Question, can I pay for goods and services with Euro currency in Scandinavia and Spain? <BR>Or must I convert Euros today to the local currency? <BR>I know most countries are changing next year, but I need to know about this year. <BR> <BR>Thanks, <BR> <BR>Bill <BR>

Do you have Euros? Where'd you get them? Just wondering.

You still use the local currency this year. The "Euro" is not available yet. <BR>Having just returned from France we noticed prices were shown in both Francs and Euros in many places, but there is no actual Euro currency to be had yet. <BR>You will be just fine with the local currency. Better yet, use your credit card for most purchases.

The following nations are part of the economic group that will be using the euro as a currency in January of 2002: Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain. <BR>The UK, Switzerland, Norway, Denmark, and Sweden have not decided to join for the time being. <BR>Eastern European nations have not yet been invited to join.

Add Greece to the eurozone, from the first of this year. <BR> <BR>Primer for travelers on the euro at www.twenj.com/euro.htm

The Euro coins are now being minted and the banknotes are now being printed. As I recall the transfer from existing European currency to Euro currency will start this December and run for 3 months. After which only Euros will be in use. However foreign coins can still be cashed in at banks for Euros for the next 3 years and foreign notes for the next 10 years. I think I'm right on this. It could be reversed. <BR>The reason prices now appear in Euros is simply to get used to the oncoming currency transition. <BR>Hope this helps. <BR>John

Dear Bill <BR> <BR> We just returned from Germany last week and as noted above. The price for jewelry and some other goods were listed in both Marks and Euro. The currency as noted above will not actually be in use untill 2002. Interesting aside. While we were eating in a shop in the Market Square in Munich a tourist from Japan asked the lady behind counter if they took Euro travelers cheques. The lady said no. I told the lady from Japan to go to the bank around the corner and get her Euro cheques converted to marks or she would not be eating in Germany. At all the bakeries, pubs and other food establishments we were in there were no prices listed in Euros only Marks. It was interesting that they are selling Euro Travelers Cheques in Japan. I have heard from some of the others on the forum that people in the EU countries can bank in Euros with credit cards and some accounts, but there is no hard currency out yet.

Hello Bill, <BR> <BR>the info given above is correct. In December everybody will be given a "survival kit" of new money(at least in Germany). Shops must accept the old money till March 2002. So, if you plan to spend leftover cash(from an earlier trip) on a trip after March 2002, go to the bank first and get Euros for it. Banks will accept old money for another year. <BR> <BR>Miriam

Miriam, <BR> <BR>Here in France, we'll receive our 'euro kits' on December 14th. After December 31st, we can only write checks using our euro checkbooks - French Franc checks will no longer be accepted. <BR> <BR>No French Francs can be used after February 17th, 2002. Only euros. <BR>And after July 30th, you will only be able to exchange Francs for euros at the Banque de France. <BR> <BR>PB <BR>

We plan on being in Italy during March next year. Does anyone know if lire will be accepted only until the beginning of March, or up to the end of March? Any info would be helpful. <BR>Thanks, Kay

According to the Euro official cite http://europa.eu.int/euro/html/rubri...ue=220|chap=12 <BR>In Italy, lira coins and notes are legal tender until February 28 2002 and can be exchanged for euro in any bank without charge until June 30. Only at branches of central bank after that.

All of this offical euro talk sounds great. But I wonder what a merchant in one of the 12 euro nations will do when confronted with this situation? The time is March, 2002, a customer with a fistful of the old national currency wants to buy a high profit item. <BR>The customer is impatient and the merchant knows that if he or she does not sell now, the opportunity is gone. <BR>If the customer walks out of the door, he or she is not coming back. <BR>Will the merchant take the old currency? <BR> <BR>My guess is YES. The official dates may come and go, but there are going to be unofficial sales well after the fact. <BR>In countries like Austria that are part of the euro union, many tourists from non euro nations are around all the time. They will be bringing with them loads of the old stuff. I doubt if it will be refused.

After easy acceptance by banks is over, either June 30 or Dec. 31 in general, depending on country, I think you'll find exchange at retail outlets rather difficult. <BR> <BR>A Mercedes dealer may be willing to go to the National Bank headquarters in Vienna to exchange 1 million schillings. May. I'll bet the newsstand dealer is less willing to wait a few weeks to have the 10 schillings he receives for a newspaper exchanged to euros. <BR> <BR>twenj

Thanks for the messages. I have Euro TC's, bought at American Express. Since I will be travelling to many countries, I bought the Euro TC's instead of TC's from the main countries. I usually do this 5-6 months before my trip to lock in the rates against major currency fluctuations. This year the European currency is weak vs the dollar, but I bought the Euro when it was .82, so I'm at break even. I feel better doing this knowing that my trip will cost what I planned. If the Dollar got weaker these last 4-5 months, the trip would have cost me more id I did not have Euros. I don't worry about "opportunity lost" in investing the money for these 4-5 months. <BR>However, the reason for my question. Yes, I now have to change my Euro TC's for the local currency. <BR>The bottom line: you can't win either way, so I enjoy the trip and will be happy next year when there is the Euro everywhere. <BR> <BR>Bill

topping for Dave

Topper,<BR>Why don't you get a life. The original post to this question was on June 8,2001<BR>Why top this? If Bill doesn't know by now, He's too dumb to travel!!