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Post by puppylove6969 on Oct 12, 2007 17:22:50 GMT -5
Ok. whats the diff between euros and pounds? who takes what? what should i bring??
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Post by me on Oct 12, 2007 18:27:28 GMT -5
Euro, €, are what's used in much of Western Europe. Pounds are used only in UK.
what you will use depends on where you go. but, the best thing to take is an ATM card. you can get whatever kind of cash is used in that country from an ATM.
try to take more than one ATM card, in case you loose it.
where are you going, as in, which countries?
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Post by pointofnoreturn on Oct 12, 2007 20:03:06 GMT -5
I find that if you're travelling to various countries, it's best to start with the ones that use the Euro because the pounds are so expensive that you might find yourself in a sticky situation. You might want to bring about 200 euros with you (that is, if you're starting out in that style) and get the rest with ATM's.
Either way, both euros and pounds are expensive nowadays.
I hate currency conversions....
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Post by puppylove6969 on Oct 12, 2007 20:38:24 GMT -5
going to england, scotland, france and the netherlands. The reason I was asking is cuz pounds are so expensive! Boooo to that! Are there ATM's everywhere cuz I wasn't planning on taking a lot fo cash with me.
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Post by WillTravel on Oct 12, 2007 20:39:02 GMT -5
If you are going to the UK (England, Scotland, Northern Ireland) you need pounds.
For countries in the Eurozone (Italy, Spain, France, Germany, and some others), you need Euros.
Countries that are new to the EU or which have chosen not to have Euros will each have their own currency - some examples are the Czech Republic, Sweden, Denmark, Romania, etc.
If you can get some currency before you leave at a reasonable rate, that's nice to have. Otherwise, ATMs are no doubt your best bet. Try to have at least two ways to get money.
Example:
ATM card linked to checking account (and it's best to have two cards like David said)
Credit card on which you can get cash advances (but this is only for an absolute emergency, because cash advances are very costly)
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Post by me on Oct 12, 2007 21:15:46 GMT -5
England & Scotland, being provinces of UK, use UK Pounds (GBP - £). France & Netherlands, being in Eurozone, use Euro (EUR - €). although Pounds are expensive, you can often buy more per pound than you can per dollar. however, euros really buy no more than dollars, in spite of being more expensive than dollars! ATM's are at least as common in Europe as they are in North America. going to england, scotland, france and the netherlands. The reason I was asking is cuz pounds are so expensive! Boooo to that! Are there ATM's everywhere cuz I wasn't planning on taking a lot fo cash with me. |
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Post by pointofnoreturn on Oct 12, 2007 22:23:06 GMT -5
P.S. Scotland does not have the same type of pounds as England does but they are equal. You just need to convert them at banks (usually free) in either Scotland or England.
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Post by puppylove1982 on Oct 13, 2007 13:53:58 GMT -5
David..you say 2 atm cards? ok weird question....can I just go and ask my bank for a 2nd one? lol or should i say I lost mine?
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Post by pointofnoreturn on Oct 13, 2007 14:35:28 GMT -5
I asked for a second ATM card as well. This was in case I lost the original or if the ATM sucked it up and didn't give it back.
It's good to have a back-up ATM card in case you lose yours. I would just go to the bank in person (ahead of time, just so you know because they have to mail it to you) two months prior to the travel dates and explain to them why you want one. They should process a new ATM card for you and have it out in the mail which should take a few weeks.
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Post by me on Oct 13, 2007 14:42:13 GMT -5
this info about Scots & English having different £ notes that can't be used in the other territory is news to me. but, i've never been to Scotland.
has this always been true?
regarding the two ATM cards: puppylove6969, do not tell your bank you lost your card. they would most likely void that card.
if your bank balks at issuing you a 2nd card after you explain why you need one - do you have a trusted family member or friend to whom you could give signature rights on your account? if so, sign 'em up & get an ATM card issued for that person. then, just take that new ATM card on your trip with you as well as your own.
an alternative is to open a 2nd account at another bank for use on the trip. and, there are ways to get around the usurious interest rates charged for cash advances: prepay a balance on a 2nd credit card & use that card only for cash advances.
you'd still get cash advance fees, but no interest charges.
- d
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Post by pointofnoreturn on Oct 13, 2007 19:00:58 GMT -5
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Post by me on Oct 13, 2007 20:34:28 GMT -5
Huh. a sentence that sticks out: "You will, however, not have a problem when using English notes anywhere in Scotland" so, i guess there's no need to convert English pound notes to Scot pound notes. that is wild that some English shops refuse Scot pound notes! that's like NYC stores not taking US$ notes from the Dallas Fed!  - d |
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Post by pointofnoreturn on Oct 13, 2007 22:22:52 GMT -5
I forgot to mention, it should be completely fine in the bigger Scottish cities (i.e. Edinburgh and Glasgow) but further up north, you might have a hard time getting them to accept English pounds. Your worst case scenario is that if it doesn't get accepted, just go to a bank and switch a few pounds out  I only say this because there's bound to be some proud Scottish people adamant of their heritage and refusing to take English notes (which has been experienced by a friend of mine who travelled up there!). |
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Post by me on Oct 14, 2007 11:18:18 GMT -5
Your worst case scenario is that if it doesn't get accepted, just go to a bank and switch a few pounds out I only say this because there's bound to be some proud Scottish people adamant of their heritage and refusing to take English notes (which has been experienced by a friend of mine who travelled up there!). i would be *very* displeased if i took the time to shop/choose what i wanted, just to have the shopkeeper refuse my perfectly valid cash just because it comes from a different region of the country! are English & Scot notes segregated in Scotland? i mean, Finnish € notes are accepted in Portugal & Greece, and vice versa. |
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Post by madamtrashheap on Oct 14, 2007 19:39:29 GMT -5
I forgot to mention, it should be completely fine in the bigger Scottish cities (i.e. Edinburgh and Glasgow) but further up north, you might have a hard time getting them to accept English pounds. How far north? I've never had a problem using Engish notes in Scotland (and receiving Scottish notes as change). If anything, the trouble is in England using Scottish notes - many an occasion I've been told they aren't accepted...which isn't true as they are legal tender and with a little prompting you'll find the notes are (begrudgingly) accepted in most cases. puppylove6969, just use English notes in Scotland and when you return to England if you have trouble using your Scottish notes (and you most likely will) then exchange them at a bank for English notes. |
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