Survival Guide

1. Accommodation2. Job Hunting3. Culture Shock4. Bank5. Getting Around6. Communication7. Health8. Personal Safety9. Things to doDublin 2017

On-campus accommodation

Campus accommodation is always in demand, can be relatively expensive and quite difficult to find. All universities have halls of residence, generally as apartments of 4 to 8 students, with a private bedroom and shared kitchen, living room and bathroom. On campus accommodation must normally be paid in 2 installments, in September and in February. In most campus accommodation, it is not possible to pay your rent on a monthly basis. You will usually have to pay a deposit of one month’s rent in advance, refunded when you leave. Utilities such as heating are usually extra, although several halls of residence include heat and electricity in their initial charge and deduct payment for usage in excess of the average allowed for from the deposit when you leave. It is important to check arrangements with your college.

Long-term student hostel

This is another option with quite limited availability, but which can be quite flexible. You stay in a hostel with other students and your monthly rent provides for use of a communal living area and kitchen, along with a bedroom. Breakfast and sometimes dinner will be included in the rent, as are utility bills.

Accommodation with a family

You can live as a paying guest in an Irish home, where you have your own room with space to study, but otherwise share the house with the family. This is a popular option with students attending English Language Schools, especially for short courses, but is also an arrangement that works well for many further and higher education students. In Ireland, accommodation with a family is commonly known as living in “digs”. In other countries it may be better known as "homestay". Normally, morning and evening meals will be provided but you will need to buy your own midday meal on campus or elsewhere. There are no extra charges for heat, light etc., and some of your laundry will be done. Useful website: www.homestay.com/ireland/dublin; www.dublinhomestay.ie

Private rented accommodation

The options here include renting a bed-sit, a flat/apartment or sharing a house. It is usually cheaper to share accommodation with others.

A bed-sit is a essentially a single room unit with basic cooking facilities (a mini-kitchen area), a bed and some additional furniture. Toilet and bathroom facilities are generally shared with the other occupants of the building through there may be a self-contained shower.

A flat or apartment will offer a kitchen and living room (possibly combined), a bathroom and one or more bedrooms. Again, quality and cost varies. A compact one bedroom unit may cost little more than a bed-sit, while a three bedroom flat/apartment will cost substantially more.

A house or apartment share with other people can be the cheapest, as bills are divided among more people. Sharing a room can reduce costs even further.

In all cases, rents are usually payable monthly and in advance. At the beginning of a letting period you pay a deposit of one month's rent, which will be refunded when you leave (provided you have not caused any damage to the premises). The normal length of a lease is 9 or 12 months, and it can be difficult to find anything shorter. If you break a lease without notice or if you do not adhere to the terms of the lease, you will lose your deposit. Notice of one month should be given before you leave the premises.

You will be able to rent a room starting from 300€/month. The average room is between 400€ and 500€. If you are willing to share an apartment in a relatively new building (on the last decade, a lot of new buildings have been constructed), the price will be around 550€ and 600€. If you are looking for an apartment just for yourself, expect a 1000-1200€ price range. All these prices are approximations only. Real prices will vary depending on your preferences and on the neighborhood you choose to live in.

What are my accommodation options?Rent is likely to be your largest item of expenditure but prices can vary greatly depending on the type of accommodation chosen. The amount could be as little as EUR 300 per month for a shared room through to EUR 700 or more for a modest self-contained flat in Dublin. On campus accommodation is in heavy demand and is priced at the higher end of this range. You will have a range of options to choose from, with varying costs.

Accommodation

Student accommodation in Ireland falls into four broad types:

Comments on the map of Dublin that will help you to know where you are

� The Liffey River divides the city into North (odd numbers) and South (pair numbers).

� In the south of the city, there are medium/upper class neighborhoods. Lots of houses (less apartments as you go south), gardens, colored doors, architectonic details, lots of trees, etc.

� The north of the city has medium/lower class neighborhoods. Lots of small apartments, flats, old plain facades…

� In the port areas, Dublin 4 and Dublin 7, there are lots of new affordable flats, but there is not much to do. There are almost no shops or supermarkets.

� Dublin 6 is the area with more students.

� There are some areas in Dublin that you should avoid going out at night, specially alone, such as O’Connel Street and surroundings areas in the North.

TIP

IMPORTANT

To move faster around the city (and surroundings), we recommend you to consider the location of Public Transport different stops.

