Guru’s 5 Travel Hacks for all Things Money, in Europe

The European Union (EU), is made up of 28 member states. Within the EU there are different currencies. The majority of countries use the currency of the Euro.

19 countries that accept the Euro:

Austria

Belgium

Cyprus

Estonia

Finland

France

Germany

Greece

Ireland

Italy

Latvia

Lithuania

Luxembourg

Malta

the Netherlands

Portugal

Slovakia

Slovenia

Spain

9 countries who don't accept the Euro (their currency):

Bulgaria (lev BGN)

Croatia (kuna HRK)

Czech Republic (koruna CZK)

Denmark (krone DKK)

Hungary (forint HUF)

Poland (zloty PLN)

Romania (leu RON)

Sweden (krona SEK)

United Kingdom (pound GBP)

All of your travel plans and activities come down to one source; money. Without the correct currency, your travel plans come to a complete halt.

Want to buy that delicious looking pretzel from the street vendor in, Germany but don't have any cash or coins and only your credit card? Continue drooling, can't do it. Your particular credit card isn't accepted at the delightful hole in the wall local restaurant you're dining in and you don't have a backup? Start washing dishes. Just coming from Germany and want to buy a souvenir from the Czech Republic but only have Euros and not Czech Korunas? Someone at home is going to be very sad.

Being well informed for the logistics of travel before you reach your destination is smart traveling and will cause you a lot less stress in the long run.

If you follow these 5 Travel Hacks when it comes to money in Europe, you will have a more enjoyable trip.

5. Beware of tourist traps

-By far one of the most asked questions on tour: "Where can I exchange money?"

-Let's talk about exchange booths. Yes, they are convenient because they seem to be everywhere, especially in the big cities, and have the bold sign outside, "CASH EXCHANGE". But they are infamous for charging a high percentage for each transaction. The rates are horrible. If you are looking to get ripped off, be my guest. But trust me here, just don’t use them.

-Another way to wave goodbye to your money, pre-paid cash cards. They have terrible rates as well, avoid them.

4. The first thing to do when arriving in a new country with a new currency:

-Go to an ATM. Not an exchange office, an ATM.

-It is also not necessary to pre-order foreign currency before leaving home if you have a debit card. A plethora of ATM’s will be at your disposal from touchdown, this is your Go-To. Estimate about how much you will need, based upon how many days you are staying within that currency and what you will be doing (meals, sightseeing, transportation etc).

-Withdraw about the amount figured. Your bank card will charge you a one-time fee (somewhere around $3-6) for the summation of all of your future purchases as opposed to a fee for each one, if you were to use your card for each transaction.

-Cash or card? Europe, in general, uses cash more than America. Especially the more local places. If you are buying anything, whether it is a souvenir or some type of food, off of a street vendor it is almost a guarantee they only take cash. Rule of thumb is to use your credit card only for big purchases such as hotels, car rentals, big shopping expenses. For everything else, have cash on hand.

-Don't bring more cards than necessary. Have a main one and then one more for back up. Visa and Mastercard are the most widely accepted (American Express, not as much and Discover is basically unknown)

Insider Tip: Do not have all of your cash in one place. Spread it out, so that in the unfortunate event your wallet does get stolen, you have a backup plan. Having a single Mr. Benjamin Franklin tucked away safely somewhere in the case of emergency, is not a bad idea.

3. Call your bank ahead of time

-Let them know exactly which countries you are going to (not just Europe, in general) and find out if your card will be accepted in those respective countries

-If you are looking to take cash out with a credit card, you will need a PIN code, if you don’t have one, request one

-Ask what your daily limit for withdrawal is. If you are expecting to take out more than your limit, request an increase (normally, they will have no problem doing this if you explain your reasoning)

2. Use CAUTION when out and about

-Card skimming: I have had this happen to someone in my group. They were using an ATM at a popular mall in Berlin, someone had placed a device/camera that tracked the keystrokes of the PIN code of anyone who used that particular ATM. One week later, transactions from the Philippines began showing up on their card. Make sure you cover your hand while entering your PIN code. This could happen anywhere, even in the US.

-Pickpockets: I have also seen first hand the art of pickpocketing. I call it an art because it is one. And don’t be surprised if the 10-year-old’s are the ones you catch in the act, I’ve seen this too. Most tourists don’t suspect young children would steal from them and police can’t arrest minors. They almost always work in groups, someone to distract you and someone to do the deed. They have it down to where you won’t even notice you have been a victim until much later when there isn’t anything you can do about it.

-You should be more alert in more touristy cities where there are a lot of crowds, like Rome, Venice, Prague, Paris where the public transit, train stations, and the streets are crowded; your belongings are more vulnerable.

-Insider Tip: Simply be aware of where your belongings are. When riding trains and metros, wear your backpacks and purses in front. Never have anything; your phone or wallet in your back pocket. When you’re at a restaurant, don’t leave your phone or money sitting on the table.

Remember, it’s nothing to be afraid of. Pickpocketers are just trying to make a living like everyone else in their world. They are virtually harmless, they aren’t dangerous or looking to inflict harm on anyone. It’s a business, they want money. So take care of your belongings and don’t be an easy target.

Pickpocketers are looking for people that look like tourists. When you travel to new countries you should try your best to blend in with the locals to get the full experience of a place culturally. This is just another reason why. Don’t be a tourist, be a traveler.

1. The PTP

-What does PTP stand for? Pay To Pee. Yup, you have to pay to use the restroom (WC: Water Closet) in Europe, almost everywhere.

-The best way to conquer the PTP: take advantage of the WC’s whenever you are dining or coffee’ing.

-If you find yourself walking the streets of a city and have the sudden urge and can't hold it, walk into a restaurant or a cafe with the confidence that you have been dining there, go to the bathroom and walk out.

-In Italy is the easiest, as it is very common to walk into a cafe, order an espresso for 2 Euros standing at the bar, then use the WC.

-If you are on a road trip and stop at a gas station along the way, most WC’s have turnstile type machines that require at least .50 cents to enter. So don't go running into the bathroom without any jingle in your pockets.

-Insider Tip: Your coins are valuable in Europe! Always have a few in your pocket, you won’t regret it.