r/travel • u/warwagon86 • Jan 25 '14
Images So you want to come to N.Ireland
http://imgur.com/a/dylwW7
u/12focushatch United States Jan 25 '14
Funny thing about the money - I visited Ireland and Northern Ireland in 2012 and brought back probably a few hundred pounds extra - in Northern Irish banknotes.
Fast forward to 2013 in London and a shopkeeper tried to accuse me of passing off fake money.
Turns out the Northern Irish notes don't make it to touristy shops in London very often. :P
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Jan 25 '14
My plane got delayed in Bulgaria one year and, having spent all my lev before I got to the airport, all I had left was a £20 Nothern Bank note. It may as well have been Monopoly money because nobody would touch it.
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u/12focushatch United States Jan 25 '14
The Ulster Bank notes I had confused everyone it seemed. It was funny watching the cashier at Pret get playfully scolded by his boss when he tried to claim they didn't take "Irish money" :-P
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u/cornfedpig Canada Jan 25 '14
Same. I tried to exchange £40 N. Ireland notes at the currency exchange in the Brussels central train station. They wouldn't do it. I ended up having to buy all my chocolate with my Visa.
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u/Firmicutes Airplane! Jan 25 '14
/r/britishproblems. This happens with the scottish banknotes but not as much as the NI monies. To be fair, it does look a bit like monopoly money. Go to any reputable bank and they should exchange it for Bank of England £££
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u/warwagon86 Jan 26 '14
No. Accept the currency and stop being eijets or as we say wind your neck in
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u/cornfedpig Canada Jan 25 '14
I used my N. Ireland bank notes at St. Paul's Cathedral in London. They're legal tender, and can't be refused.
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u/mk101 Jan 25 '14
They're actually not 'legal tender' but that doesn't mean they can't be used in England & Wales, just that both parties have to agree upon the transaction.
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u/warwagon86 Jan 26 '14
Actually they are 100% legal tender. If a British passport owner was to complain they are within their legal right to do so because it is legal British tender and must be treated so by the Crown
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u/duckface08 Jan 25 '14
I was there last year! My friend and I drove around the northern coast and mostly took the scenic routes, which meant we didn't get to spend much time in the cities themselves. No regrets, though. It was all beautiful.
However, the day we spent going to the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge and the Giant's Causeway was the day when the weather was cold, windy, and rainy so everything was muddy and slippery. We thought the rope bridge was going to be closed, but nope. Still open. It was oddly thrilling in a "Am I going to slip and fall to my watery death?" kind of way.
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u/cornfedpig Canada Jan 25 '14
That bridge.... almost shat myself when I crossed it, then realized I had to cross it back.
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u/Agelaius_phoeniceus Canada Jan 25 '14
I was there this summer! The Causeway Coast had some of the most beautiful scenery anywhere, and the people were just fantastically friendly. I wish I could have stayed longer!
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u/kausti Jan 25 '14
I was living in Dublin for t-h-r-e-e years and didnt know it was so cheap to go to Belfast :( Kind of regret that one.
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u/hbhbhb Feb 09 '14
To say the least, if you want to visit a great country with incredible cultural heritage, to then get ripped off with the touristy guff that is offered at great expense, then follow this guide A-Z. if you want an experience to tell your grandchildren about, i would be more than happy to propose options off the beaten track!
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u/MyBeardIsMadeOfBees Feb 19 '14
I'll be heading to Northern Ireland for 2-3 days in two weeks. I'd love find out some off the beaten track options!
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u/hbhbhb Feb 23 '14
Where are you headed? I know it's tiny but options can change every couple of miles here! Are you renting a car?
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u/MyBeardIsMadeOfBees Feb 25 '14
Honestly I've done a really poor job doing any planning at all for this trip. Right now my only plan was to take the bus to Belfast from Dublin on March 2.
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u/warwagon86 Jan 25 '14
If anyone has any further questions about visiting just ask!
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u/zixx United States Jan 25 '14
Do they put the wheel up by city hall at certain times or was it a one time thing?
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u/warwagon86 Jan 25 '14
It's a permanent fixture now as far as I know! I will double check but yes for right now! Going out drinking will check tomorrow
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u/factory81 Jan 25 '14
the pictures wont load for me
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u/BaruMonkey Jun 19 '14
Okay, you've convinced me. I'll be there (visiting from Boston) from 7/16 - 7/21 :-D
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u/Spitative RTW in September 2015 Jan 25 '14
I'm flying into Dublin as the first leg of my 3 month backpacking trip. I had no idea it was so cheap by bus to get up to Belfast! I'll probably end up bussing up there for a day