In Dublin, the number of students needing accommodation has kept growing and the available accommodation hasn’t kept up. International students who have not secured campus accommodation may face extra challenges.

In Dublin, this is the public TRANSPORT AVAILABLE:

Dublin Bus: metropolitan buses. � Official website: www.dublinbus.ie � iPhone App: Dublin Bus � Android App: Dublin Bus

LUAS: metropolitan tram. � Official website: www.luas.ie See map � iPhone App: LUAS � Android App: Luas times

DART / Irish Rail: Ireland rail. � Official website: www.dart.ie See map � iPhone App: Ireland Rail � Android App: Next Train Ireland

Where can I get assistance to find accommodation?

Internet: There are websites that you can access to find apartments and house shares. The leading rentals websites in Ireland are www.daft.ie and www.rent.ie

Things to remember

� All students are being advised to start their searching early. International students who need to get familiar with Dublin should allow as much time as they possibly can.

� Do as much research as you can online, but be prepared to really check out the areas you are considering renting in. If there are people in the city you know and trust ask them for recommendations.

� Thoroughly check out public transport connections between where you will study or work and where you might live. Some areas can look quite close to your college on a map, but they may not make for easy travel by bus or tram.

� Do not rush and simply take the first place available even if you feel under pressure. � Make full use of any accommodation support offered by your college or students’

union, though these services will themselves be under pressure. � Be aware that there have been scams on students seeking accommodation in Dublin -

e.g. taking payment online for accommodation that is not for rent.

What factors should I consider before I choose my accommodation?When considering accommodation off campus, you should try to find out how good the transport links will be to get to your classes and how much time you will need to commit to travelling. Also, be sure to budget for the additional costs, apart from rent, that you will face with each type of accommodation. Living with a family may offer the lowest rent and include utility costs and some meals but you will need to budget for buying additional meals. Setting yourself up in privately rented accommodation can be quite expensive and involve a number of up-front costs:

� Deposits and connection charges for electricity and/or gas may have to be paid. There is also the option of setting up a direct debit from your bank account, from which the bill total will automatically be deducted each month. The deposit cost varies from EUR 150 upwards and is refundable, or offset against your bill.

� You may have to supply your own bedding and maybe a few kitchen items, allow about EUR 150.

� A TV licence costs EUR 160 a year for a colour television and is a legal requirement for any household with a TV equipment.

� Cost of heat and light: EUR 40 - EUR140 a month, depending on the type of accommodation, the number of people sharing and the amount consumed.

If you are moving into an already occupied house, some of these costs will have been met and you may not have to pay out such a large sum.

How is rent usually paid?

You will need to agree a payment method with your landlord. He/she may want you set up a monthly Standing Order with your bank. This means that the rent will be paid from your bank account directly into the property owner’s bank account each time it is due. You will need the owner to provide you with the name of his/her bank and account number and go to your bank to set up payment by Standing Order. This can be done at the branch in which your account has been set up, or by telephone banking, if your bank offers this service.

Alternatively, he or she may want to receive a cheque or collect the rent from you in cash. You should always make sure you obtain a receipt or an entry in your rent book if you pay in cash.

http://www.movetodublin.com/http://www.icosirl.ie

RESOURCES

Employment Opportunities for International Students

Many people in Ireland seek part time employment while studying in Ireland. Unfortunately, it has become more difficult for students to secure part time jobs in Dublin over the past year due to the downturn in the global economy. Knowledge of English is important and you will have the opportunity to improve your linguistic skills even more.

Prepare Curriculum Vitae/ ResumesThese are generally referred to in Ireland as a ‘CV’. To have more information about it, try to attend one of the monthly free CV workshops at Frances King. Giuliana or Rebeca will help you to produce a CV in English. You can also find more information on http://www.irishjobs.ie/careeradvice/cv-writing-tips/

Start visiting places of work (shops, restaurants, hotels etc) in person and leave your CV for reviewPlease note that you may be required to attend an interview for a position, if so, dress well and arrive. You will find jobs all throughout Dublin in pubs, hotels,... Types of jobs in hotels include porters, kitchen staff, waiters and waitresses, and cleaning staff. A lot of hotels also provide employees with food and accommodation, but charges may be deducted from your monthly wage.

