How to Prepare Your Phone for a Trip to Ireland
Most people overthink packing their bags for a trip, while their phone is an afterthought. But your phone is your lifeline to everything when you're travelling.
In Ireland, we have some apps that you absolutely need and some that will make your trip easier. I'm going to tell you about all of them.
You can get a step ahead and install them all now while you are at home.
Before You Leave Home
1.Get an eSIM for Ireland
Your home cell phone provider may charge huge roaming fees in Ireland. A cheap option is to get an eSIM that works in Ireland.
An eSIM gives you data so you use your phone in other countries.
- Recommendation: I’ve used Airalo for my eSIM in seven countries; it’s easy and reliable. You can get two weeks of coverage for about €20.
- Setup: Buy it now, download it, and activate it the second you land in Dublin. You’ll be online before the plane hits the gate.
- Note: eSIMs are usually data only. You won't have a local phone number to "call" home, but you can use WhatsApp or FaceTime to call instead.
2. Save These Numbers to Your Phone
Before you leave, add these contacts to your phone:
999. This is Ireland's emergency number. Works for police, ambulance, and fire. Save it. Hopefully you never need it.
Your travel insurance emergency line. It's on your policy documents. Find it now, not when you're in a panic in a foreign country. See my travel insurance page for more details.
Your car rental company's Irish number. For the same reason as your travel insurance. See my 10 Rules to Renting A Car in Ireland page for more.
Your credit card's international help number. In case you lose it or it doesn't work. Do not save the 1 800 number on the back of your card. This doesn't work internationally. Log into your bank's website and find their international collect number. Save it.
Face ID or Fingerprint protect your important documents or document numbers in Apple Notes (or equivalent). If a thief steals your phone and saw your entering your code, they can find all your photos of your passports and credit cards that you made as back up. So be sure to put them in the Hidden folder that requires a fingerprint every time. Or put them in Apple Notes for same reason. Sorry, I'm an Apple guy, I'm sure the other systems have similar.
Tourist SOS. Bookmark this website. They offer a free, nationwide support service, dedicated to international visitors who experience a crime or other distressing incidents.
3.Set Up a VPN
You’ll be hopping on public Wi-Fi at Dublin Airport, hotels, and cafes. These are playgrounds for hackers.
- Why: A VPN encrypts your connection, protecting your banking and emails.
- Recommendation: I use NordVPN. It’s a few bucks a month and keeps your data private while you're on the move. Turn it on whenever you aren't on your own private eSIM data.
4. Download Google Maps Offline
In rural Ireland, you can be in a valley with no signal whatsoever. Download your maps before you leave so they work without data. GPS doesn't need a signal and if you download the maps for use, they will still work. Also uses a lot less battery.
Open Google Maps → tap your profile photo → Offline Maps → Select Your Own Map → draw a box around Ireland → Download. More instructions here.
Do this on Wi-Fi at home. The file is large.
5. Bring Your Power Bank & Car Mount
You'll using taking photos & on Google Maps constantly when you're in Ireland. Your battery will drain like a pint of Guinness at closing time. Bring a portable charger. My INIU Portable charger comes with me everywhere I go.
Get a removable phone mount for your car too. It's illegal to hold your phone while driving and it is strictly enforced. This one is small enough to fit most Irish cars.
Important Apps & Websites in Ireland
WhatsApp.
The most important one. Almost everyone in Ireland uses WhatsApp for messaging & phone calls. Your B&B, your tour guide, local contacts they'll expect to reach you this way.
If you don't have it, download it now in your own country because it'll need to send an SMS code to your cell phone to set it up. You may not be able to receive that if you wait until you're in Ireland.
Your Airline's App
Download it before you fly. Everything you need is on the app. Unless you're flying Aer Lingus, their app is archaic.
Free Now
This is the main taxi app in Ireland. We do have Uber here, but it doesn't work like in the US. It just calls a regular taxi & not all taxis use Uber. They do all use Free Now though. You'll have a better chance of getting a taxi with Free Now.
Met Éireann
Met is the Irish national weather service. It is far more accurate for Irish weather than Apple or Google's default weather apps.
RTE.ie
RTE is our national broadcaster. It's a good idea to keep up with the news here.
When You Land
Activate your eSIM. Turn on your VPN if you're using airport Wi-Fi. Open Google Maps and confirm your offline maps downloaded correctly.
Post your first selfie in Ireland. Just not outside Temple Bar please!
That's it. You're ready.
Planning your trip to Ireland? A one-hour call with me results in a full personalised itinerary with Google Maps routes and ongoing email support.
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