One of the most exciting things about studying abroad is seeing not only the new things in your host country, but those in nearby countries. I have had a blast starting to explore Ireland, and am now looking to explore other countries in Europe. However, as an American who was very unfamiliar with public transportation and flying between countries, it was difficult to break the barrier of research and start booking things.
So, today, I will describe all of the ways I have traveled and what you may need to know.
BUSES
Besides walking, buses are the form of transportation I use most. To get to Limerick City Centre, you have to take a bus, so I had to tackle this obstacle quickly. In Ireland, the best option is to order a young adult TFI Leap Card that you can scan to use the buses. This card can work in other Irish cities and can even give you discounts on train tickets. After arriving in Ireland, I ordered my card on the website and added 10 euros to it. It took around a week to get to my on-campus residence. However, if you need a card quickly, you can also go to a SPAR store and buy one in person.
Once you get the card, you have to register it on the website. If you need to top-up your card, you can do so online or on one of the multiple TFI apps. Each bus ride in Limerick with this card is 65 euro cents. Timetables and stops can be found online, and the TFI Live app can help you track buses.
To get on a bus, you just hold your card on the scanner and wait for it to turn green. You do not scan the card again once you get off the bus. Then, whenever you are looking for a bus home, make sure that it is going in the right direction. I have gotten on buses going the opposite way a couple of times and spent much too long on transport. A lot of the buses have screens on their tails that say which end of the loop they are going to. The main buses I use in Limerick are the 304 and 304a because they stop at the student center and go into the city.
You can also use Bus Eireann to travel between towns in Ireland. However, I have mainly used trains for this.
Another way to use buses is through tours. A lot of universities, like the University of Limerick, have school-affiliated tours that cost around 50 euros. Through these opportunities, I have traveled to the Cliffs of Moher and Ring of Kerry. There are also countless tours you can independently sign up for with tour companies, so it is worth taking a look into.
TRAINS
Trains are my preferred mode of travel because they are much smoother and quicker than buses. The main downside, though, is that you often need to take a bus to get to and from train stations.
I use the Irish Rails website to book train tickets. When you book your first tickets, you can check a box in the checkout process to create an account if you need more trains in the future. Additionally, if you change your ticket details from adult to young adult, you can get the TFI discount if you have a TFI Leap Card.
Before booking a train ticket, you must check to make sure you have the right stations and times. Also, check to see if buses are running near that station for your departure and arrival times. Additionally, you can book return trips if you need them. After booking, you can either download your ticket to your phone or get it from a kiosk at the train station on the day of departure.
Some tickets have transfers where you may have to take a bus from one train station to another and get on the first or a new train, so keep that in mind.
At the train station, you wait around 10 minutes until departure and then go on your designated platform to show the security worker your ticket and board the train. A lot of trains have little screens that display your name over your seat.
CARS
The only times I have been in cars here were for a couple of Ubers and a trip with an Irish student. Uber and other car services work relatively the same here, but make sure you put the right phone number, whether Irish or American, into your account so that they can get a hold of you. The same can be said for food delivery.
I usually do not order cars because they are more expensive than buses, but they are still available if needed. Additionally, most Ubers here are actually taxi cars, so they are easy to recognize.
I recommend enrolling in any buddy program your host university has so that you can meet somebody who goes to the university and may have a car. This can be useful in emergency or occasional travel situations. If your buddy is super nice, like mine, she may take you and your group on little trips.
I have not rented a car here, but I know people who do and they say it is much cheaper than in America. However, the age requirements vary and you can be charged extra if you are younger than 25. The only thing to note is that cars drive on the left side of the road here, speed is measured in kilometers, and traffic rules differ from those in America. Some people take a couple of driving classes here to familiarize themselves before renting a car. Personally, I will be sticking to public transportation.
PLANES
I just booked my first couple of international trips from Ireland, and I am looking at more. However, it took me a minute to feel comfortable and trusting with websites for finding plane tickets.
The best websites I have used so far are Ryanair and Skyscanner. Ryanair offers cheap flights and many options for searching for specific dates and places or unknown dates and destinations. However, it is important to know that a carry-on and your seat on the plane are additional costs.
Skyscanner compares flight prices and times across airlines, so it can be a good cross-reference. I also enjoy that this site lets you plan a chain of tickets and finds you the best deals for combinations. This is helpful for long trips where you are flying between multiple countries. However, I did book a trip last night through a website on Skyscanner, and while my friend had no issues with paying, my payments failed for technical reasons so I had to rush to book the tickets on the same plane through another website.
I always recommend looking at various websites for tickets and making sure to double and triple-check all of your details. Same with train tickets, make sure that there are buses and trains available for you to travel in time for your departure and return times to and from the airports. Additionally, check the distance of the airport you plan to fly into from the distance of your hostel, hotel, Airbnb, or other accommodation to make sure you have transportation if needed.
This is all of the information I have gathered so far, but if I learn anything new or helpful, I will be sure to let you know in the future.
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