The original do-it-yourself travel guide to Europe ^SM

Euro and Other Currencies

Exchange Rates for Travel in Europe

What does a euro look like? Here is a €20 note compared with a $20 bill.
Which countries are in the Euro Zone? See the list below.

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Wear a money belt under your shirt to protect your passport and valuables, especially if you are staying in hostels or dorms.

Victorinox Deluxe Concealed Security Belt

This portable combo door stopper and alarm will give you additional security in your hotel room.
GE 50246 Smart Home Door Stop Alarm

GE 50246 Smart Home
Door Stop Alarm

If you are short in the mental arithmetic department one of these will come in handy.

Casio SL-300 Wallet Style Pocket Calculator

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Note: Italicized notations by the author.

Make sure that your electrical appliances are dual voltage so they will work in Europe.

Vagabond Compact Styler
Conair's Dual-Voltage Ionic Hair Dryer

You will need one or more of these plug adapters for your electrical appliances and chargers.

Electrical Plug Adapter USA to Continental Europe

Electrical Plug Adapter
USA to Continental Europe

SIMRAN ELECTRICAL PLUG ADAPTER - CONVERTS GROUNDED USA PLUGS TO EUROPE PLUG-GERMAN SHUCKO PLUG (VP 11W)

SIMRAN Electrical Plug Adapter
Converts grounded USA plugs to European plug

This is a universal plug adapter for the UK and Ireland.

Samsonite Grounded Adaptor Plug - United Kingdom, Ireland

Grounded Electrical Adapter
Europe to Switzerland

For charging the batteries of more than one gizmo at a time use this 250 volt universal power strip. It comes with a grounded Continental plug so it does not need an adapter plug for Europe. See the next item if you are going to the British Isles. Universal Outlet Surge Protector Power Strip for AC 220V/240V Countries. Max Load 13A 250V 50/60HZ - 450 Joules. CE Certified

Universal Outlet Surge Protector Power Strip for AC 220V/240V Countries. Max Load 13A 250V 50/60HZ - 450 Joules. CE Certified

Surge Protector Power Strip
with 6 Universal Outlets
for 220/240 Volt Countries
Max Load 13A 250V 50/60Hz
CE Certified

To use the surge strip in Britain and Ireland you will need one of these plug adapters.
Grounded Adapter - Europe to England UK Britain

Grounded Adapter
Europe to
Britain and Ireland

The euro went into circulation on January 1, 2002 as the currency of 12 central European nations, now up to 16. Here's what it looks like, a €20 bank note compared to an American $20 bill. Both images are defaced with the word "specimen." As of June 2010 the euro is "officially" worth about $1.22 so €20 is about $25. One dollar will buy only €0.82, minus fees and commissions which can easily cost you 10% at some money changers.

The Euro Zone
Official Austria Belgium Cyprus Finland France Germany Greece Ireland Italy Luxembourg Malta Netherlands Portugal Slovakia Slovenia Spain	Unofficial Andora Kosovo Monaco Montenegro San Marino Vatican City	Definitely Not Britain Denmark Iceland Liechtenstein Norway Sweden Switzerland
Possibly open to negotiation in other countries which have their own currencies. In fact, hotel rates are often posted in euros and/or dollars in eastern Europe and Turkey.

Money exchange rates are in constant flux, sort of like the waves on the beach. But as far as you are concerned, the only rate is the amount of foreign currency you receive, after the exchange rate is calculated and the commissions and/or fees have been deducted. This varies from money changer to money changer. It is a rip-off racket throughout Europe. Before giving your money to anybody behind a bullet-proof window ask them to write down the total amount of local currency that you will receive for the cash in your hand, AFTER their commissions and/or fees have been deducted. Be very wary of any exchange office which advertises "No Commission" in big bold print. These agents give a very low exchange rate in order to make a profit. Any agent can exchange money at whatever rate he wants. It is a free market, like apples.

In virtually every country of Europe ATMs accept most American bank cards. Credit cards usually don't work for cash advances. These machines are usually attached to banks but are sometimes free standing machines in train stations, airports, and shopping areas. They are not called ATMs but look almost the same as native ATMs in the USA. Use these machines with your PIN to withdraw local cash, usually at the best exchange rates and usually with no fee, except for the fee at your home town bank. Home town bank fees can be as high as $5.00 per transaction or a percentage of the amount withdrawn. Ask your bank for their fee before using your ATM card in Europe.

