Travel smart, not anxious.
A short, sensible guide to renting and travelling well in Dublin. Equipment can fail, plans can shift; a few small habits make a big difference.
How the handover works.
The ordinary version, so you know what to expect before anything can go wrong.
- Delivery. For hotels, we drop the equipment at reception before you check in, and text you when it's there. Anywhere else, we agree a time and hand it over in person.
- First five minutes. Give it a once-over before you head out: brakes, tyres, folding, and that the charger is in the bag if it's a scooter. If anything looks off, send us a photo and we'll sort it before you need it.
- During your stay. Message us with anything at all. Swaps and fixes within Dublin are usually the same day.
- Return. On your last day, leave it with reception (or at the agreed spot) and message us that it's there. No need to wait around for us.
Have a quiet backup plan.
The single most useful habit for travelling with rented equipment.
- A travel companion. Solo travel is fine, but a friend or family member nearby (in person or on the phone) is the easiest backup if anything goes wrong.
- A taxi app set up before you need it. Free Now or Uber, with payment added. The numbers are in the list at the bottom of this page. Saves panic at 11pm.
- A fallback location. Your hotel reception, a nearby café, the museum you just left. Somewhere indoors, with a phone signal, that you can wait at if needed.
- The address of your accommodation, written down. On paper or in your phone notes. Easier than re-finding it on a map app at the wrong moment.
Use it within its specifications.
Most equipment problems aren't equipment problems. They're use-it-outside-its-design problems.
- Avoid cobblestones, on any equipment. Scooters, wheelchairs and rollators alike. Temple Bar and some of the older streets have stretches of them, and some very narrow footpaths; there are also smooth pedestrianised surfaces close by. Scout ahead: plan the route, and if you're in a group, have someone walk a few steps in front to warn of a bad stretch. It gets very busy, so take your time.
- Mind the weight limits. Folding wheelchairs and travel scooters carry less than full-size models. Every item's limit is on its card at emeraldrentals.ie/equipment; if you're close to it, message us before you book and we'll advise.
- Charge nightly. Carry the charger. Scooters charge fully overnight from a standard Irish socket, and most cafés will let you top up during a long stop. We track battery health across the fleet and replace cells early, but a small habit on your side beats getting caught at a loose end.
- Watch the weather. Most equipment isn't designed for sustained heavy rain. Dublin is wet by default; a small cover or pause for shelter is sensible.
- Read the guide for your item. Every item we rent has its own short guide at emeraldrentals.ie/help: folding, charging, brakes, kerbs and the limits for that exact model. Two minutes on delivery day is well spent.
If something goes wrong with the equipment.
Tell us as soon as you notice anything. The sooner we hear, the sooner we can swap or fix it.
- WhatsApp first. It's the fastest way to reach us and lets us send photos or quick voice notes back.
- Text or call if WhatsApp won't load. Same number for all three.
- Email for non-urgent things. Replacement requests, billing questions, suggestions for new equipment.
Emergencies and useful numbers.
Save these to your phone before you need them.
Emergency
Emergency services
Garda, ambulance, fire. Free from any phone; 999 works too.
Medical
St. James's Hospital A&E
Central Dublin's main emergency department.
Mater Misericordiae A&E
North-side emergency department.
Children's Health Ireland, Crumlin
Children's emergency department.
D-Doc out-of-hours GP
Non-emergency doctor when surgeries are closed. 6pm–11pm weekdays, 9.30am–10.30pm weekends. North Strand.
Late-opening pharmacy
Hickeys on O'Connell Street usually opens late. Check current hours first.
Police
Garda, non-emergency
Lost property, theft, non-urgent issues. Pearse Street station, city centre.
Support
Samaritans
24/7 emotional support, free from any phone.
Taxis
Free Now
Taxi app. The easiest way to get a cab.
Uber
Also operates in Dublin.
Lynk Taxis
Dublin taxi company you can phone.
Accessible tourism and information
Irish Wheelchair Association
Accessibility advice and local services.
Visit Dublin
Tourist information, in person at 14 Upper O'Connell Street and online.
A note on insurance.
Our public and product liability insurance covers the equipment itself. It is not a personal travel or medical-injury policy for you. We recommend a personal travel insurance policy for any trip; it's the single cheapest piece of peace of mind you can buy before you fly.
Travel well.
Most rentals go by without a hiccup. If yours doesn't, you now know exactly who to message. Whatever brings you to Dublin, we hope the equipment makes it a little easier.