Go to recruitment agencies where you will get information about different jobs available at the moment. They are companies that publish and promote job offers from other companies, carry out the selection process and finally introduce the potential candidates found to the contracting company. Recruitment Agencies get profit only when the applicant is effectively hired, this is why they will strive to help you to find the job (as long as you meet the requirements). Nowadays all the employment agencies have their own website where the offers available are published, so you only need to visit them and check them out. Google “recruitment agencies Dublin” to have a complete list of recruitment agencies in Dublin or check http://www.movetodublin.com/recruitment-agencies-in-dublin/

Check the following websites on a weekly bases to find new job vacancies

Job Hunting in Dublin

HOW TO LOOK FOR A JOB IN DUBLIN – STEP BY STEP:

Irish jobs (www.irishjobs.ie/)

Loadzajobs (www.loadzajobs.ie/)

Recruit Ireland (www.recruitireland.com/)

Monster (www.monster.ie/)

Best Jobs (www.bestjobs.ie/)

Employ Ireland (www.employireland.com/)

My job (www.myjob.ie/)

Construction jobs (www.construction-jobs.ie/)

Computers Jobs (www.computerjobs.ie/)

1800 People (www.1-800People.com)

Hotel Jobs (www.hoteljobs.ie/)

CPL (www.cpl.ie/)

Eolas (www.eolas.ie/)

Opportunities in Local Government (www.localgovernmentjobs.ie/)

Sales Jobs (www.salesjobs.ie/)

Dublin city jobs (www.dublincityjobs.ie/)

Brightwater (www.Brightwater.ie)

Job in Ireland (www.jobinireland.com/)

Ireland Job (www.irelandjobs.ie/)

Admin Jobs (www.adminjobs.ie/)

IDA Ireland (www.idaireland.com/)

Recruitireland (www.recruitireland.com/)

Gradireland (www.gradireland.com/)

Gumtree ( www.gumtree.ie/)

Top Language Jobs ( www.toplanguagejobs.ie/)

From the 1st of January, 2016 the minimum wage is €9.15 per hour.

Google “open day jobs Dublin”, “open day employment Dublin”.An Open Day is a method that companies have to find new candidates. In an Open Day, the company shows the job offers available.

Google “recruitment open day dublin” o “recruitment event dublin”. A recruitment event is similar to an Open Day, but this time many companies participate. It is also a good time to find a job.

Most of the newspapers provide daily offers on specific topics A recruitment event is similar to an Open Day, but this time many companies participate. It is also a good time to find a job.

GOOD LUCK!

Once you have a job: Get a PPS number

If you are taking up employment in Ireland you will need to obtain a PPS Number to be registered with the Irish Tax office, which is called Revenue. You cannot obtain a PPS number simply because you are looking for work, only when you can show you have an offer to take up employment.

Please note that the PPS Number allocation centre for County Dublin only deals with appointments booked online at www.welfare.ie/en/Pages/Personal-Public-Service-Number-How-to-Apply.aspx

Documents that may accompany an application for PPS Number

If you are from OUTSIDE the EU/EEA you will need:

� Your Passport or 1951 Travel Document � Evidence of address in Ireland.

If you are from the EU/EEA you will need:

� Your Passport or National Identity Card � Evidence of address in Ireland.

Remember:

� The entitlement to take up employment ceases once your student visa finishes. Following completion of your studies, if you wish to continue in employment, you will require a work permit to do so.

� All international students working in Ireland are covered under Irish legislation � The legal minimum wage per hour is €8.65 � If you are experiencing financial or personal difficulty in the work place, please feel free to contact the following

for assistance:

Department of Enterprise, Trade & EmploymentDavitt House, 65a Adelaide Road, Dublin 2.Telephone: +353 1 631 2121LoCall: 1890 220 222Fax: +353 1 631 2827Email: info@entemp.ie

EU Nationals and other EEA Citizens (Includes EU National Citizens of Iceland, Liechtenstei, Norway plus Switzerland.)

Non EU/EEA National

Birth Certificate/ Passport

Current Valid Passport

or National

Identity Card

Current Valid Passport

or Current Valid 1951 Travel Document

AddressEvidence of address in

Ireland

Evidence of address in

Ireland

It’s only temporary

Culture shock is more than a feeling of homesickness or jetlag. It can lead to quite severe symptoms, such as feelings of nausea, frustration, extreme tiredness and confusion. It is also a very typical experience for students who have travelled through different time zones to come to Frances King.