Call or visit your home town bank before going to Europe to let them know that you'll be over there, and trying to get local cash out of local machines in the European countries you will be visiting. This will help ensure that you can use your ATM card there, but no guarantee, absolutely no guarantee. It is wise to always have a few days supply of cash in your pocket and/or a backup ATM or credit card from another bank or credit union. Also, there is a difference in the performance, if you will, between regular ATM cards and debit cards. The banks have been trying to get everybody to use debit cards for the past decade. These are linked with VISA or MasterCard. Unfortunately, these debit cards do not work as universally as a straight ATM card. This may be because of the credit card link since some banks in Europe do not allow cash advances on credit cards.

Another unfortunate feature of debit cards compared to credit cards is that there may be no limit on liability in case your card is lost or stolen. Your liability for a lost or stolen credit card is $50 up to the time you notify the card issuer. With a debit card a finder can clean out your bank account before you notice that the card is missing. True, a PIN is needed to withdraw cash at an ATM but a PIN is usually not needed at a gas station. If your debit card is used as a credit card, all it takes is a forged signature to clean out your account.

You might also ask your bank for its ATM maintenance schedule. Bank systems are shut down for software and/or hardware maintenance for a few hours per week or month. They usually do this when most everybody is sleeping — on the west side of the Atlantic. You're on the other side when you are in Europe and cruising along at 5 to 12 hours ahead of your home town. The down-time maintenance hours may inconvenience you and throw a severe crimp into your day's activities if you immediately need a fresh batch of cash while the system is doing its hiccup.

Most ATMs in Europe only accept four digit PINs and most of them only have numbers on the keypad, i.e. no A, B, C. So change your PIN to four easy to remember numbers before you go to Europe. For example, use the year you were born. Do it in reverse for greater security. Or turn 'cash' into 2274 or 'john' into 5646. Be original to be safe.

For much more about money in Europe see chapter 8, Cash, ATMs, Credit Cards, Personal Checks.

Here are links to exchange rate web sites and more information about money.
The Euro
XE.com

NOTE TO READERS

I welcome questions and comments. If you have any concerns about your trip to Europe that have not been covered well enough in this chapter do not hesitate to write and ask.

When you write please include as much detail as possible. There are about 50 countries in Europe and they're not all the same like Kansas and Nebraska. It will help me answer your questions if you mention the countries and/or cities you plan to visit. I will reply in a day or two. Your privacy is protected. Your email address and contents of your email are secure and confidential.

My incoming email address is johnbermont@enjoy-europe.com. My reply will be from another email address starting with *brotech*.

For a check-off punchlist of everything go to The Finale, Packing List and Last Call: What You Need to Travel in Europe, All in One Place.

Don't forget to scroll through the Table of Contents below. The other 29 chapters of HOW TO EUROPE are also available, free to read on line. In addition, the Google search box below can locate specific subjects in any chapter or page on site.

If you know of someone else who would appreciate reading this web page please send the URL link to him or her. To easily do that, click your "File" tab in the tool bar and scroll down to "Send" or "Send Link." Your friend will thank you, and I thank you.

A bilingual ATM on Boulevard St. Germain in Paris, France.

A bilingual ATM on Boulevard St. Germain in Paris, France.

Europe probably has as many ATM machines as the USA. Here is a bilingual cash machine on Boulevard St. Germain in Paris, France. It accepts nine kinds of plastic. [P1020069-ParisATM.jpg]

Combination Kodak store and currency exchange in Riga, Latvia.

Combination Kodak store and currency exchange in Riga, Latvia.

Stores like this were common throughout Europe before the euro came. Now you only see them in countries where the euro is not the official currency. This merchant in Riga, Latvia sells Kodak products and buys nine kinds of currency. You are probably better off dealing with a bank or using an ATM. [P1160045-RigaMoneyStore.jpg]

Forex currency exchange bureau in the Oslo, Norway train station.

Forex currency exchange bureau in the Oslo, Norway train station.

The Forex company specializes in foreign currency exchange. Their offices are located in countries which do not accept the euro. This bureau is in the Oslo, Norway train station.[P1120226-OsloForex.jpg]

Swedish kronor, Norwegian kroner, Danish kronor

Swedish kronor, Norwegian kroner, Danish kronor

Polish zlotych, Czech korun, Swiss franc

Here are miniature views of some of the currencies afloat in Europe. From upper left are 20 Swedish kronor, 50 Norwegian kroner, 50 Danish kroner, 2 Estonian krooni, 50 Lithuanian litu, 10 Polish zlotych, 50 Czech korun, and 10 Swiss francs/franchi/Franken/francs. There are four official languages in Switzerland.

