Prague Money? Do I need Euros?
 

We are going to Prague in July. Should I exchange for Euros before we go? We will be travelling by car from Krakow. I will have my Polish zlotys. (sorry this is quick but I only get a few minutes to check the computer after work.)

Thanks for any info!
Sun

The unit of currency in the Czech Republic is not the euro. It's the koruny (czk), current exchange rate $1 = 21.2969 CZK. We just used ATMs when we visited last May and had no problems.

Thank you!

Sun

Interesting you mention this.

We were in Prague last year and I found it interesting that while the Czech Republic has their own currency, our hotel quoted us in Euros "for our convenience".

That should have tipped me off and I should have insisted on a quote in the local currency.

When paying our final bill there was a currency conversion at "their bank rate" that was definitely not to my advantage.

Insist on quotes in their currency.

myer - good point. We ran into the same problem, but fortunately someone in our group caught it during our stay and we got a "readjustment".

For estimating currency conversion, I have always used http://www.xe.com/ucc/ in the past. However, this is probably a handier site:
http://www.oanda.com/convert/classic

On the left, click on the FX Cheat Sheet link and you can print a really neat little table yand trim to fit into your wallet. It shows increasing amounts of currency with the corresponding amount of USD. This would have saved us untold grief as we were leaving tips and interpreting billings when we traveled throughout Europe last spring.

You mentioned using the ATM's. What is the charge? I am one of the few that has never prayed to the "wall god that gives out $". My husband almost did in Vegas, I just happened to walk past him when he was begining the transaction. Apparently the black jack table has the money. so, we have not taken the ATM step. I plan on putting in an order at the bank to get $$$. I was told to give them a week. I checked the web site above...THANKS! Euro's are at $1.34, Zlotys at 0.35 and Korunas at 10=0.47. I beleive 5/3rd does this free?

Sun

My bank here in Spokane charged only 1% on my ATM withdrawals on our trip in May last year. I paid under $11 total for the whole trip and withdrew about $1,300 US. I understand from discussions here on the board that other banks charge considerably more. However, to me, the safety factor would be worth paying a bit more than I did. I certainly wouldn't bring cash, beyond enough money to get me from the airport to my hotel upon my arrival in Europe.

Have a super, super time in Krakow and Prague! They are both so wonderful!

Are you returning to Poland? If not, convert your Polish currency to Czech Republic cash at a Kantor.

We were in Prague last month and used ATMs to get koruna. Many places also take Euro, but the prices are usually rounded up.

Woody