cross the street and hope for the best. There’s no light telling you when it’s safe to go (and even then, I’ve seen people run those lights in other areas of Ireland).

Location Two: a Day Trip to Galway

I won’t lie to you, Galway was very crowded and some of the hidden roads made me clutch my purse a little tighter. It was a safe city, but it’s still a city and deserves some caution.

I cannot give much advice for Galway since we only had a little bit of time there, so I didn’t get to see much. This is one of my biggest regrets and I wish I could’ve stayed there longer. If I could redo it, here’s some things I would have loved to see in Galway.

1. Galway Cathedral

2. Salthill Promenade

3. The Latin Quarter

4. Galway Bay

5. Dunguaire Castle

6. Menlo Castle

Location Three: Cork

I loved Cork. Cork was a huge city but in a European way (to me, Dublin felt like New York

City, not so much European). The walkways were huge and it was hard to tell where the cars

were supposed to drive. There was plenty of shopping to do in this city, and that was pretty much all we did in Cork. Most of our Cork experience was spending a bit of our day in Cork, and then the rest of the day doing day trips.

My only complaint about Cork was the walk up to our hotel, The Address. We had to take steep hills up isolated parts of the city to get to our hotel. However, I will say that our hotel was very lovely. The only con was that the location sucked if you were planning on walking everywhere. I would get a taxi, to be honest with you. Even the most athletic people were sweating and huffing on the way back to the hotel.

Location Four: a Day Trip to Cobh

Our first day trip was to the town of Cobh, which is pronounced like the word cove. This was by far my favorite town we’ve visited. It looked like an Irish take on the Mediterranean. This place was rooted in its beautiful shopping district, colourful architecture, and history. Here’s a little bit of history for you: Cobh was the Titanic’s last port of call; the unsinkable ship that sank in 1912.

One of my favorite parts about this town was that it felt alive but not bursting with people. I’m a very introverted person, so the less people I interact with, the better. This place wasn’t desolate by any means, but it wasn’t tortured by a swarm of incoming tourists and visitors. It felt like a calm place that made you feel like a local.

Location Five: a Day Trip to Blarney Castle

From Cork we did a quick bus ride over to Blarney Castle. If you’ve ever wanted to feel like a medieval princess, this is the place to go. “We explored the castle and it made my middle school self squeal because I used to love anything and everything medieval. The stairs [we took to get to the Blarney Stone] were borderline unsafe, but it was very fun! I almost chickened out on the big smooch [kissing the Blarney Stone to get the “gift of the gab”], but I’m glad I didn’t.” — my diary entry from March 10th, 2025.

It’s definitely a bucket list experience that everyone should do. It’s safe to kiss the Blarney

Stone, in case you were wondering. They have bars that prevent you from falling down while you’re hanging slightly upside down. They also have someone holding your body for extra support. At the end of the day, I’d say it was far more scary going up those stairs than it was to hang upside down to kiss the stone. The stairs were very steep and skinny, and you had to hold onto a rope to avoid falling down. I would buy your coffee after you go up the stairs. The only thing you’ll have the strength to hold onto is the rope and your prayers. I’m being dramatic, it wasn’t that bad, but it was a little nerve-wracking.

Location Six: Dublin, Our Last City

Dublin was a nice city, but I couldn’t imagine spending a week there. Like I said before, it’s still a European city, but it has more of a New York atmosphere to it than the other places we saw. But if you’re a fan of Sally Rooney’s “Normal People” then you should definitely spend some time here. I would guess that if you’re going to catch a glimpse of Paul Mescal in Ireland, it’ll probably be in Dublin. Our tour guide to Trinity College Dublin told us that a few years ago, Paul Mescal was spotted at the school and a bunch of the people on the tour were going crazy over the sight.

The only confusing thing about Dublin was the duplicates of the hotel. I would definitely pin the hotel’s location once you get there because Google Maps could take you to a different hotel in the same area with the same name. We stayed at the Staycity Aparthotels, Dublin, Tivoli. It was very nice, small, but had apartment amenities, which was a very nice plus.

We went to Trinity College Dublin, Dublin Castle (only the outside), and The Book of Kells

Experience. I loved touring Trinity College Dublin, which is where the Book of Kells is located.

The Book of Kells is an important piece of history for Ireland’s Christian population (and it

survived Viking raids, which is pretty cool). We only had one full day in Dublin, so I can’t really say too much, but I will say that this city was wonderful for shopping. If you have a chance, stop into one of the sweater markets. They’re slightly on the expensive side, but they’re high quality and will stay with you for a long time. I bought a dual-toned blanket scarf at one of the sweater shops and it’s by far my favorite scarf.

Things I Wish I Knew Before Going

Number One: Your experience is highly dependent on who you’re with

When I went on the trip, the first three days were miserable for me and all I wanted to do was go home. The 24 of us split off into separate groups, and I ended up being stuck with a group that was not very nice to me (a few girls were nice enough). For context, I was only with this group because my good friends on the trip wanted to be with them. So if I wanted to be with her, I had to be with them too (it also didn’t help that I didn’t know too many people on the trip). On the third night, I made the decision to screw them. I decided that I was paying too much money to make myself miserable by being around people I did not want to be around. At the end of the day, I had to decide to choose me.

No matter how grand your trip is planned out to be, you will be miserable if you’re with the

wrong company. You can’t spend the rest of your life basing your decisions on how other people will feel or think. You have to do things for yourself and find happiness on your own terms. Find good people, be yourself, and figure out what it is that you want and do it. As I said it best in my diary, “Life’s better when you stay away from posh people and do whatever you want.”

Number Two: Stop the Comparisons

I think as women it’s our natural curse to compare ourselves to other women. When I was with the first group of girls (the not-so-nice ones), I felt like I was comparing myself to them. Why wasn’t I as popular as them? Am I as pretty as them? Why am I not cool enough for them to talk to me? The list goes on and on. It’s a crappy way to feel about yourself, especially when every single one of us is so beautifully and wonderfully designed in our own ways. I quit comparing myself when I got outside, figuratively speaking and literally speaking.

Another article discusses this far better than I can, but being outside in nature really does alter your mindset. Life gets more quiet and you forget about all the tension from your day. In a figurative sense, the root of comparison rests inside ourselves. It’s a horrible innate curse that we must overcome. When you feel the desire to compare yourself to someone else, that’s the time when you step outside of yourself. Find something else to focus your energy and attention on. You’ll find that after you do this, the desire to compare melts away.

Number Three: Find Peace in Your Own Skin

No matter what age you are, I believe we go through cycles of turbulence where we struggle to be present with ourselves and to be comfortable with who we are. Think about it, we change so much throughout our lives and we have to constantly get used to the latest versions of ourselves. When traveling, I think it’s easy to feel uncomfortable about yourself and to not be in the present moment. We get swept up in what everyone else is doing and what we think we should be doing, and we forget to be in the moment with the world around us.

Another article gives wonderful tips and advice for navigating self-discovery and comfort, and the ideas in there are ones I use in my personal life. Especially for traveling, I believe journaling to be extremely beneficial. Traveling in itself can be turbulent without the personal aspects, so having a truly authentic medium of expression is incredibly important for understanding your feelings and navigating your own mind. All in all, be true to yourself, try new things, and enjoy the experience!