It is my understanding that the CR has not switched to the € as of yet. I am taking a group of 35 students to Prague as part of a 12 day tour. Should we plan on getting currency there for our day and a half or will the merchants take the €s that we have for the rest of our journey?
Thanks.
Posted by
Danville, VT
12040 posts
You may find some merchants who accept the euro, but expect to pay a huge mark-up.
Posted by
dallas, tx, usa
1358 posts
If other plans fail, plan on converting your dollars to local currency at an ATM. There are many there in the hotels and retail stores. The exchange rate will be much better than converting euros to CR currency.
Oanda.com shows the dollar will buy 21.90298 Czech Koruna currently. The Euro will buy 27.61758 Czech Koruna. That means you will have to know how much you paid for your Euros.
Posted by
Sunnyvale, CA, USA
290 posts
I go there every year to visit the inlaws, so have a lot of experience in this area. My advice is stop thinking about Euros in Czech Republic. A bit of logic: you would not try to pay in Mex pesos or Can $ at a store here in the USA would you? Use only Czech koruna. Trying to use any other currency is a good way of getting ripped off or being charged an extra fee. Besides, many small vendors do not accept anything but Czech koruna. If you are flying into Prague, get the maximum amount at the ATM machines just inside the doors before going out of the building. For any other ATM transactions, use only ATMs at a bank. Do not use stand alone ATMs. Many are a scam. Make sure that when using an ATM you cover your hand from view that is inputing the pin. If at all possible have someone in your group stand with you at the ATM with their back to the ATM to watch for thieves. I personally do not usually use the ATMs in town center, as I like the ones farther out that have their ATMs enclosed inside the bank. If you run across one of the enclosed ATMs, you have to swipe your ATM card for the door to unlock. Do not bring travelers checks, as they are expensive to cash at banks and money changing, and you would have to be on guard for the teller giving the wrong amount of money to you. Never touch the money being counted out to you by a cashier or teller if you are sure they short changed you & tell them of the error. Also, when paying a cashier or waiter for anything, be sure to verbally say how much you are giving them, and if tipping, what you want back in change. Do not ever change money with someone on the street!!! These thieves will even try to give you bad money right in front of a bank with the bank security guards looking right at them! Keep in mind all the prices of items ordered in restaurants & check your bill to make sure there are no added items or adding error. Never use a wallet or purse. Keep all valuables and most cash in a moneybelt hidden under clothes.