Ireland is an island to the north west of continental Europe. In terms of land mass, it is the third largest island in Europe and the twentieth largest island in the world and has a coastline of 3,172 kilometres (1,970 miles). Ireland is divided between the Republic of Ireland, and Northern Ireland, which is part of the United Kingdom. In terms of land mass, The Republic of Ireland is 70,282 square kilometres (27,136 square miles) and Northern Ireland is 14,139 square kilometres (5,459 square miles). According to a census taken in 2011, the population of the Republic of Ireland is 4,581,269. The capital, Dublin, has an urban area population of 1,110,627. Ireland is a truly multicultural state, being home to people from all over the world, including; Poland, United Kingdom, China, India, Brazil, Pakistan, Nigeria, Philippines, Lithuania, Latvia and Russia. Interestingly, it is also estimated that some 80m people of Irish descent live outside Ireland.

Ireland's highest mountain is Carrauntoohil (in County Kerry) which peaks at 1,038 metres (3,405ft). The highest waterfall is Powerscourt Falls, in County Wicklow which has a water drop of 106 metres (350 ft). The longest river in Ireland is the River Shannon measuring some 386 kilometres (240 miles).

English is the most commonly used language in Ireland, although Irish is the 'official' first language of the country. Ireland joined the European Economic Community (EEC), which is now known as the European Union (EU), in 1973, adopting the Euro in 1999, although the notes and coins were not circulated until 1st January 2002.

Ireland is the 4th most popular travel destination for British nationals with 3.579m visitors. In 2011, Ireland was ranked 26th (ahead of Saudia Arabia, but just behind South Africa) in the world; with some 8m international tourist arrivals. According to Tourism Ireland, in 2011, overseas tourism business accounted for 63% (over €3.1bn) of all tourism revenue. Tourism is Ireland's largest indigenous industry, contributing in excess of 4% of GNP (gross national product) and providing employment for over 200,000 people in every community throughout the island.

The largest towns and cities in the Republic of Ireland are; 1. Dublin (city population) 527,612, 2. Cork 119,230, 3. Galway 75,259, 4. Tallaght 71,504, 5. Limerick 57,106, 6. Waterford 46,732, 7. Swords 36,924, 8. Dundalk 31,149, 9. Drogheda 30,393 10. Navan 28,158. There are also 26 counties in the Republic of Ireland which are; Carlow, Cavan, Clare, Cork, Donegal, Dublin, Galway, Kerry, Kildare, Kilkenny, Leitrim, Laois, Limerick, Louth, Longford, Mayo, Meath, Monaghan, Offaly, Roscommon, Sligo, Tipperary, Waterford, Wicklow, Wexford, Westmeath.

According to Failte Ireland, the National Tourist Authority for Ireland, the top 5 'paid' tourist attractions in Ireland in 2011 were; Dublin Zoo, Guiness Storehouse (Dublin), the National Aquatic Centre (Blanchardstown, near Dublin), Cliffs of Moher (on the west coastline) and The Book of Kells, which is held at the Trinity College Library in Dublin. The top 5, 'free' tourist attractions were; The National Gallery of Ireland (Dublin), the Botanic Gardens (Glasnevin, Dublin), the Irish Museum of Modern Art (Dublin), Farmleigh (former residence of the Guiness family in Dublin) and Holy Cross Abbeey in Tipperary. There are also many castles scattered across Ireland.

Other sights worth taking in are; Bru na Boinne, a historic landscape on the banks of the Boyne, which has many prehistoric monuments. The Burren, a limestone plateau with ancient monuments and strange rock formations, situated between the Aran Islands and Galway. The Lakes of Killarney and Ring of Kerry, which boasts a spectacular coastal scenery, ancient monuments, lakes, castles and beautiful mountain landscapes. Bunratty Castle and Folk Park, built in 1497, but full renovated and now offering a medieval banquet in the evenings, complete with period entertainment.

Ireland has an equable climate with temperatures fairly uniform all over the country. The climate is influenced by the Gulf Stream with the prevailing winds mostly coming from the south west.The coldest months are January and February with average temperatures of between 4°C and 7°C. July and August are the warmest months, with average temperatures of 20°C and May and June are normally the sunniest.

