Travelling to Ireland with Chauffeur Drive Ireland

As a tour operator and private driver/guide i often find that i have to advise my touring companions to beware of the many simple things that they should not do. People seem to think that because they are on holidays they are immune to the normal dangers that they would face at home. Common sense still applies and you are just as likely to get robbed or mugged or taken advantage of here as you are anywhere else. I tell people that if they do what their mothers would have told them to do they will be ok. The danger of being injured physically has to be top of the list. First of all if you are hiring a private driver or chauffeur then you should make sure that you employ a reputable one who carries the proper insurances. If you have an accident or if your property is stolen from a parked vehicle then you need to know that the insurance covers that. You can hurt yourself getting in or out of a car also and it is too late if you discover afterwards that your driver is not insured against all risks. If you are out late at night in a pub or at a show do not wander around the streets and expect to be safe. We have our thieves and robbers here also and with the rising drug problems there are many people out there who will mug you and just take a chance on you having money or credit cards on you. Get a taxi home or else get home at a reasonable hour. Stay clear of dark lonely streets and keep to the main thoroughfares. Do not try to intervene if there is a fight going on. Just mind your own business and when you get back to your hotel you can report it then.
Credit card abuse is just the same here as anywhere else and there is a lot of it going on. Do not let your card out of your hand. I see people all the time handing their card to waiters and waitresses and letting them take it away from their table where they have the freedom to scan them in copying machines. Then they are free to use your card and empty your account. Always stand over them and if you are using a pin number make sure that you cover it with your hand when you enter your number. Make sure that your purse or wallet is in a secure pocket. The best and safest way to carry personal belongings is in a money belt strapped around your waist and under a jumper or vest. Handbags are deadly as they will snatch it and just run, and they will knock you flat if you try to resist. If you are using a cash machine or "hole in the wall" machine to draw money out have a good look at the surrounds of the machine and make sure that there is no little camera hidden anywhere. They will film your action as you make your entry. They will get your card by either robbing you or else by retaining your card in the machine with a gadget that they insert in the slot which will not allow your card to come out again. When you give up trying to get it back and walk away they will come along and withdraw it with a special tool thay have for doing this. Then your money will be quickly withdrawn. If you are touring in a hire-out car beware of leaving luggage in the car unattended. Never leave any hand-bags or cameras or anything of value on show in your car.
All of these tips are about common sense so do not get carried away with the notion that Ireland is the "Land of Saints and Scholars. We have a few sinners here too. It is a beautiful country and we have many beautiful and decent people here but we have the other types too. Follow the simple rules and you will enjoy the holiday of a lifetime.
Comments welcome.

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