What money can I use?
 

We are going to be in Austria and Poland and Hungary. I know Austria is on Euros. Can I use Euros in Poland and Hungary? Thanks in advance.

Zlotys in Poland and Forints in Hungary.

Funny looking stuff with odd colours.

I don't know, but you can google for EU countries and will get a list. Another option is to check exchange rates on http://www.oanda.com/convert to see if Hungary and Poland have their own currency.

Guide books also list the currency of the countries you will be visiting.

Thank you for your replies. I would like to know if I have the option of using Euros in Poland & Hungary or should I stick to their own currency (if I even have a choice)? Thanks again.

Do people use Canadian dollars in your home town?

I never cease to be amazed how many people think there are "options" for currency used in a given country.

Poland is a member of the EU, but that does not mean they use euros. There are other countries in the EU that do not either. Some don't want to (UK, Sweden, Denmark), and others should in the future, but are not using euros at this time (includes Czech Republic, Poland and Hungary and many others). There are some conditions before you can use the euro, even if you are a member of the EU. I think Poland isn't to use the euro until 2012. I thought CR was earlier, but not sure.

No, you cannot use the euro in Poland regularly, you have to use the currency that is the official currency of the country. Some places may take it but you won't necessarily get a deal on that, and it wasn't common from my experience there (I've been twice in the last five years).

zwho: You may find the odd merchant who will accept your euros, but at a very disadvantageous exchange rate, and you will receive your change (if any) in the local currency. Why is it such a problem to go to an ATM and get some zlotys or forints? You are in a foreign country, go with the flow.

First of all, to Paul & Hazel. The reason I asked is I wasn't sure if EU countries are required to use Euros. I think England is an EU country and I know I could use Pounds or Euros there. I just don't know all the rules, like you guys (obviously). Sorry.

The reason all this began is my sister doesn't have an ATM card, so we thought we could get her Euros through our bank at home, before we leave. The amount depended on if we could use those Euros throughout our trip, which begins in Germany, continues through Austria and then we move on to Krakow & Budapest. There is no need to go nuts and over purchase Euros if we can't use them in Poland & Hungary. She'll just deposit money in my account and use my ATM when we get to Poland. She doesn't want an ATM card, and it's her business, not mine. I'm just trying to find a solution that works.

"England is an EU country and I know I could use Pounds or Euros there"

England a EU country??? Use £ OR Euros there??

All hail to the seasoned traveller!

One day those British will pay for occupying our sunbeds with their stupid towels and we'll make them pay in Euros. :D

But in fact you don't have a problem using Euros anywhere. It even works in Mexico, you just need to be convincing enough. The simple fact is:

"People love money"

&quot;<i>I think England is an EU country and I know I could use Pounds or Euros there.</i>&quot;

Come on zwho, I know you've traveled enough to know that is not the case. Yes - there are a FEW department stores that will do a calculation and accept &euro; (or $ or &yen;) but of course you cannot use &euro; in general.

Tell your sister to figure it out herself - then maybe she will get herself an ATM card and make everything easier (and cheaper)

Anyway, the next country to join the euro zone will be Slovakia on January 1st, 2009.

&quot;Tell your sister to figure it out herself - then maybe she will get herself an ATM card and make everything easier (and cheaper)&quot;
How diplomatic of you, Janis. You have such a pleasant way of saying things. Is English you first language?

Is English you first language?
Should read&quot; Is English your first language?&quot;
Somehow I think it isn't.

&gt;&gt;the next country to join the euro zone will be Slovakia on January 1st, 2009&lt;&lt;

This is a bit of a pain. Originally there was an acronym for the Euro-using countries:

BAFFLING PIGS

Belgium
Austria
France
Finland
Luxembourg
Italy
Netherlands
Germany

Portugal
Ireland
Greece
Spain

Now we have to add in Cyprus, Malta, Slovenia and Slovakia - quick, nurse, the anagram dictionary (the best I can find is GANG SPLIFFS ICBMS).

It is a condition of membership that the new(er) members from Central and Eastern Europe should adopt the Euro - eventually, when everyone's happy that they're economically ready. That will take time.

For future reference, here's the ECB's own map:

http://www.ecb.int/bc/intro/html/map.en.html

&gt;England is an EU country and I know I could use Pounds or Euros there

Try. But please don't complain afterwards about the English's unfriendliness towards tourists.

in my experience in Poland and Hungary the only places that happily took Euros (and indeed sterling) were chain hotels and titty bars (and as it was explained to me at quite some length, working girls. Readers - I made my excuses and left)

Everyone else will simply look at you as if you are a mental.

Zwho, not relevant to your question but on a wider note there are some dangers with &pound; sterling.

A number of countries can print them. England, Scotland (a number of companies here) Guernsey, Jersey and I guess a few more. Some visitors to the UK get these palmed off on them so watch out. The basic rules are that they are all basically useable but people don't like to receive them incase they get stuck with them. Now add this to the fact that England likes to change the designs every few years may give visitors a few problems.

This initially gave a problem with the Euro, again all euros are euros but some are a little more euro than others

Outside the UK the only UK bank notes that will be accepted on a regular basis will be those issued by the Bank of England

Scottish &amp; Northern Irish banknotes may be accepted elsewhere in the UK - BUT don't assume they will be

Channel Island notes ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE outside of the Channel Islands. Ditto for anything issued by the Isle of Man