I wonder if I can use Euro in Southern France, in the areas like Languedoc-Roussillon (near Spanish border), and in Provence and Cote d'Azur. Thanks for help.

You certainly WILL be able to do so WHEN the coins and banknotes are issued at the first of the year. <BR> <BR>twenj

...until then you'll need French Francs

JC, to give you a little more complete answer, let me add this. The Euro is used right now among the member nations to measure the monetary value of goods. <BR>But, there are no bills or coins in the <BR>hands of the public, so it is not yet a common medium of exchange. In January of next year, the printed and minted Euros go into circulation. Europeans will need to turn in their old currency for the new. I expect there will be long lines at the banks because EVERYBODY will need to switch. <BR>Although you may see prices listed in both euros and the national currency in various stores, there is no way you can pay in euros. The relationship between the currencies of the member nations and the euro was fixed a while back. (The exact date escapes me.) Even though euros may show up on a credit card bill, you don't yet have a way to put some in your pocket. <BR>Not all Western European nations accepted the euro, with Great Britain and Switzerland being notable holdouts. <BR> <BR>There are several good websites that give you the full scoop on the Euro. You might check them out. <BR> <BR>My guess is that ATM machines will be kept busy disbursing the new currency. <BR>I don't know about the possibility of shortages.

Some additional information: the exchange rates between the "old currencies" and the euro were fixed on 31 December 1998. <BR>There will a period in early 2002 in which you can use both the old and the new currency. In most countries this period will be the months of January and February of 2002, in other countries the period will be shorter. (here in the Netherlands it will be 1 until 28 January 2002) <BR>Yes, long lines at banks and in shops are expected. For instance, in early January 2002 I will go to a supermarket. I need to pay 46 euros. I still have 25 guilders. So I give my 25 guilders, they will calculate how many euros that is (11.27), deduct the 11.27 from 46 (= 34.73), and I have to pay 34.73 euros. You can imagine this will take *a bit* longer than a normal transaction!

I believe the local currency is called the "Foie Gras". It's worth about $10 US or 1,000,000 Canadian.