Eric

Hello all,

I'll be traveling to Ireland soon and I've got travel books and read
newsgroup messages and visited countless websites. I haven't found an
answer to my one burning question though ---

When you gas up the car, are the gas stations self-service or do they
require an attendant to fill up the tank?

Ok, it's a weird question, but I'd seriously like to know the answer.
Also, if anyone has any other words of wisdom on everyday stuff we
take for granted (e.g. are there free refills on sodas during a meal?)
please feel free to reply.

Thanks,
Eric

Trish

"Eric" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > Hello all,
    > I'll be traveling to Ireland soon and I've got travel books and read
    > newsgroup messages and visited countless websites. I haven't found an
    > answer to my one burning question though ---
    > When you gas up the car, are the gas stations self-service or do they
    > require an attendant to fill up the tank?
    > Ok, it's a weird question, but I'd seriously like to know the answer.
    > Also, if anyone has any other words of wisdom on everyday stuff we
    > take for granted (e.g. are there free refills on sodas during a meal?)
    > please feel free to reply.

Most petrol stations are self-service nowadays.

No refills on the sodas. Sometimes you will find places that give free
refills on teas/coffees.


--
Trish
Dublin, Ireland

Tcs

begin
On 10 Jun 2003 14:41:18 -0700, Eric wrote:
    > Hello all,
    >
    > I'll be traveling to Ireland soon and I've got travel books and read
    > newsgroup messages and visited countless websites. I haven't found an
    > answer to my one burning question though ---
    >
    > When you gas up the car, are the gas stations self-service or do they
    > require an attendant to fill up the tank?
drive to a gas station. observe who is filling the tank.


    >
    > Ok, it's a weird question, but I'd seriously like to know the answer.
    > Also, if anyone has any other words of wisdom on everyday stuff we
    > take for granted (e.g. are there free refills on sodas during a meal?)
    > please feel free to reply.
go to a business establishment that sells carbonated beverages.
say the words "How much do refills cost?"

Padraig Breathnach

[email protected] (Eric) wrote:

    >I'll be traveling to Ireland soon and I've got travel books and read
    >newsgroup messages and visited countless websites. I haven't found an
    >answer to my one burning question though ---
    >When you gas up the car, are the gas stations self-service or do they
    >require an attendant to fill up the tank?
Almost universally self-service but many, especially outside the
cities, will pump for you if you would prefer that. It's also left to
you to pump your own tyres.

    >Ok, it's a weird question, but I'd seriously like to know the answer.
    >Also, if anyone has any other words of wisdom on everyday stuff we
    >take for granted (e.g. are there free refills on sodas during a meal?)
    >please feel free to reply.
Free refills are very rare. As are complimentary drinks in pubs.

Expect less ice than in the USA.

PB

Alec

"Padraig Breathnach" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > [email protected] (Eric) wrote:
    > >I'll be traveling to Ireland soon and I've got travel books and read
    > >newsgroup messages and visited countless websites. I haven't found an
    > >answer to my one burning question though ---
    > >
    > >When you gas up the car, are the gas stations self-service or do they
    > >require an attendant to fill up the tank?
    > >
    > Almost universally self-service but many, especially outside the
    > cities, will pump for you if you would prefer that. It's also left to
    > you to pump your own tyres.
    > >Ok, it's a weird question, but I'd seriously like to know the answer.
    > >Also, if anyone has any other words of wisdom on everyday stuff we
    > >take for granted (e.g. are there free refills on sodas during a meal?)
    > >please feel free to reply.
    > >
    > Free refills are very rare. As are complimentary drinks in pubs.
You'll only find them in some chain restaurants like Pizza Hut (in major
cities). In some pubs you can buy a 1 litre bottle of Coke/Fanta etc which
will work out cheaper than getting individual drinks.
    > Expect less ice than in the USA.
You often have to ask for it, or they ask you if you want any. And they
don't bring you water or coffee as soon as you sit down.

Alec

Mark Hewitt

"Eric" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > I'll be traveling to Ireland soon and I've got travel books and read
    > newsgroup messages and visited countless websites. I haven't found an
    > answer to my one burning question though ---

When I visited Ireland I found most things to be almost identical to
Britain, so advice you see for the UK will most likely apply in Ireland too.

