Euros

I always withdrawal $250-300 cash from an ATM and pass those bills onto the vendors. They prefer cash so much over credit, I can't imagine them turning you down. It's never happened to me over countless European trips. I spend what they give me and it works everytime.

huh? I don't think anyone will turn me down. What I meant is what is the most useful bill and coin in Euro? For example: France train station machines don't take bills, nor american credit cards. If there are no attendants, you gotta pay, I forgot how much i think 8.40 in coins? which means you should have at least 20 euros in coins... anyhow.. what do you think it's the most used denominations? maybe this is a stupid question.

Oh, now I see where you're going. My guess would be two euro coins, but that's strictly non-scientific. I've actually never been unable to use a french train station ticket kiosk with my credit card. Sure, some of them don't work, but I just move on down the line and I've always found one that accepts my American Visa card. Maybe I'm just lucky, but it's worked everytime. I would assume that if the machines don't take bills, then they would accept any euro coins. The 2 euro coins give you the most bang for your buck in pocket space.

Along these lines, what are the least useful euro denominations? Does anyone use those 1- and 2-eurocent coins? I've found them practically unnecessary because tax is included in most items, so the cost is usually a nice round figure or at least rounded to the nearest 10 cents.

I find the 50cent and 1 euro coins the most necessary, because they get you into the bathroom at the autobahn reststops and many other places! ALWAYS have one!

If you go shopping and need to use a cart, always remember to have at least one 1€ coin. You'll need it to unlatch a cart. I use the one and two cent coins when grocery shopping. I try to get rid of as many as possible, because grocery stores seem to be the only place where prices aren't evenly rounded off.

Steer clear of 100 and 500 euro "bills" - that is probably obvious, but you will have BIG problems trying to get someone to accept them. "Brown" coins 1c 2c 5c - are not easy to get rid of as most machines do not accept them. 10c 20c and 50c are OK as you can put them in coffee machines etc.

sounds like banknotes of 50s are the maximum one should carry around bill wise. and coin wise 1 and 2 euros and some 50c and 20c...

I would definitely say 1 and 2 euro coins are essential and 10 and 20 euro notes for folding money. But then, I use credit cards when ever possible, which is most of the time.