Ireland is well serviced by European and International airlines which fly into the following airports; Cork Airport (ORK), Donegal Airport (CFN), Dublin Airport (DUB), Kerry County Airport (KIR), Knock International Airport (NOC), Shannon Airport (SNN) and Waterford Airport (WAT). There are scheduled nonstop flights from Britain, continental Europe and North America to Dublin and Shannon, and good non-stop connections from Britain and continental Europe to Cork and Knock. Airlines flying into Ireland include; Adria Baltic; Air Canada; Air France; Air Malta; Air Transat; Air Southwest; American Airlines; BMI; British Airways; City Jet; Continental; Delta Airlines; EasyJet; Etihad Airways; Finnair; Flybe; Flyglobespan; German Wings; Iberia; Lufthansa; Luxair; Malev Hungarian Airlines; Ryanair; S7 Airlines; Scandinavian Airlines; Swiss Airlines; Turkish Airlines; US Airways.

Planning your Trip

Things always seem to go better when they are carefully planned and flying to another destination is no exception. Plan well and all things being equal, you should have an uneventful trip with less stress. Here are the top tips:

Before you leave

• Ensure that you have your airline tickets, vouchers for hotel bookings, car rental and/or airport shuttle transfers, your passport, visa (if required), money, credit cards and travellers cheques. If you are renting a car at your destination, make sure you have your driver's licence (paper and photo) and, if necessary, an international drivers permit. These items should all be kept in your hand luggage.
• Familiarise yourself with the 'banned item' list, these change from time to time, but it is important to know what can go in your hand luggage, what must go in the hold and what you simply cannot take with you.
• Avoid wrapping items such as gifts or presents because these may be opened by security at your departing or destination airport.
• If you are taking essential medicines, ensure that that they are in their original packaging and, if they are prescription drugs, try and get a letter from your doctor confirming that these have been prescribed for you. Also remember, that is some countries, certain drugs are banned, even if you have been prescribed them by your doctor. If in doubt, check with the airline and/or embassy.
• Make sure that you choose comfortable clothing, especially if it is a long journey, also be cognisant of the weather at your destination, which may influence your choice of clothes.
• Check the weight of your luggage. Most airlines have a strict policy on exceeding baggage limits and airport surcharges can be very expensive. In addition, some airlines will not allow you to pay in excess at checkin, which could lead to delays and inconvenience.

Heading for the airport

• Always remember to allow plenty of time to arrive at the airport. As a general rule, if you are taking an international flight, you should aim to be at the airport at least 2 hours prior to departure. For local or domestic flights, at least one hour.
• Make sure you know what terminal you are departing from, some airports are very large and the distance between the terminal buildings can be considerable.
• Allow plenty of time to get to the airport. Road maintenance often happens at night, and this can occasionally lead to unexpected road closures, so check before you travel and allow ample time for your journey. If you are travelling during the day, then traffic may become your curse, once again, check on travel information sites and allow extra time for unexpected delays.
• If you are driving to the airport yourself, it is advisable to book your airport parking in advance. Many websites no offer this service and it can be much cheaper than attempting to find parking on arrival.
• If you are using public transport to get to the airport, then make sure you have booked advance tickets and also, that there are no planned maintenance (in respect of railways) or anticipated road works in the case of coach travel.
• If you are travelling by hire car and intend to leave it at the airport, make sure the rental company has facilities to allow you to drop it off. Not all car rental companies have airport facilities, many are located just outside.

On arrival at the airport terminal

• Since 2001, airport security has been tightened considerably and, on occasion, additional security measures are employed at very short notice. As a consequence, the amount of time taken to go through airport security has lengthened considerably and it can also be unpredictable, especially if additional measures have been introduced.
• Make sure you are familiar with what you can take through security, particularly in relation to banned items and liquids. Remember, even if you have purchased something at the airport (such as drinks), you may not be able to take it through security and/or on the airline.
• You must keep your baggage with you at all times. In part because of the security issues at airports, but also because it will almost certainly contain your essential travel documents and you would not want to lose them or have them stolen. You should never look after the belongings of other people or agree to carry anything onto the aircraft on their behalf.
• Once you are through passport control and security, make sure you keep a close eye on the 'departure boards', many airport no longer make verbal announcements and you need to know which gate number your flight is departing from. Also consider the amount of time it takes to get from where you are to the gate, some airport are very large, such as Heathrow and it can take up to 30 minutes to get to the gate.