Culture Shock

Settling into a new country, learning how to live in a new town, speak the language, make friends, shop and cook........ this is not simple. So it’s no surprise that you might start to feel anxious, depressed, or stressed. But these feelings will pass. As you become more confident in your language ability, as you make friends, and as you get to know your way around, you will start to enjoy all the differences of this new culture.

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2 Things will be different

But that doesn’t mean they are wrong. You may be surprised how different the culture is. People may wear more casual clothes, behave differently with the opposite sex, be very strict about punctuality, or drink and smoke in public. This does not mean that you also have to do all these things, but you do have to accept that they are part of this culture. Instead of being overly critical, ask questions to work out what is considered ‘normal’.

You are suddenly on your own Culture shock is a series of phases

Its up to you

This may be the first time you have lived away from home. So it helps to learn some important skills before you leave. Learn how to cook a few of your favourite meals, make sure you can do your own washing and do regular chores such as cleaning. You will probably be living with people you don’t know, such as a family homestay or with other students. Think how you could be considerate of their needs.

When your going through culture shock, it helps to recognise which phase you are in. Be patient!Honeymoon phase: Everything is exciting when you first arrive, especially the differences.Crisis phase: Suddenly these differences are hard to deal with. You don’t like the food, you can’t understand the accent, or you may get lost trying to find the supermarket or bus stop. You didn’t think it would be like this, and you find it difficult to focus on your studies.Adjustment phase: As you become more confident speaking the language and with your daily routine, things get a little easier. You make new friends, join in community activities, and learn how to deal with any problems.Bi-cultural phase: Now you feel comfortable living in two cultures at the same time. You feel like you belong.

How you cope with culture shock is entirely up to you. And there are things you can do to make it easier. Remember, overcoming culture shock is vital if you want to get the most from your studies. And it is also the best way to boost your confidence and get the skills you need to work and travel around the world

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Etiquette and Customs in Ireland

Business Etiquette and Protocol in Ireland

Meeting Etiquette � The basic greeting is a handshake and a hello or

salutation appropriate for the time of day. � Eye contact denotes trust and is maintained

during a greeting. � It is customary to shake hands with older

children. � Greetings tend to be warm and friendly and often

turn into conversations.

Meeting and Greeting � Irish businesspeople are generally less formal and more outwardly friendly than in many European countries. � Shake hands with everyone at the meeting. � Handshakes should be firm and confident. � Shake hands at the beginning and end of meetings. � Make sure to smile! � The Irish are generally rather casual and quickly move to first names. � Business cards are exchanged after the initial introductions without formal ritual. � Many businesspeople do not have business cards, so you should not be offended if you are not offered one in return.

Communication StyleIrish businesspeople are generally less formal and The Irish have turned speaking into an art form. Their tendency to be lyrical and poetic has resulted in a verbal eloquence. They use stories and anecdotes to relay information and value a well-crafted message. How you speak says a lot about you in Ireland. The Irish appreciate modesty and can be suspicious of people who are loud and tend to brag. They dislike a superiority complex of any sort. So, for example, when discussing your professional achievements it is best to casually insert the information in short snippets during several conversations rather than embarking on a long self-centred outline of your successes. Communication styles vary from direct to indirect depending upon who is being spoken to. There is an overall cultural tendency for people to view politeness as more important than telling the absolute truth. This means that you may not easily receive a negative response. When you are being spoken to, listen closely. A great deal may be implied, beyond what is actually being said. For example, if someone becomes silent before agreeing, they have probably said “no”. They may also give a non-committal response. This may be due to the fact that the Gaelic language does not have words for “yes” or “no”. There is a tendency to use understatement or indirect communication rather than say something that might be contentious. Generally speaking they do not like confrontation and prefer to avoid conflict, which they attempt to avoid by being humorous and showing good manners.

Business MeetingsCompany or organisational cultures differ widely in Ireland. As a result you may find meetings vary in their approach and substance. In one setting the purpose of a meeting is to relay information on decisions that have already been made, whereas in another it may be the time to get feedback and input.Following on from this, meetings may be structured or unstructured. In most cases they will be relaxed. It is customary to have a period of small talk before the actual meeting which is when a rapport is built to take forward into the meeting. Meetings may occur in several venues, not merely the office. It is quite common to conduct a business meeting in a restaurant or pub. This allows all participants to be on equal footing. Expect a great deal of discussion at meetings. Everyone is expected to participate and they do, often at great length. The Irish like to engage in verbal banter and pride themselves on being able to view a problem from every angle.

