Getting Euros in Czech Republic

They list prices in Euros so that Europeans (the majority of their tourists) can compare prices. Don't offer to pay anyone in Euros. If you do, they'll use their own arbitrary exchange rate and you'll be ripped off. You can get local currency (koruna) in the ATM. Everyone accepts local currency (in any country) and it's always to your benefit to use local currency (not Euros or US dollars). I try to avoid any services that market themselves directly to tourists (the tip-off is they use Euros to do it), unless it's unavoidable. Yes, you can probably get Euros in the Czech ATMs but, as I said, I wouldn't recommend using them there.

You sure that they don't mean that they want to be paid in cash instead credit card?*

What services? I am curious maybe you can post a link to a service where they say that.

We were there twice and used Czech koruna. Used a bank ATM, no problem. Don't remember being able to withdraw Euros, nor using euros. We also used our credit cards.

The currency of the Czech Republic is the Koruna. That is what is used there, and if you do a credit card transaction it will be in Czech Koruna (as long as you have not agreed to letting their bank make their own arbitrarily bad exchange rte in your USD).

I am certain that a merchant would accept Euro, but they will do so at their own defined exchange rate, which will not be favorable to you. After all, they have to turn the Euro back into Czech currency, and it will cost them. There would be no reason for any ATM to be so set-up and maintained so as to dispense two different forms of currency (save possibly at the airport, but I really doubt it).

it is standard practice in those European countries that do not use the Euro as their own currency to show prices in Euro in their advertisements. The bulk of their tourist trade and business is from the Euro-zone, and this way the bulk of their market readily knows the money amounts involved without having to do a conversion.

Always use the local currency.

I will just reiterate what the others have said, no need to have euros.as has been said euros are used a lot purely as a guide.Over new year I was in the city (yet again) and had made changes to my hotel room as a friend was joining me,contacted the hotel and they quoted me a price difference in Euros but I was charged in Czech crowns and paid via my credit card.
many tourist places including restaurants will quote things in Euros or sometime dollars but will expect payment in the local currency though they mat take Euros ,Dollars ,GBP etc but at an exchange rate suitable to them.

I learned this the hard way back in my younger traveling days in Croatia in 2006 (different country, same lesson). I was quoted a price in euros for a hotel room with the expectation I would pay cash for the room. I did the conversion and arrived with a reasonable amount of cash in local currency (kuna). The hotelier had done a very different conversion and expected a much higher amount of cash than I expected. Ugh. It was not a great way to start my trip, but other than an extreme heatwave, the rest of the trip was fabulous, one of my favorites! My lesson learned: get prices in local currency or pay by credit card. Have a great trip!

I'm totally new to International travel (non-military travel that is). I'll be in Czeck Rep in May 2018.

Does anyone ever get korunas before leaving home? (home is U.S. for me). I would think one could visit an international bank if they did so soon enough before their departure.

If I bring my U.S. bank debit card how will that work? Do I need to visit my banker to make some sort of changeover?

Thank You!

RE: Does anyone ever get korunas before leaving home?

A friend returned from the Czech Republic a month or two before we departed the Prague. We bought her left over CZK. That said, I would have been comfortable using the Prague airport ATM on arrival.

CZK is not a major reserve currency (like the USD, EUR) and is therefore more difficult to exchange. On departing Prague for Norway, I tried to convert my excess CZK directly to NOK. The FX kiosk would/could not do a direct conversion. I would have hand to convert the CZK to either EUR or USD, then to NOK, resulting in to exchange fees/mark-ups. I just converted the CZK to USD and got my NOK in Norway from an ATM.

Some banks will order foreign currency for you. I don't know whether all will do that, or how many want to deal with korunas. The fee for buying the currency in advance is likely to be at least 7% and might be higher if there's some sort of shipping charge added on.

It's cheaper simply to take your ATM card to Europe and stick it in a Czech bank ATM. You'll tell the machine how many korunas you want, they'll be dispensed, and your bank account will be debited for the appropriate number of dollars.

There are many, many threads on this forum about the ins and outs of using US ATM and credit cards in Europe, because some cards are kinder to the traveler than others. Rick's take on the situation can be found on the Travel Tips / Money page of this website. I suggest you take a look at that material and come back with any questions you have.

One thing you definitely should do is contact your bank and your credit-card issuer (phone numbers are on backs of cards) to notify them of your trip plans. They'll probably want the dates of your trip and a list of the countries you'll be visiting. If you do not do this, they may suspect fraud when you start using your cards outside the US. That could lead to their shutting down your cards.

I'm totally new to International travel (non-military travel that is). I'll be in Czeck Rep in May 2018.
Does anyone ever get korunas before leaving home? (home is U.S. for me). I would think one could visit an international bank if they did so soon enough before their departure.

It is possible. I did this years ago. If you live in small town with a small bank they may be able to order it for you.

If I bring my U.S. bank debit card how will that work? Do I need to visit my banker to make some sort of changeover?

You will use your debit card at the ATM in Czech Republic to take out Koruna. You should put in a notice that you will be traveling overseas with your bank before you go. The big banks have this feature set in your online account, so you do not have to call or go to do it in person.

Does anyone ever get korunas before leaving home? (home is U.S. for
me)

Maybe someone does, but it's an awful idea. You can simply stick in an ATM card into any machine in the Czech Republic and get cash out in local currency. That's the way it works in virtually any country that I know of, except Cuba. There is no need to order currency ahead of time or to physically exchange USD for koruna. Unless you're prepared to pay a heavy markup, I wouldn't do this.

I have been quoted in Euros for my hotel in Prague, should I be asking what there price is in Koruna's? This reservation has been confirmed awhile ago