As a member of the European Union, Ireland is as safe as it gets for credit card use. Mastercard and Visa are widely accepted in the country, but you can also find plenty of places that take American Express cards. Unfortunately, not all taxi drivers will accept credit cards, but you can get a mobile app that allows you to do so.
There are a few potential fees to watch out for when you’re paying with plastic:
It’s also worth noting that when it comes to cash advances and non-sterling transactions, card issuers will often start charging interest on the day your account is debited, rather than the customary “up to 55 days interest-free” that applies provided you clear your balance in full each month.
Consider taking out a credit card offering commission-free currency conversion (see table below), even if you only use it when you’re out of the country. Once you have one of these cards, if a merchant offers to take payment in pounds, say you’re happy to pay in euros, since you know your own bank won’t charge you for the privilege.
Generally speaking it’s not a great idea to use a credit card to withdraw cash, but some travel credit cards won’t penalise you for this either. Finally, make sure to check whether the ATM you use is going to charge a fee. High street bank ATMs are generally a safer bet than those in convenience stores or bars.
In Ireland, American Express cards aren’t as popular as Mastercard or Visa, but in some places you can still pay with them.
If you want to make a cash withdrawal with an Amex card, look for Bank of Ireland or Centra ATMs.
In Ireland, you can use chip-and-PIN or chip-and-signature cards wherever credit cards are accepted.
As far as safety goes, you can freely use your card in Ireland. However, there are some precautions you can take for increased security:
Some do, but most of them don’t accept credit cards. If you want to pay for your ride with a card, consider the mytaxi app for iOS and Android devices. With the app, you can also book a cab a few days in advance to pick you up from the airport.
If you travel to Ireland, you can safely use your credit card to make payments and withdraw cash. You’ll just have to be careful to not incur fees you can otherwise avoid. With a decent travel credit card, you’ll avoid paying foreign transaction fees. By simply declining the DCC when offered, you’ll also avoid a poor exchange rate or commission.
To make comparing even easier we came up with the Finder Score. Costs, perks and suitability across 120+ cards are all weighted and scaled to produce a score out of 10. The higher the score the better the card – simple.
Read the full methodology
Consider a card with fee-free spending abroad and decline decline dynamic currency conversion to avoid card charges in Taiwan.
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