On the plane

• If you are going on a long journey, then try to relax and get some sleep. For shorter journeys you may want to read a book, watch a movie or listen to music on your MP3 player. So make sure you have packed laptops, tablets and/or music players into your hand luggage.
• It is advisable not to eat too much on long haul flights, because this can lead to an inability to sleep or indigestion. Move around the aircraft as much as you can to keep your circulation working. If you have flight socks, then consider using them.
• Avoid too much alcohol, but drink plenty of other beverages to avoid dehydration.

• Even if you are a seasoned traveller, it is worthwhile spending a few minutes to decide exactly what you need from your hire car. 
• When considering the type of vehicle you wish to hire, consider the passengers and the luggage. Hiring a Suzuki jeep for 4 people with luggage could really be a problem. All too often hirers count the seats, but not the luggage.
• If you are going on holiday and want to relax consider carefully whether you want a manual or automatic gearbox. 
• Most cars have air conditioning as standard, but some of the economy vehicles may not, therefore if this is important to you, check carefully before you book and upgrade to the next model if necessary.
• If you are not familiar with the country you are travelling to, then you need to think ahead. Planning the journey from your arrival airport to your destination is often overlooked. Do you need a local map, SatNav or will you take written directions? There is nothing worse than arriving at the airport in the middle of the night and getting lost! 
• Do you need booster seats, child seats or a ski rack? These are often available from the hire companies at an additional charge, but they have to be booked in advance.  
• Will you be the only driver? Some rental companies will allow a second driver at no additional charge (or for a small fee), but this needs to be booked in advance.
• It is recommended that you remove the identiying tag from the car key ring and keep it in a safe place until the termination of your hire to avoid highlighting that you are a tourist and using a rental car. 
• One Way Hires or dropping the car off at a different location can be convenient, but expensive. Most car hire companies allow this option, but it is worth checking the difference between these options and returning the car to the airport terminal. 
• Check the terms of your hire carefully. Some rental companies will supply the car with a full tank of petrol and will expect you to return it with a full tank. If you don’t, then there could be additional charges levied and the cost of fuel may not be the most competitive. If your car is not provided with a full tank of petrol then you should plan to stop as early as possible refuel. 
• Before you accept the car, make sure you check the condition carefully, noting any damage, including scratches, dents, tyres or windscreen damage. You should ensure that these are written on the handover form to avoid any arguments when the vehicle is returned. Also remember that, as the driver, you are responsible for ensuring that the hire car meets local road and traffic regulations, this includes, but is not limited to tyres, lights, wipers and brakes. If you are not happy, reject the vehicle and ask for an alternative. 
• Above all, familiarise yourself with the car before you drive. Being in a different country with an unfamiliar car can be stressful. Take your time.
• Rules of the road and more specifically traffic laws and regulations vary enormously between different countries. Therefore, whilst your drivers licence may be valid, your appreciation of local driving laws may not. To avoid frustration, fines, arrest or accidents, all travellers would be well advised to familiarise themselves with the local driving regulations before they embark on their journey. Many European countries also impose 'on the spot' fines for offences such as speeding. Also worth noting is that the car hire company will hold you personally liable for any fines incurred whilst you are using the vehicle, for example, parking fines

Guide to common rental car definitions:

These definitions are provided only as a guide and it essential that you refer to the terms and conditions of your rental agreement for specific terms relative to your hire.

Collision Damage Waiver (CDW), also referred to as: Loss Damage Waiver (LDW)
If the hired car or any of its parts or accessories is damaged other than by theft, attempted theft or vandalism, while on rental, CDW limits your liability to the amount of the non-waivable excess, if any, which applies in each country, provided that you have adhered to all the terms and conditions of the Rental Agreement. CDW does not cover any damage caused as a result of theft, attempted theft or vandalism.