Gift Giving Etiquette � In general, the Irish exchange gifts on birthdays and

Christmas. � A gift need not be expensive. It is generally thought

in giving something personal that counts. � If giving flowers, do not give lilies as they are used at

religious festivities. Do not give white flowers as they are used at funerals.

� Gifts are usually opened when received.

Visiting a Home � If you are invited to an Irish home be on time

(chances are food has been cooked and being late could spoil it)

� Bring a box of good chocolates, a good bottle of wine for to the host.

� Offer to help with clearing the dishes after a meal. � Table manners are relatively relaxed and informal. � The more formal the occasion, the stricter the

protocol. When in doubt, watch what others are doing.

� Table manners are Continental, i.e. the fork is held in the left hand and the knife in the right while eating.

� Do not rest your elbows on the table, although your hands should remain visible and not be in your lap.

OUR ADVICE

When a foreigner has just arrived in Ireland, it is very common to start hanging out with people from the same nationality, since it is easier to communicate and it also helps adapting better to the new country.However, even though it may seem difficult to integrate with the Irish Culture, it is very important to take part in local activities such as meet ups, festivals, traditional pubs and trips to the countryside always trying to interact with the locals. That way your experience will be much richer as well as your learning.Trying to speak English all the time even with friends from the same nationality will help your fluency and make you more confident about your English.

Bank Account Sending and receiving money

Get Cash Out from an ATM and Get Cash Back from a Shop

You will find that some form of bank account is necessary if you are living and working in Ireland. Having a bank account allows you to save money, to make financial transactions, to receive your pay etc.

Bank

Most banks ask for a form of identification with a photograph on it (such as a passport or a driver’s licence) and proof of address (such as a utility bill addressed to the applicant). You cannot use the same document as proof of both your identity and your address.

To apply for a bank account, you need: � €5 to open the account � Passport � Enrolment Letter � A Bank Statement from your account in your

country or your parents Bank Statement from their account

� Your most recent Payslip from employment in your country, if you have had a job in the past

� One of these documents to show proof of address:

� A posted or e-statement from a foreign financial institution in your own country where the address has been changed to your current Irish residential address.

� A medical insurance document that must have your full name, current Irish residential address and policy number.

� A bill of addressed in your name.

Please Allow 5-10 days to open the bank account and receive bank card

Important information about your bank accountWhen you open your bank account you must activate and use the account within 3 months of opening it. There must be transactions on the account.

If you need to receive money or send it abroad in a matter of hours, you will not be able to do it through a bank. Banks are usually slow. They take days to wire your money (and you obviously need a bank account). However, the following companies provide a fast, safe and reliable money-transferring service:

www.westernunion.comwww.moneygram.comwww.paypal.com

There are not as many ATMs around Dublin as other capital cities. Due to this, it is common that when you go to a supermarket, at the moment of paying, the cashier will ask if you need cash back (if they do not ask, you can request it). They do not charge anything for the transaction, they just add the amount to your receipt and give you the cash.

Dublin Bus Dublin Taxis Student Travelcard

LUAS

DART

Dublin Bikes

In Dublin, this is the public transport available:

Getting around

These are metropolitan buses.Official website: www.dublinbus.ie

Dublin is a city with many taxis. To get an idea, Dublin has the same amount of taxis as New York: around 13 000. The difference is that New York has a population of 19 million and Dublin has 1.5 million.

During the day, in Dublin, perhaps you will not notice all the taxis that are on the streets, but during the night, taxis making queues do not go unnoticed. Not long ago, many people complained about the lack of taxis in the city. Licenses for driving taxis were expensive and people could not afford them. Later on, the prices of the license went down and the number of licenses increased. Conclusion: the streets were invaded by taxis.

Taxi fares from the airport to the city centre cost between €20 and €30. An average ride around the centre of Dublin costs between €5 - €8.

You can recognize a taxi by the yellow sign on its roof. It says TAXI or TACSI.

For further information, visit: www.transportforireland.ie

If you are a student, we recommend you obtain a Student Travel Card in order to get discounts in a lot of establishments, on public transport and with Dublin Bikes. A foreign student card will not be valid in many establishments.

