My credit card keeps declining in Ireland and I have enough money on there and all international transactions are activated - what do I do?
My Mastercard failed once in Limerick at a private ATM, but AIB worked right after. Almost all shops, cafés, and hotels in Ireland take cards. Buses and trains also accept card payments. For daily costs, €65-80 is comfortable if you’re sightseeing and dining out. If your card declines, just find a different bank ATM. It’s rare to need cash here, but keeping €20-30 in euros is helpful for emergencies.
When I travelled in Ireland, my Visa was rejected once at an Euronet ATM in Dublin. Switching to a Bank of Ireland ATM solved it. Restaurants, shops, and even buses were fine with cards. Only very small village shops asked for cash. I budgeted €60-75 per day for meals, buses, and sightseeing. Always stick to ATMs inside bank branches if your card declines elsewhere. Ireland is among the easiest countries for card payments.
Ireland is very card-friendly, though I had one decline at a store terminal in Cork. AIB and Ulster Bank ATMs always worked. Dublin and other cities take Visa and Mastercard almost everywhere, but some countryside pubs and small hostels wanted cash. Plan €70 daily for food, transport, and entry fees at places like the Cliffs of Moher. If you keep getting declines, use a bank-branded ATM, as they’re more reliable.
In Ireland, I had my Mastercard declined at a small ATM in Galway, but Bank of Ireland and AIB ATMs worked fine. Shops, pubs, and hotels almost everywhere accept cards. Only small B&Bs or rural buses sometimes ask for cash. Budget €60-80 daily for meals, bus fares, and pub visits. If your card keeps declining, try another ATM-avoid the stand-alone machines and use bank branches instead.