Theft Waiver (TW)
It is an insurance offered by the car rental firm limiting your liability to the excess amount in case of theft of the vehicle. This does not over negligence, if for example you can't return the ignition key, or you left it in an unsafe place, you could be liabel for the full cost of the vehicle, as would be the case with most domestic car insurance policies.

Third Party Liability Protection
Offers protection against any third pary liability such as damage to another vehicle or personal injuries to an individual not travelling in the hire car. TPLP typically does not have an excess or deductible amount to pay.

Super Collision Damage Waiver (SCDW)

Covers tyres, roof and windscreen.

Personal Insurance (PI) Insures against the cost if you accidentally kill yourself or a passenger. (Also see ALI below)

 

Personal Effects Cover (PEC)

Covers property that has been stolen from a vehicle.

 

Additional Liability Insurance (ALI)
This is an optional insurance that protects the hirer and other other authorised drivers against claims made by third parties for personal injuries, death and property damage caused by the use of or the operation of the rental car.

The top 20 tourist destinations around the world for British nationals are as follows; 1. Spain 17m, 2. France 14m, 3. USA 6.5m, 4. Ireland 3.579m, 5. Italy 3.5m, 6. Greece 3m, 7. Germany 2.372m, 8. Portugal 2.254m, 9. Turkey 1.920m, 10. Cyprus 1.3m, 11. China (including Hong Kong) 1.212m, 12. Egypt 1.202m, 13. UAE 1.1m, 14. Thailand 812k, 15. India 734k, 16. Australia 670k, 17. Canada 650k, 18. South Africa 451k, 19. New Zealand 300k, 20. Pakistan 285k.

The coveted, top 10 most visited countries in the world are; 1. France 75.5m, 2. United States 50.9m, 3. Spain 48.2m, 4. Italy 41.2m, 5. China 31.2m, 6. United Kingdom 25.2m, 7. Russia 21.2m, 8. Mexico 20.6m, 9. Canada 20.4m and 10. Germany 19m.

According to SkiHorizon, the top winter ski resorts were Switzerland, France, Austria and Italy. The French preferred, Val Thorens, Les Deux, Avoriaz, Les Arcs 1800, Les Menuires, The village of Les Coches, Saint Sorlin d'Arves, Risoul, Tignes Val Claret and Plagne Bellecote. For the British, it was; Morzine, Les Arcs, Saas Fee, Serre Chevalier, Avoriaz, La Plagne, St. Anton, Megeve, Puy St. Vincent and Alpe D'Huez. Whilst the Dutch opted for Risoul, Val Thorens, La Plagne, Saint Sorlin 'dArves, Menuires, Les Deaux Alpes, Avoriaz, SFL, Arca and Oz.

Although France leads the league table in terms of visitor numbers, the top spot in terms of revenue earned from tourism goes to America (World Tourism Organisation figures for 2010) of $103.5bn. 2. Spain $52.5bn, 3. France 46.3bn, 4. China $45.8bn, 5. Italy 38.8bn, 6. Germany $34.7bn, 7. United Kingdom $30.4bn, 8. Australia $30.1 bn, 9. Hong Kong (China) 23bn and 10. Turkey $20.8bn.

The worlds safest roads based on the estimated number of road traffic deaths per 100,000 of population are; 1. Netherlands(49), 2. Sweden (53), 3. Norway (56), 4. United Kingdom (57), 5. Switzerland (69), 6. Germany (71), 7. Finland (72), 8. Denmark (74) 9. Japan (75) and 10. Iceland (79).

The top selling cars in Europe in 2011 are; 1. VW Golf, 2. Ford Fiesta, 3. W Polo, 4. Opel Corsa, 5. Renault Clio, 6. OFord Focus, 7. Opel Astra, 8. Peugeot 207, 9. Fiat Punt0, 10. Renault Megane, 11. VW Passat, 12. Nissa Qashqai, 13. Fiat Panda, 14. Citroen C3 and 15. Skoda Octavia.