Around Dublin, Dublin

Use caution when you're withdrawing money from ATM machines. Crime, like any city is rampant in Dublin especailly when it comes to withdrawing money from cash machines. Make sure no one is peeping over your back or if you're in the middle of withdrawing cash don't fall for someone tapping you on the shoulder and whilst you look around another person is stealing your cash. Keep you hand over the machine when punching in your id number.

If this does happen call the police or the Irish tourist Assistance Service.

This is like every other European capital. Extremely expensive. And as such you should be ready to just accept it and have a good time. Drinks as usual will be more pricey in those areas that seem to cater to the tourists but like everything, if done in moderation, you'll have a great time.

Also, of course, because of the weak dollar to euro it is more expensive than it should be.

The rise of the Celtic Tiger has given rise to chronic traffic congestion in dublin.

Whilst it might not be at the levels experienced in places like Bangkok, the horror tales of Daily life in the city fill hours of chat between Dubliners.

The city fathers are trying to address the problem with new tunnels, trams and eventually a metro - but you can't make an omlette without breaking eggs, so the new projects are just adding to the problem at the moment.

As a tourist, if you avoid peak hours, and take the view that Dublin is a very walkable city, then it won't affect you too much. Also remember that taxi's are allowed to use bus lanes.

During the Day most places are safe but Dublin is a large city and although most people are very friendly is is very easy to wander into areas of Dublin that the local people would avoid. Ask in your Hotel of B&B about the areas to avoid. Don't wander around with expensive cameras around your neck! Treat Dublin as you would any large city and you will be OK. If you have a car with a Northern Ireland or non-Irish registration -don't leave anything in the boot! These cars are targeted as easy pickings!

INTERNATIONAL CREDIT CARD TELEPHONE COMMUNICATIONS SCAM

My wife and I stayed at the Parliament Hotel in Dublin for 3 days at the beginning of July. We booked this hotel via Expedia.ca as we have had great success in using Expedia for our yearly travels to Europe and the United Kingdom.

During our stay at the Parliament Hotel in Dublin Ireland, we placed 3 overseas calls to family in Canada. Our normal process for making overseas calls to Canada is to dial direct by keying in 0 001 area code and phone number. At the Parliament Hotel we came across a card next to the phone outlining their process for making overseas calls. Their process was to go directly to a credit card option which put us in touch with an operator who took our credit card information and put the call through.

After our stay in Dublin, we travelled to Belfast, Rome, Florence and London and in each location, we were able to follow our normal process of dialling direct. Upon our arrival back home, we were astounded to see the charges on our credit cards for the calls placed during our stay at the Parliament Hotel in Dublin. An example and comparison for you: 2 minute call to Canada using the process outlined at the Parliament Hotel cost US$39.91 and the same call for the same duration made in Belfast and in Italy cost US $4.50.

We have called our Credit Card Company to lodge a complaint and have been advised that this particular phone company being used by Hotels abroad is indeed atrocious and they are charging far too much money for a normal overseas call. Our credit card company advised us that they get dozens of calls daily about this company.

We have since done our own on line investigation about this company and the complaints and stories are very similar to ours.

We called the company directly to complain and was told they would be willing to knock off some of the charges PROVIDING we did not lodge an official complaint.

This must be happening thousands of times a day.

Dublin is a dangerous city. Avoid walking around after dark by yourself. The North Side is more dangerous than the South Side, but both are risky. Don't trust taxi drivers too much: if you're a girl, try to get a taxi with a male friend if you can. In the evenings and weekend there are a lot of drunk people around. A drunk once tried to harm me. Stay away from them. Never leave your drinks unattended, as they might get spiked. If you come from a country when they drive on the other side, mind yourself crossing the road!

Take care where you roam, especially at night.
There are still some pretty dubious areas immediately outside the town center.
(and I have travelled in South America, so I'm not really a nervous traveler).

We had a tricky moment on the way to the Dice bar where I received some archaic style racist abuse (I am Spanish looking).

I felt perfectly safe in Dublin, although I was told by some our local VTers that there are some areas where it's wise to watch your back. In fact, Peter told me to be careful walking around at night in the area of my hostel (one might say it's a slightly hostile area). Louise told me about an attack that occurred while I was in Dublin on two tourists. Apparently a man viciously attacked two women in broad daylight. However, as I said, with the normal precautions Dublin is a safe place to visit.

The M50 motorway forms a giant 'C' around the Western side of the city. It was built as a giant-by pass for the city, but now acts as a main arterial route.

It was apparantly named this year as the "World's slowest Motorway". Quite how they came to that conclusion ? I'm notsure, but I'm not doubting it.

This means that if tou plan to use the road during peak hours to get to the Airport or the ferryport at Dun Lagonaire, then you could be in for a shock. The Toll bridge over the Liffey is a particular 'pinch point' and could lead to significant stress if you are racing against time - although the new barrier free tolling should cut this problem down to size.

Allow plenty of extra time, and tune into any Dublin radio station for traffic updates.

1 more image

Dublin has become much more violent. Unfortunately it is no longer safe to walk around the streets with a mobile (cell) phone day or night. Be careful that it is not snatched from you. Never ever leave anything on the seats of your car. The windows will be smashed and anything you have will be taken. Be careful if you want to take a walk along the liffey boardwalk, apparently its full of junkies and drunks who's main objective is to verbally attack anyone that walks by. The police are trying to clean this area up but we don't have a huge police force so they are hard to spot.