For further information, visit:www.studenttravelcard.ie

Students who are eligible are currently studying for at least 6 months duration with a minimum 20 hours class time per week. There is a new card produced every September to validate your student status. This means there are two cards in circulation from September until December every year. If you purchase the card in September 2015, it will expire in December 2016. The expiry date is printed on the card. Student Travelcard work on the student’s behalf to ensure both the travel and retail discounts are of real value to card holders.

This is the metropolitan tram.Official website: www.luas.ie

This is the Irish Rail.Official website: www.dart.ieiPhone App: Ireland RailAndroid App: Next Train IrelandIf you do not have a defined route yet, you may want to buy a Leap Card. It will allow you to use all means of public transport in Dublin for a reduced fare. It is cheaper than buying one-way tickets.

Dublin is one of the European most bike-friendly capitals. If you do not have a bike, you can use Dublin Bikes (Dublin’s public bike service). The fee is only €20 per year. The first 30 minutes of each journey is free.

MicroSIM to SIM adapter

If your current mobile is a last generation mobile and uses a microSIM, and you want to use that microSIM in a mobile that only works with SIM, then, you will need a microSIM to SIM adapter. These adapters are pieces of plastic with the shape of a SIM but with a small space to incorporate the microSIM.You can buy one of these adapters in any mobile store in Dublin, for example, Carphone Warehouse or Microsim-shop.com.

Internet Cafes in Dublin

Global Internet Caféwww.globalcafe.ieAddress: 8 Lower O’Connell St,Dublin 1Phone: 01 878 0295

Central Internet Caféwww.centralinternetcafe.comAddress: 6 Grafton Street,Dublin 2Phone: 01 677 82 98

Communication

Mobile Phone Operators in IrelandThe main telephone companies that you can find in Dublin (Ireland) are:

� Three � Meteor � Lyca

Unlike in other countries, in Ireland you can use your pay-as-you-go phone to access the Internet from your mobile. You just have to make sure you have credit.

Internet Operators in IrelandThere are several internet operators that provide internet service and Internet+TV+Phone packages. Tri-band is really popular in Ireland. The most popular companies are:

� UPC � SKY � EIRCOM

If you have already found accommodation and you want to know which companies work n your area, visit Bonkers.ie.

Emergency telephone numbers in Dublin For medical emergencies, you can call St James Hospital.Dial 01 454 5607. If you are unable to reach a hospital, you can call 01 830 0244 and a doctor will visit you.If you need an ambulance, call 999 or 112. If you do not have the right to free health assistance yet, you will be charged €100 for the emergency service.

Health

Public Health Care in IrelandUnfortunately, public health care in Ireland is not universal. This means that according to your income, you will receive a certain level of medical assistance. In other words, people who just arrive to Ireland do not receive free medicalassistance. If you are a European citizen, it is highly recommended that you bring a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). This document will allow you toreceive the necessary medical assistance. If you do not have an EHIC or an Irish Health Insurance Card, you will be considered a private patientand thus, you will have to pay for the service you get. The first time you go for a consultation in a hospital, you will have to pay a non-refundable €100 fee. Consultations with a local GP (General practitioner) cost between €50-€€60.To obtain an Irish Health Insurance Card, you need aminimum of one year residing in Ireland. From that moment on, you will have the right to medical assistance like every other Irish citizen.You will be able to register yourself as a patient with a GP. There can be a long waiting time for consultations in hospitals, including emergencies. We recommend that you don’t go in the afternoon or at night because you might have to wait for up to 9 hours! To avoid these problems, you may want to buy Private Health Insurance.You can attend private hospitals and you often see a doctor much quicker for aconsultation. If you plan to work in Ireland, often the company that hires you will pay for your health insurance.

Private Health Insurance in IrelandIf you can afford private health insurance, it is the best option. Before you arrive in Ireland, you should take out insurance for your own financial and personal security. If you are EU national, you should bring your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) which allows access to health care services.

TIP: Medicine is expensive. If you often need some kind of medicine, bring a big amount of it to Ireland.

For more information: � Health Service Executive � Dublin Well Woman Centre � Citizen Information � Department of Health

Your personal belongings

Using your credit card

Dublin is generally a safe place to be but as with a lot of big cities there are sometimes pickpockets and thieves. We would like to help you to avoid being a victim of these crimes. Here is some friendly advice to help you have a safe and worry-free time in Dublin.

