I'm afraid that all of you misunderstood Michele12. She didn't ask if it is alright to tip in US dollars in AUSTRIA but in AUSTIRA! You can clearly read Austira in the headline of her posting. And as you well expericenced travelers should now, Austira is a country on the northwestsoutheast border of Schengen with no currency at all! They use shells instead and would be very very happy to see some real money. So go ahead and tip them to the extreme - they will be thankful!

Do they have kangaroos in Austira too?

>Ira, you sure they weren't stockings?<

Nylons were only for special services.

>...I had been given a 20 cent Euro coin instead of a 20 Pence coin. Is that common?<

It might not be common, but you lost about 40% on the exchange.

>There are several web sites that right now list the US debt at $7,139,046,417,891.00<

Which, to put it in perspective, is 57% of the annual GDP. Germany's national debt is now over 60% of its GDP, in violation of EU regulations.

PS, just love the precision of 13 significant figures.

This must be your first trip to Europe. Americans who have never travelled outside of North America always think that the US dollar is a universal currency, then they are shocked when they go overseas and the people there won't accept the US dollar. While it is true that there are some third world countries where they welcome the dollar, that's hardly the case in Austria. Get euros, and don't expect to use your dollars until you get home.

While I am disappointed that so many Americans still think this way, I must give you credit for asking the question instead of just going over there and getting mad when they don't take your dollars. I am ashamed to tell you that I have travelled in groups with a few Ugly Americans who complained constantly that the locals wanted euros instead of dollars. It was wise of you to ask first, that's what these boards are for. Have a great trip.

Ira - thanks for pointing out the exchange difference. I wonder if this is a new scam aimed at tourists. If he pulls that trick 20 times a day, that's 1.60 Pounds in his pocket. It would be 11.20 for the week, and 582.40 for the year. Hmmm.

I have an Austrian friend who has a t-shirt that asks (in English)"Please don't ask where are the kangaroos"

The reason why there are no kangaroos in Austira is that they traded them for Lipizzaner stallions. Perhaps a little tipping would help to collect the money needed to get those kangaroos back? Seems that Australia won't accept shells...

Perhaps President Klestil can trade some of his animal gifts for kangaroos.
The dogs won't bring much, but the horses and camels must be worth some kangaroos.

Molker,
seems the two of us share the same sense of humour! Your replies are great, thank you for making me laugh! Next time an American tourist will tip me in US$, I will spend that money for buying you a drink at the Reiss bar.

Can NEVER understand why some people want to take US dollars to tip in foreign lands. The only exception would be countries with currency controls. This seems like an extremely arrogant gesture to me.

Stop and think why so many airposts have a bin for charitable organizations in which to deposit small amounts of foregn currency...it is becuase the cost of conversion is higher that the value of the currency.

Message for Viennese:
Thank you for the kind words. If you refer to the Reiss Bar by Neuer Markt( I do not know any other) I hope that the next person is a big tipper. The dollar at todays exchange rate will not buy much there.
It is the only place for a Sekt Cocktail.
I enjoy your posts about Vienna,

It is a law in Austria that you can only use US dollars in restaurants that have a menu in English. You can use them in Vienna to tip the U-Bahn drivers as well. You could also go to McDonald's or Starbucks, I'm sure since they are US corporations they will gladly honor the sacred US currency. Above all, don't drink the water!

I just finished watching the Third Man for the umpteenth time. I have concluded that those Viennese sure crave American cigarettes, especially in the Russian sector. There is also a cottage industry in fake passports.

Yes we trade the above for a tour of the our sewers.

To my experience, glass pearls of various colors are a smash hit with the locals in those Old Europe countries! The taxi drivers will most likely be willing to kill for them.

Um - Michele12 starts all these threads and never comes back to ANY of them? I can understand being too embarrased to post back on this one. But she has gotten a TON of responses on all her other threads w/o so much as a peep to show she's even read any of them.

So, are you thinking this is a troll? To me, it doesn;t have the flavor. Or merely that Michele12 is ill-mannered? Or just very confused - doesn;t know how to use the board?

No, I personally don't think she's a troll. THIS thread would make one wonder for sure - but her other ones seem pretty straight forward. Time will tell whch she is -- A newbie confused about how to use the forum, Ill mannered, Or a troll . . . . .

I'm hoping for "newbie" . . . .