Euro or Koruny in Prague

Planning my first trip to Acron, Ohio. From what I've heard, you can either use US Dollars or Mexican Peso or Shekel. Just for walking around money, which is used more?

Hmmm, good question!

Hotels quote rates a lot in Euro in the CR, that does not mean you can pay in euro nor that the CR uses the euro. Countries don't generally use dual currencies. Hotels quote in euros because a lot of their customers know that currency, so they can evaluate the room rate better that way. Do not assume anything just due to a quote, your hotel may not even accept euro (which wouldn't surprise me). The CR isn't going to use the euro until at least 2010, last I heard, and I think that date was unlikely. They aren't allowed to use it until approved, and the planned date was 2010-2012. Being in the EU does not mean you automatically use the euro.

Actually, it was a good question, considering the variations in quotations the OP cited.

There are many places in the world where another currency is actually more preferred than the local currency. Mexico is a perfect example. For decades the USD was preferred over the Peso in many areas of the country. This was also true for every island in the Caribbean, with the exception of the French islands. Also in Colombia and Peru.

Thanks for your responses. We received an email from a private guide we contacted. He gave us the price and said he accepted only Euros.

Oh, that is really bad news, the collapse will happen soon. If he doesn't even take dollars!

The usual response is, "We don't take €'s". I'd be extra careful with this guy!

logos - you'll have more than currency problems as the town is Akron, not Acron! You'll never find it on a map so you'll be able to go home with your Pesos!

I am a regular traveller to the Czech republic .The local currency is the Czech Crown (CzK) and you Will need this for walking around money.
Yes the Euro is accepted in many places but you will get a very bad exchange rate controlled only by the people /business accepting the Euros.My adivice is whenever you can get quotations in the local currency,also use Atm's for getting money and do not use exchange booths for converting dollars to Czk.
The Czech Republic will not for the foreseable future be converting to the Euro.

adrienne, I'm looking forward to those problems!
And the towns name is indeed Acron!

When the days comes that I can

1. pay with Polish Zloty in Winslow, Arizona;

2. settle a bar bill in Havre, Montana with Estonian kroon;

3. use Swiss francs for a cab fare in Winnipeg

then, and only then, would I advise anyone to take dollars or euros to the Czech Republic. Unless your life is limited to ultra-posh hotels and upmarket limos, you will be laughed out of town. When in Rome, as they say....

You'll need CZ Koruny to 1. buy a banana in the market, 2. buy a métro ticket, 3. buy a copy of the local newspaper, 4. pick up a beer at the local store, 5. buy a ticket a football match, 6. buy a tram ticket, 7. make a donation to the woman who begs outside your posh hotel. And for a dozen more small transactions.

Get the local currency.... always.... without fail. Without the local currency, you just set yourself up to be mocked and ripped off. Especially if you ask to use dollars. Roubles at a pinch, perhaps. Euros in an emergency. But the dollar will evoke more than a few smiles and some real derision. Honest!

Hi CC,

>....our hotel quoted their rate in Euro.<

I suggest that you ask if they will accept Euro, and if not what they are chrging in CZ crowns.

You don't know what exchange rate they are using.

Logos, as someone that lived in AKRON, OHIO for about 1 year I can assure you that there is no "C" in the name of the CITY. Now, there are other meanings for "Acron", but you specifically said "Acron, Ohio"

I reserve the right to misspell any US town or city. As a retaliatory measure for every misspelled European town name, at least two US towns will have to suffer under wrong spellings. So whoever lives in Afcron or Ankron, Ohio, you will have to feel the pain.

And who wants to pay for his snacks in foreign currency needs to go to Zimbabwe. But maybe it works in Afcron too, in just a few weeks?

We have to cut logos a break and feel sorry for him and his bad spelling as his office does not have air conditioning and his photo looks like he is in meltdown! Also, he never seems to get farther in his travels than downtown Muenchen and Muenchen West so the people of Akron are safe!

