The natural beauty of Northern Ireland outshines the country's turbulent past. Tucked in rolling hills of lush green countryside and nestled along her dramatic coastline are Dozens upon dozens of cozy towns and fishing villages. Because of Northern Ireland's compact size and good road links you can see most main attractions in a week, from London Derry to the County Down it takes less than three hours by car to reach virtually any part of Northern Ireland. And no matter where you are you''re never far from the sea. To contact Auto Europe from Northern Ireland dial 001 207 842 2000.

Entry Requirements
You will need your passport, and a valid driver's license (for car rental). US and Canadian visitors do not need a visa.

Local Time
Northern Ireland is 6 hours ahead of Eastern Time in the United States and Canada.

Languages
English is by far the most widely spoken language in Northern Ireland.

Electricity
The voltage in Northern Ireland is 240V, 50AC. To prevent US appliances from burning out, a dual voltage adapter is required. Many hotels can supply, upon request, adapters for appliances such as razors and hairdryers.

Local Tourist Information
US Office:
551 Fifth Avenue, Suite 701
New York, NY 10176
Tel: (212) 922 - 0101 or (800) 326 - 0036
Fax: (212) 922 - 0099

Canadian Office:
111 Avenue Road, Suite 450
Toronto, Ontario M5R 3J8
Tel: (416) 925 - 6368
Fax: (416) 961 - 2175

In Northern Ireland:
59 North Street, Belfast BT1 1NB
Tel: (011232) 246609 - Minicom (011232) 233228
Fax: (011232) 240960

Customs
At most ports and airports customs operate green and red channels. Take the green channel if you have nothing to declare over the duty and tax - free allowances. Take the red channel if you have goods to declare or are unsure about import restrictions. There are import restrictions on meat and food products. Tourists under 17 are not entitled to tobacco or drink allowances and the import of animals is also strictly controlled. For full details, contact: HM Customs & Excise, 22 Upper Ground, London SE1 9PY Telephone: 0171 - 620 1313

Currency Exchange
Northern Ireland's currency is the British pound (sterling) divided into one hundred pence (100p). Notes are issued to the value of 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 pounds. Coins are issued to the value of 1 pound, 50p, 20p, 10p, 5p, 2p and lp. Mastercard and Visa are widely accepted in shops, restaurants & hotels and for car rental. Diner''s Club and American Express are less widely accepted. Please note, most guesthouses and even a few small country hotels do not accept credit cards - so have cash on hand. You can use a US bankcard to get cash at some automatic teller machines. Check which system your US bank uses before departure.

Tipping
Gratuity is usually included at most restaurants but always check your bill. If not and you found the service to be satisfactory, pay 10 - 15 per cent as a tip. In hotels, the tip works out at about 50p per bag for the porter. Tipping at pubs is not necessary.

Business Hours
Banks: Banks in large cities are open 9.30am - 4.30pm Monday - Friday; elsewhere, some may close from 12.30 - 1.30pm. In smaller towns and villages, banks may not open every day. Building society banks are open longer (and, often, on Saturday). Shopping: Shops in Belfast city center are open 9am - 5:30 pm Mon - Sat, later on Thursdays. Most other cities close for half the day, one day a week (this differs from town to town) and smaller shops tend to close at lunchtime. Some large shopping centers on the outskirts of town stay open until 9pm. Many towns have a market once a week.

Value Added Tax
17.5%