An ATM machine in the Milan, Italy train station.

An ATM machine in the Milan, Italy train station.

Most ATM machines have only numeric keypads, but this one in Nova Milanese, Italy is also alpha. It accepts a dozen types of plastic. However, Italian cash machines are notorious for not giving out money. You often need to visit two or three before you find a cooperative dispenser of euros.[P1080406-MilanATM.jpg]

US Dollar to Euro Exchange Rate Graph - Dec 15, 2004 to Dec 14, 2009

Five year dollar to euro chart courtesy of Index Mundi.

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Who wrote this?

Home and general index.

Table of Contents HOW TO EUROPE
The Complete Travelers Handbook

All of the text, updated to May 2010, is available on line, FREE. Updated photographs with captions are available on line for those chapters as noted "with illustrations."
The entire book, copyright 2003, can be purchased by clicking Amazon.com.

Chapter 1, with illustrations.
What's It All About?
In Europe, Travel Like a Native

Chapter 2
On Budget in Europe
Travel Costs

Chapter 3
Passport and Visas for Europe
Identity and Travel Documents

Chapter 4
Flying to Europe
Travel Starts at the Airport

Chapter 5
What to Wear in Europe
Travel Clothes for all Occasions

Chapter 6
Your Packing List for Europe
A Short List of Travel Accessories

Chapter 7
Luggage for Europe
Travel Light, Travel Light, Travel Light

Chapter 8
Cash, ATMs, Credit Cards, Personal Checks
Travel with Each in Europe

Chapter 9
Your Travel Diary of Europe
Notes Supplement Your Photos

Chapter 10
Guide Books, Maps, Dictionaries
Travel in Europe with a Good Guide Book

Chapter 11
Electricity in Europe
Travel Voltage Fundamentals

Chapter 12, with illustrations.
Photography in Europe
Travel with Your Camera

Chapter 13
Bring a Smile
Travel Europe in Good Attitude

Chapter 14
European Hotels, Hostels, B&Bs, Private Homes
Sleep Options for Travel in Europe

Chapter 15
Eating Your Way through Europe
Travel on Your Belly

Chapter 16
Getting Around Town in Europe
Travel by Bus, Streetcar, Subway, Taxi, Bike, and Shoe

Chapter 17, part 1,
with illustrations.
Trains in Europe
Travel Europe by Train, Bus, and Ferry

Chapter 17, part 2,
with illustrations.
Trains in Europe
European rail details

Chapter 17, part 3,
with illustrations.
Night Trains in Europe
Travel Europe by Train, Bus, and Ferry

Chapter 17, part 4,
with illustrations.
European Bus and Ship Services
Travel Europe by Train, Bus, and Ferry

Chapter 18
Driving in Europe
Travel by Car, Van, or Motorcycle

Chapter 19, part 1
Telephoning to, from, and within Europe
Codes, 10-10, telephone cards, cellular phones, PTT

Chapter 19, part 2
Sending Mail to & from Europe
Air Mail, Priority, PTT, Poste Restante, Amex

Chapter 19, part 3
Internet and Email in Europe
Cyber Cafes, Keyboards, Password, Your Laptop

Chapter 19, part 4
Telegrams
Wiring Cash and Keeping in Touch

Chapter 20
Health and Safety in Europe
Travel in Confidence but with Caution

Chapter 21
Working in Europe
Travel for Free

Chapter 22, part 1
Moving to Europe
Travel to the Max as an Expatriate

Chapter 22, part 2
Living in Europe
Travel to the Max as an Expatriate

Chapter 23, with illustrations.
Shopping in Europe
Buy Your Souvenirs, Gifts, and Necessities

Chapter 24
Shipping Your Treasures Home from Europe
Travelers Have a Number of Options

Chapter 25
Passing Customs in Europe
Know the Rules When Crossing Borders

Chapter 26
Languages, Numbers, Alphabets
Encounter The Tower of Babel in Europe

Chapter 27
The Metric System in Europe
Traveling with Grams, Meters, Liters, and Celsius