Adrienne, you'll never be safe. And the people of Acron won't be safe either. But hey, since you can't afford to live in Noo York City, who are you trying to fool

I wasn't planning on using or asking anyone to accept dollars, but the price quoted for hotel and guide in Euros were both reasonable in a dollar to Euro exchange rate, so I'm not sure how I could be ripped off. Doesn't mean I won't be, I just need to understand it better. I was in Italy, Greece, and Turkey last year and in London and Paris the year before. I watched the exchange rate and could kind of convert in my head. So when a guide says he charges 88 Euro, I know that's about $120 or so, which is about what we paid for a private guide in Paris.

Anyway, my main question was how to pay in small shops,etc., and the answer seems to be Czech money. Thanks

You can also use the exchange booths at train stations. Unlike in western european countries, in CZ many give a pretty decent exchange rate. If you have foreign cash, that's the way to go.

Prague is not yet on the euro. some hotels quote rates in euros so tourists don;t have to translate the currency. You will probably be able to use euros at some tourist restatuarants or shops - but at a scandalous rate of exchange. In most places you will have to use the local currency.

Assuming you're coming from the US you can;t change US$ to euros - only koruna - in Prague and ATMs will dispense only local currency.

Hi Brockbank,

I'm living in Prague right now. At Tesco (supermarket), if you pay with Euros, the exchange rate they are giving is 1 EUR = 26 CZK.

However, today's rate was 1 Eur = 26.2051 CZK (according to www.xe.com)

So that means that if you pay with Euros, you would be paying about 20.51 CZK more per 100 Euros spent. Which is not too bad, that comes about to be slightly over a dollar extra (1 USD = 18.8364 CZK today) for every 100 Euros that you spend.

However, I must warn you, it's very likely that Czech businesses will quote foreigners a different price than local Czechs. It's worse if you want to pay with Euros.

FYI, sometimes the Czechs are sneaky and short-change you.
There is also a different price at restaurants. For example, they will give you one menu with one set of prices but charge you a different, higher, price for sitting outside, but they won't tell you and you might not notice.


If you pay with credit card there will be a 3% charge by your US credit card for the foreign transaction (except for Capital One card, they don't have this charge). Some smaller businesses also require a minimum amount of purchase if you want to use your credit card.


If you change your USD cash to Euros cash at one of those currency exchange places (for example, at the airport or train station), they will give you a really bad exchange rate.

So the best way is to withdraw CZK here at a local ATM when you get here and pay in CZK, not Euros.


From what I've observed, the only people who use Euros to pay for things here in Prague are the tourists. Every time I see them get ripped off I cringe. For example, locals know that you could get a liter of good czech beer for 35 CZK. In old town, they charge the tourists 95 CZK, or if they want to pay in Euros (which is very likely), they charge 5 Euros (way more than the exchange rate).

Logos, it is New Yawk City, I know I live with a Lawn Gilander.


dave

Thanks to all. As usual, I know morenow than when I posted my question.

never, never exchange currency in the exchange booths, they are very deceptive in their advertising and some are dishonest to boot. ATM's are the best, if you must change notes go to a bank.

Never say never again. There are pretty decent rate exchange booths (2-3%) and there are others (scammers), as always. .
You did expect that in Prague, didn't you?

please feel free to name them please, that would be very helpful.

Chris, I do know how much I pay in fees! And some aren't that bad at all. Never is clearly wrong, just a few weeks ago at Pilsen station, the exchange rate was good. Please do name the "never never" places. That would help.

I was in several Exhcnage places a few weeks ago(just for research) and though they advertise great rates when you go in these rates only apply if you are changing over 50,000 czk crowns worth of currency,the other exchange rate for smaller amounts was about 20% less.
I use ATM's when travelling and even with bank charges find it is far the best rate going.

To give you a straight answer. If the business will accept euro, they will tell you. But take a look at the exchange rate you will receive.

Last summer I got a wad of local currency from the ATM at the airport and used that and my credit card for large purchases, e.g. hotel bill. Yes prices are quoted by hotels in euro, but I don't recommend trying to pay a cab driver in anything but koruna. For one, he cannot easily make change. For two, his meter is in koruna. For 3, he probably has no idea how to convert on the spot.
And for 4, he would probably be ticked off.

>> he would probably be ticked off.

You got that one right!