Getting Ready for Your Catholic Pilgrimage Tour to

Ireland / Great Britian

Getting ready for physical activity:
Pilgrimages are oriented toward the spiritual and, by nature, engage the physical.  Increase the amount of time you spend walking and moving around on foot, if you’re mostly sedentary.  Take walks, get out in the sun and fresh air to accustom yourself to potentially longer days, and time on your feet during your pilgrimage.   During your tour, have bottled water and snacks along to ensure you have energy when you need it.

Most streets and sidewalks in Ireland’s cities are level and paved.  Having comfortable walking shoes or sneakers are recommended.

Climate:
Ireland has an oceanic climate.   Expect weather to be cool, damp, and cloudy year around.
Temperatures do not vary much, however the western coasts are milder in winter and cooler in summer.  The southwest coast is relatively mild in winter.
In Ireland, Atlantic weather systems roll in one after the next, across the country, resulting in a rapid succession of cloudiness and sunshine, rain showers, and subsequent improvements.   A full day with completely clear skies is rare.

With an average rainfall of 80 inches of rain a year, Ireland gets more annual rainfall than anywhere in the USA (Mobile, Alabama tops the list with 67 inches per year)!

Great Britain’s climate is influenced by the Atlantic Ocean, is temperate and humid.  There are minimal temperature variations between winter and summer.  Weather is variable, with frequent changes from day to day or even in the same day.

For complete weather and climate information about Ireland or the UK / Great Britain, please see:

Ireland: https://www.climatestotravel.com/climate/ireland

Great Britain: https://www.climatestotravel.com/climate/united-kingdom

Money exchange:
Using a debit card at ATM’s is the easiest way to get Euro’s in the UK and Ireland, but you may get better exchange rates by simply buying with a credit card.  It’s worthwhile to check with your credit card company to learn what their exchange rate is on purchases converted to Euro’s is prior to your tour.  Let them know when you’ll be traveling so your card isn’t flagged for potential fraudulent use when charges from overseas start appearing.

An ATM at a bank will give a better exchange rate than independently operated machines.  If in doubt about where to go for Euro’s, check with your pilgrimage tour director.

August in Ireland and the UK:
For the most part, Europe takes the month of August off.  Tourist destinations will be busier and family owned businesses shut down as people get on with their vacations.  Don’t be surprised when family owned shops aren’t open if your pilgrimage occurs during August.  Because the tourism industry operates at full steam, all services will operate as usual for your pilgrimage.

Cell phones:
Even though cell phones make it possible to communicate everywhere in the world, you are likely to incur big charges if you don’t let your carrier know you are heading out of the country.   Set up a text and call package for while you’re overseas. If you don’t set up a plan including internet access, turn off cellular data in “settings”.  The difference between turning off cellular data and turning on airplane mode is that airplane mode doesn’t allow calls or texts to come through while turning off cellular data does. When you’re hooked up to Wi-Fi is the only time you should access the internet or email.  Be informed of what you can and can’t do with your phone so you don’t incur expensive roaming charges.

Telephones:
Approximately two weeks prior to your departure to Ireland, we’ll send you a list of your hotels including their addresses and phone numbers where you may be reached.

To call Ireland from the USA, just follow these simple dialing directions:

First dial 011, the international access / U.S. exit code.

Next dial 353, the country code for Ireland.

Dial the area code which may be one or 2 digits.

Finally dial the phone number (usually 7 digits).

To call the UK from the USA, follow these dialing instructions:

First dial 011, the US exit code.

Next dial 44, the England/Scotland/UK country code.

Then dial the 2–5 digit area code plus the local number for a total of 10 digits.

Electrical considerations:
Ireland and the UK run on 220V current and use type “G” outlets.   Most cell phones / smart phones, computers and handheld devices now accept and immediately adapt to whatever voltage comes through wall current anywhere in the world.  You do not need to purchase a voltage converter for them.  You will, however, need an adapter compatible with Ireland’s electrical outlets.

Other electrical equipment such as hair dryers, mini steam irons, etc. require an electrical converter.  It is possible to conveniently purchase adapters as well as converters online at Amazon.com.  Simply search for a “Universal Travel Adapter”, or “Universal Travel converter”,  for full voltage conversion.

Most hotels in Ireland / UK have blow dryers in each room.

USA embassy / consular services in Ireland:
U.S. Embassy Dublin
42 Elgin Road
Ballsbridge
Dublin 4
Phone: +353 1 668-8777

USA embassy / consular services in Great Britain / UK:
U.S. Embassy London
33 Nine Elms Lane
London, SW11 7US
United Kingdom
Phone: [44] (0)20 7499-9000

U.S. Consulate Edinburgh, Scotland
3 Regent Terrace
Edinburgh EH7 5BWPhone
Phone: [44] (0)131 556 8315

Emergency:
The national emergency number (toll free from any phone) is 112.   This is the equivalent to calling 911 in the USA.

Have additional questions?
Please look at our Travel Info page.  Almost anything you want t know about traveling on a Pilgrimage Tour is covered there.