Personal Safety

Do not leave your purse, wallet or phone or on the table in a restaurant.Try to carry as little cash as possible.Make sure your wallet, purse or phone is in a pocket or bag and can’t be seen by a pick pocket. It might be best to have a bag with a zip.Try to put your purse, wallet or phone in an inside pocket of your bag not in an easily accessible pocket on the outside of your bag.Watch your belongings at all times and keep them close to you. Be careful of people approaching you in the street or when sitting at a restaurant, they might be trying to distract you so they can take your phone, wallet or purse. If someone says they are a Police Officer and wants to talk to you. You can ask to see their identification or you could ask to go to the police station because you are worried about giving out information. Only keep things in your bag that are essential to you. For example, in Ireland you do not need to carry your identification card or passport with you at alltimes, so the safest place for this is at home.

Do not give your pin number to anyone. You should never be asked for it even by your bank, a Police Officer or a shop assistant. When you are getting cash froma cash point, make sure there is no one looking over your shoulder before you start and be aware of people around you while you use the cashpoint.Most Irish people cover their hand while they enter their pin number into a machine, so don’t worry that this might appear to be rude

Tourist attractions National Museums

Parks and Gardens Coastal townsPubs, music and beer in Dublin

Tours

Monuments

Art galleries

Libraries

Things to do in Dublin

Temple Bar, Dublin Castle,Christchurch, St Patricks Church, The Guinness Storehouse, The Old Jameson Distillery, Trinity College Dublin,Dublinia, Kilmainham Jaill and...Pubs!

The National Gallery, National Print Museum, Natural History Museum, The Museum of Modern Art.

Phoenix Park, Garden of Remembrance, St Stephen’s Green, National Botanical Gardens, The Iveagh Gardens.

In the surrounding area you canvisit:

Howth, Dun Laoghaire, Dalkey,Bray, Wicklow,Newgrange, Powerscourt Gardens, Belvedere House Gardens Wicklow Mountains,Glendalough,Malahide Castle and Gardens

If you are looking for an area to go out at night, listen to music(or not), drink all the beer you want and visit Dublin’s most emblematic pubs, then you are looking for Temple Bar.

The most popular pubs are:

Temple BarTurks HeadPorter HouseThe Brazen HeadWhelansKehoes.

Taking a tour can be a goodalternative if you want to visitplaces that are far from Dublin.

The most popular are:

Quick ToursBus EireannCity Sight Seeing DublinLove IrelandDay ToursGlide Tours

The Spire, Molly Malone.

RHA Gallery, Science Gallery.

The Old Library (Trinity College),Chester Beatty Library.

The trademark of Ireland is its beer. The most popular one is Guinness. You will always see people holding a pint in their hands while talking about philosophy, politics, economics, and who-knows-what after a couple of beers…Besides traditional pubs, if you are looking for a more club-like atmosphere, then you will enjoy Howl at the moon €2,5 on Wednesdays. Dicey’s garden €2,5 on Tuesdays. (If you go before 7pm you will not have to pay the €5 entrance fee).

Shopping in DublinBrown Thomas: An excellent range of elegant shopping. Carroll’s Gifts & Souvenirs: Irish souvenirs for tourists.Avoca (Suffolk Street): one of the world’s oldest surviving manufacturing companies. Nassau St: traditional Irish gifts. At the end of the street, Leinster Street South begins. Here you will find the Kilkenny Design Center. Grafton Street: This is the best hopping area in Dublin. You will find fashion boutiques, shoe stores, jewellery stores and much more. Henry Street: The second most important shopping Street in Dublin. It is even larger than Grafton Street but not as expensive.Francis Street: art and antiques. Shopping centers:St Steven’s Green Center ILAC Center Dublin Jervis Centre Dundrum Town Centre

Opening hoursGenerally, opening times go from 9am to 6pm, Monday to Saturday, and from 12pm to 6pm on Sunday (Yes! Shops open on Sundays). Each store will have its own particular opening time. For example, banks open from 10am to 4pm, supermarkets open from 9am to 10pm (some SPARs open until midnight), and drugstores open from 9am to 7pm.

For information on festivals and events in Dublin and around Ireland visitwww.totallydublin.ie

www.entertainment.iewww.discoverireland.ie

If you wish to buy tickets for an event visit www.ticketmaster.ie.

Tipping in restaurants10% is the average tip. Even if you pay with credit card, they will expect you to indicate the final amount with tip included (+10%). Waiters will not ask for it, you have to offer it. This is basically a courtesy.