EUROPE | IRELAND
10 tips for a less-loopy Irish road trip
1. Think small car: Roads are narrow (lanes were created for horses, not cars), and there are rarely shoulders.
2. Upgrade: Package tours usually come with a manual transmission car. Learning to shift with your left hand, while driving on the left side of the road, is tough. Get an automatic.
3. Take the GPS too: It will make you crazy at times, but you need all the help you can get.
4. Take plastic: Gas is expensive. Most stations take Visa and MasterCard.
5. Feeling loopy? Roundabouts are ubiquitous. Take a few minutes to watch one in action. Yield to traffic coming from the right.
6. Don't drive at night: It's too easy to get lost.
7. Drive in dry weather: You'll get wet asking directions when you get lost.
8. Ditch the car in Dublin: Traffic is fierce. Walk or take the bus.
9. Backroads are fun: Many travelers stay off the beaten path and explore rural areas, where traffic is less hectic and it's easier to meet the gracious people of Ireland.
10. Be patient: The pace is different here. Slow down and enjoy it.
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