FAQs

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Answers to your most frequently asked questions:

[su_spoiler title=”How much yoga experience do I need?” icon=”plus-circle”]This is a great question! I welcome all levels, but recommend you attend at 1 months’ worth of classes before leaving for the retreat.
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[su_spoiler title=”What level of fitness is required?” icon=”plus-circle”]Imagine this: Everyday we will practice yoga for an hour to an hour and a half hours. Many days we’ll hike between 2 to 5 miles over varying terrain difficulties. And most evenings we’ll go out and go out for live music, dancing, or some kind of event. Coming prepared with a yoga and walking practice already in place will make your whole experience more enjoyable. Not only will you be very active each day, you will also be dealing with jet lag, so take care of yourself before you come![/su_spoiler]

[su_spoiler title=”What does the cost of the retreat include?” icon=”plus-circle”]The cost of the retreat includes drop off and pick up from Cork Airport or train station in south western Ireland, a shared room for your entire stay, breakfast, lunch, and all but 2 dinners, yoga instruction, and all afternoon and evening activities. Airfare, alcohol, travel insurance, and 2 dinners are NOT included in the price.[/su_spoiler]

[su_spoiler title=”Where and when will I be picked up to go to the retreat?” icon=”plus-circle”] We will pick you up in Cork City at the airport, bus, or train station between 2pm – 3pm on arrival day. When the retreat ends we will drop you off no later than 10am at the airport, bus, or train station. Your outgoing flight should leave the day AFTER the retreat ends if you are leaving from Dublin or Shannon Airport.[/su_spoiler]

[su_spoiler title=”What if I want to fly into Dublin or Shannon?” icon=”plus-circle”]You are welcome to arrive in either place. If you do you’ll need to get a bus or train to Cork City. We’ll pick you up from there. Please give yourself ample time to make it to our pick-up points. Ireland is not always known for its’ efficiency! I highly recommend taking extra time to explore this beautiful country either before or after the retreat![/su_spoiler]

[su_spoiler title=”How do I get to Cork City from Dublin or Shannon?” icon=”plus-circle”]To get to Cork from Dublin take the train from Dublin Heuston to Cork Kent. OR you can take a bus to Cork Parnell Place. Bus Eirann or Aircoach offer affrodable ways to travel down South. Tip: Buying your train ticket in the station will double the cost, so make sure to purchase your ticket online. Buses are a bit cheaper online and will guarantee you a spot during the busy tourist season.[/su_spoiler]

[su_spoiler title=”Where do I get my airline ticket?”  icon=”plus-circle”]This is going to be a multi-step process. I suggest looking on websites such as Priceline or Expedia, as well as checking directly with the airlines. Surprisingly, I’ve often found better prices with the airlines themselves. Heads up: It is usually more expensive to fly into Cork than Dublin. However…Norwegian and WOW Airlines have opened up budget flights to Cork! Check out my Blog post about that HERE.[/su_spoiler]

[su_spoiler title=”How do cell phones work in Ireland?” icon=”plus-circle”]Ireland uses a different bandwidth than America. Some American phones can be used overseas so make sure to check with your provider. You’ll also need to find out if your SIM card is unlocked. If you have been a customer with your cell phone provider for awhile they should be able to unlock it for you. Then, if your phone has the proper bandwidth you can purchase an Irish SIM card and insert it into your American phone, subsequently getting cheaper rates than your company will ever provide you.

It is also possible to purchase a cheap Irish cell phone with pay as you go credit. You can find out more about that here: http://www.vodafone.ie/ or http://www.o2online.ie/o2/. If you are interested in learning more about any of these options, email me: kat@retreattoireland.com.

If you are interested in learning more about any of these options, email me.

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[su_spoiler title=”What kind of food will be served?” icon=”plus-circle”]Breakfast will be simple with both protein and carb options: hard-boiled eggs, meat and cheese slices, muesli, homemade brown bread and yogurt; and beverages such as milk, coffee and tea. Lunch will usually be on the go and include homemade soups, wraps or sandwiches, mixed salads, trail mix, and fruits. Dinner will be a mix of different meat/protein dishes, vegetables and other sides, along with dessert! During the registration process you’ll be asked for your favorite meal. We do our best to make sure you get to eat it while in Ireland! When we go out to eat the price will range from 15 – 30 Euros ($18 – $37 US). [/su_spoiler]

[su_spoiler title=”How does money work in Ireland?” icon=”plus-circle”]The Republic of Ireland uses the Euro as their currency. Exchange rates vary, but as of January 2018 for every American dollar you get 0.83 Euros. Ireland readily accepts credit and debit cards, however it is a good idea to have cash handy. Here are some options: Once you arrive find an ATM in the airport and get out enough cash for your trip. Ireland is a relatively safe country so this will minimize your ATM fees. Some banks have partner banks in Ireland or allow for fee free withdrawls (Capital 1 Checking has this service). Call your bank and check in. You can also pre-order Euros with your bank. Call to check about what kind of conversion rates they offer.

Call your credit card companies and find out what kind of fees if any they charge while using overseas. There are plenty of cards out there that are fee free, so keep that in mind. Also, most Irish companies only accept Visa and Mastercard.

If you purchase anything using a credit card make sure the bill is expressed in the local currency. Merchants offer a conversion rate, but often it isn’t very good. Ask to have your bill in Euros. Make sure to tell your bank and credit card company when and where you will be traveling, so they don’t freeze your account. And finally, traveler’s checks have gone the way of the dinosaur. Don’t get them. [/su_spoiler]

[su_spoiler title=”What is the VAT and how does it work?” icon=”plus-circle”]Great question! Rick Steve’s says it best. Go HERE.[/su_spoiler]