    > When you gas up the car, are the gas stations self-service or do they
    > require an attendant to fill up the tank?

If you ask for a gas station in Ireland they will most likely direct you to
somewhere where you can buy fuel for your camping stove.

If you are talking petrol stations, then, like the UK, they are
self-service. (Years ago when travelling around the islands of Scotland I
came across a non-self service garage, but I've not seen once since)

    > Ok, it's a weird question, but I'd seriously like to know the answer.
    > Also, if anyone has any other words of wisdom on everyday stuff we
    > take for granted (e.g. are there free refills on sodas during a meal?)
    > please feel free to reply.

No free refils on sodas during your meal. I assume you mean fizzy pop,
right? If not can you clarify what you mean by 'soda'.

Another thing I noted which was different in the USA, is that they always
bring you glasses of iced water with your meal, for free. I've never seen
this happen in the UK, or Ireland.

Also, unless you are in a posh restaurant, there is generally no need to
leave a tip. Although I'm sure it would be appreciated.

Tim

    > Another thing I noted which was different in the USA, is that they always
    > bring you glasses of iced water with your meal, for free. I've never seen
    > this happen in the UK, or Ireland.

Like you'd really want unlimited supplies of icy water when you're sitting
in a cafe and it's 10C and pissing down outside. ;-)
Tim.

Padraig Breathnach

"Alec" wrote:
    >"Padraig Breathnach" wrote in message
    >news:[email protected]...

    >> Expect less ice than in the USA.
    >You often have to ask for it, or they ask you if you want any.
You don't have to ask for it; you can adapt to the Irish way, and do
without.

    > And they
    >don't bring you water or coffee as soon as you sit down.
What really vexes me -- and I live in Ireland -- is how often I have
to ask for water in restaurants.

PB

Tim

    >> And they
    >> don't bring you water or coffee as soon as you sit down.

Which is good if you want a cup of tea.
Tim.

Mark Hewitt

"Padraig Breathnach" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > "Alec" wrote:
    > >
    > What really vexes me -- and I live in Ireland -- is how often I have
    > to ask for water in restaurants.

Resaurants don't want to give you water! They want you to pay for your
drinks.

The Reid

Following up to Tim

    >>> And they
    >>> don't bring you water or coffee as soon as you sit down.
    >Which is good if you want a cup of tea.

personally I prefer coffee at the end of the meal.
--
Mike Reid
"Art is the lie that reveals the truth" P.Picasso
Fellwalking, photos, London & the Thames path "http://www.fellwalk.co.uk"
Spain, food and walking "http://www.fell-walker.co.uk" (see web for email)

Tim

On Wed, 11 Jun 2003 10:01:10 +0100, The Reid wrote:

    > Following up to Tim
    >>>> And they
    >>>> don't bring you water or coffee as soon as you sit down.
    >> Which is good if you want a cup of tea.
    > personally I prefer coffee at the end of the meal.
At the end of a meal yes. Tim.

Owain

"Tim" wrote
    | Like you'd really want unlimited supplies of icy water when you're sitting
    | in a cafe and it's 10C and pissing down outside. ;-)

I can remember an Indian restaurant (here in Scotland) apologising for the
delay because they'd run out of ice.

There was about 3" of snow outside.

Owain

Padraig Breathnach

The Reid wrote:

    >Following up to Tim
    >>>> And they
    >>>> don't bring you water or coffee as soon as you sit down.
    >>Which is good if you want a cup of tea.
    >personally I prefer coffee at the end of the meal.

The front end?

PB

Padraig Breathnach

"Mark Hewitt" wrote:

    >"Padraig Breathnach" wrote in message
    >news:[email protected]...
    >> "Alec" wrote:
    >> >
    >> What really vexes me -- and I live in Ireland -- is how often I have
    >> to ask for water in restaurants.
    >Resaurants don't want to give you water! They want you to pay for your
    >drinks.
I know, I know. But if I buy a meal and some wine, I would like them
to bring the water brought unasked.

Restaurants which take that little bit of extra trouble are more
likely to get my repeat business.

PB