Chapter 28
Time and Dates in Europe
Travel in a Different Time Zone

Chapter 29
The Weather in Europe
Travel with Your Umbrella

Chapter 30
Melding with Europe
Travel Is Interesting and Entertaining

The Finale
Packing List and Last Call
What You Need to Travel in Europe,
All in One Place

Learn the basic infrastructure: Prime Travel Data Elementary Travel Information for Europe
	Austria Belgium Czech Republic Denmark Finland	France Germany Greece Ireland Italy	Luxembourg Netherlands Norway Portugal Spain	Sweden Switzerland United Kingdom

Utilize John Bermont's exclusive: TRAVELERS YELLOW PAGES A Directory of Links to Products, Services, and Information
	Airlines to Europe National Tourist Offices City Tourist Offices City Information and Tours Country Information and Tours Luggage and Backpacks Discount Air Travel	Villas and Homes for Rent Hostels in Europe Hotels in Europe Auto Rental in Europe Rail Services of Europe Eclectic Travel Sites Internet Search Engines	Photography Guide Books for Europe Educational Programs Newsletters from Europe Personal Travel Pages Personal Trip Planning

Get open hours, costs, locations, and more: Travelers Portfolio Essential Visitors Information for the Top Sights of Europe
	Amsterdam Anne Frank Huis Rijksmuseum Van Gogh Museum	London British Museum Buckingham Palace National Gallery Natural History Museum Palace of Westminster St. Paul's Cathedral Tower of London Westminster Abbey	Paris coming soon Arc de Triomphe Tour Eiffel Hôtel des Invalides Musée de l'Armée Opera Montmarte Cathédrale Notre Dame Musée d'Orsay Musée du Louvre

Exchange rates, weather, maps: Up-To-The-Minute Be informed before you go.
	Money Exchange Currency exchange rates, including the euro, British pound, Swiss Frank.	Weather in Europe Current European weather conditions and forecasts. Good luck.	Maps and Time Zones Free online maps of Europe. Guide to setting your watch ahead.

Captioned photos from Europe PhotoLog Pictures of what we do in Europe.
	Queen's Day Holland hosts a great one-day party, annually on April 30. Here is the action in Haarlem and Amsterdam.	Keukenhof A beautiful huge tulip garden blooms during middle spring. We made a leisurely bike ride from Haarlem.	Bull Flight My daughter Stephanie enters the ring and encounters a baby bull in Spain, then flies for her life!

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Copyright Internet edition © 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2002, 2001 James J. Broad © 1987, 1986, 1984, 1982 Murphy & Broad Publishing Co. All rights reserved. Tous droits réservés. This is copyrighted material. Do not reproduce, copy, plagiarize, store, modify, extract, transmit, or purloin any part of this publication in any nation in any form or by any means or for any purpose whatsoever without permission in writing. Webmasters: You may link the URL http://www.enjoy-europe.com/exchange.html freely. Please do. When you link please send the URL for your linking page and a crosslink will be installed in one of the categories of the TRAVELERS YELLOW PAGES to your site if it has significant content for travelers in Europe. Travelers: You may print one copy of this chapter for your personal use. To order the complete book with all of the captioned photographs see the next section below. Permissions: If you want to copy any of this material to your web site, book, article, or term paper please ask first. Note that plagiarism includes paraphrasing text and even copying ideas. Everything on this page is original. Students, professors, journalists, and writers are outed almost every day, caught stealing the works of others and presenting it as their own work. Then they make excuses when caught. Then they are thrown out of school or fired, or they run for Vice President when they get away with it. At least one other travel writer has plagiarized heavily from my work, claiming and getting credit for writing a few dozen books every year. Some of his books have included my work for years on end, without credit. For honorable people, permissions are freely granted so you don't need to steal and lie. Just say where you found the information and ideas. For permissions contact: publisher@enjoy-europe.com. Privacy Policy: No personal information is collected when you visit this site. To read the complete privacy policy go to Privacy Policy. Site Map: To see everything on this site in one compact listing go to Site Map
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FLAGS of EUROPE

Austria	Belgium	Czech Republic	Denmark	Estonia
Finland	France	Germany	Greece	Hungary
Iceland	Ireland	Italy	Latvia	Lithuania
Luxembourg	Monaco	Netherlands	Norway	Poland
Romania	Russia	Sweden	Switzerland	Turkey
Ukraine