North Europe Currencies

[shoppern]

We are doing the 12-day Baltic cruise. Is it cheaper to get various currencies here in US before we leave, or just use ATM's as we arrive in each country? We will not be getting large amounts, just $100-200 equivalent in each country. Haven's "done" Europe before. Thanks for your help:confused:

[catl331]

Except for taking a ferry in Stockholm, we never needed anything except $US, Euro, and Plastic. Even in St Petersburg $US and Euro are readily accepted.

 

The Euro you can order from your home bank, or get at the first ATM you see in a country using them, or at the ship front desk.

 

To get a small amount or Krona in Stockholm for the ferry we purchased a small item at the Vasa museum with a $20 bill and they gave us Krona in change.

[musicismylife]

We've always used the bank machines in foreign countries more for convinience than anything. Banks don't always carry other currency and may not have much. Most of the countries on that cruise will take Euros but you will need to buy Russian ruples from the agents on the ship they day before you travel to Russia. They also sold Estonian currency but we used a bank machine there.

 

Have an amazing trip!

[cruisemom42]

ATMs are plentiful, convenient, and generally yield the best exchange, in my experience.

[catl331]

... but you will need to buy Russian ruples from the agents on the ship they day before you travel to Russia. They also sold Estonian currency but we used a bank machine there.

No need to get Rubles or Kroon. We had no problem using $US or Euro in Tallinn and Russia. Even a kiosk at Catherine's Palace didn't hesitate to take $US.

[whogo]

Is it cheaper to get various currencies here in US before we leave, or just use ATM's as we arrive in each country?

In almost all instances ATM's are the cheapest way to obtain foreign currency. Well written advice about foreign currency is available here: http://www.ricksteves.com/plan/tips/moneytip.htm

 

For a cost comparison of different credit and debit cards see this link: http://flyerguide.com/wiki/index.php/Credit/Debit/ATM_Cards_and_Foreign_Exchange

[ironin]

In almost all instances ATM's are the cheapest way to obtain foreign currency. Well written advice about foreign currency is available here: http://www.ricksteves.com/plan/tips/moneytip.htm

 

For a cost comparison of different credit and debit cards see this link: http://flyerguide.com/wiki/index.php/Credit/Debit/ATM_Cards_and_Foreign_Exchange

 

While seconding what's been above, this advice bears emphasizing:

 

Stay away from commercial ATMs that aren't run by banks. These companies, such as Travelex Money Machine, like to stack their machines next to bank ATMs in the hope that travelers will be too confused to notice the difference. The commercial ATMs charge outrageous extra fees — often double the cost of a bank ATM.

And never use any ATM machine in a foreign country that provides US $ and not the local currency (unless you're in, say, Panama, where the official currency is the US $). While it may appear that one is withdrawing US $ direct from an account at home, in fact the transaction is calculated in the local currency using an abysmal exchange rate and then billed to the home account at the regular rate resulting in a much higher net charge. The fees are very high as well.

 

Example: Someone uses one of these machines to get 200 US Dollars in Mexico (they're common in ports there). Let's say the going rate at the time is $1 US=12 pesos. Theoretically, the home bank should receive a bill for 2400 pesos + fees. They actually get a bill for 2600-3000 pesos + fees. Converted back to US$ at the going rate by the home bank, the charge is now $220-$250 to get $200 in cash. As well, the customer pays foreign currency transaction fees at point of sale (3% or more) and probably at the home bank (up to 3%). Plus much higher ATM usage fees than a regular bank charges. Pretty expensive way to get US dollars!

 

Moral: Whenever possible, use reputable bank ATM's only.

 

Tip: Call your bank and ask if it has any ATM fee waiver agreements with banks in the countries you are visiting. A number of banks in the UK have such arrangements with American banks. Many in Latin America do, too. Saves not just the transaction fee in the foreign country but the charge the home bank would normally assess for using an ATM not operated by the home bank.

[sapper1]

In 2009 we had no problem using US dollars or Euros wherever we were in the Baltic region. We were spending three days in Copenhagen so we did buy some Kroner as well as the Euros and US dollars before we left home.

 

We used Denrus tours in St. Petersburg and were told to bring crisp US bills to use as tips as the Russian banks will not accept crinkled or dog eared US money, which makes it very difficult for the guides to exchange their money. We wish we had ordered a few rubles as we became very thirsty on our tours in St Petersburg and the street vendors would not take US dollars---only rubles. It was hard to stand there looking at a cold Coke and being told I couldn't buy one. I suspect the reason for the refusal to take the money is the crinkle factor. This may have changed in the last two years but If we were to go again. I would get a few rubles.

 

When purchasing food at a restaurant in the Baltic, consider what you would spend at home and then triple it. That was our rule of thumb and it was generally how things worked out.

[ScarboroughCruiser]

No need to get Rubles or Kroon. We had no problem using $US or Euro in Tallinn and Russia. Even a kiosk at Catherine's Palace didn't hesitate to take $US.

 

Note that the Euro is now the official currency in Estonia. Regarding the need to use only crisp US bills for tips, etc. in Russia, we found no reluctance by street vendors or guides to take less than crisp US dollars.

[sapper1]

Note that the Euro is now the official currency in Estonia. Regarding the need to use only crisp US bills for tips, etc. in Russia, we found no reluctance by street vendors or guides to take less than crisp US dollars.

 

One big factor I have come to realise over my years on CC is that everyone has a different experience to relate. We relate what happens to us and others can decide what is best for them by putting all experiences together.

[lettienets]

I am glad to get this info as I am going to the Baltic area in July. Does anybody remember, when you are on a tour lunch stop in St Petersburg (ship and private tours say lunch on your own) do you remember what kind of an area they stop you at for lunch? Are there several places to eat or do they take the whole van or bus to one restaurant? Thanks.

[gwilli]

Years ago we were not able to make purchases in small stores with US money, so now we take some local currency to avoid problems. Today we picked up our Euros and Kroners from our bank (ordered last week) for our cruise to Norway. We 'll use credit cards for larger purchases.

[tinkerfenwick]

We have just returned from Eurodam around Denmark, Norway and Scotland.

 

We live in the UK, so UK money was not an issue.

 

HAL took our passports from us at check in at Dover - and we only got our passports back when in the UK...

 

So - we were unable to change any money over the counter, as the banks and forex in Norway required our passports. We had no option to use the ATM....

 

So - if you want to change enroute, make sure that HAL don't keep your passport.

[sapper1]

I am glad to get this info as I am going to the Baltic area in July. Does anybody remember, when you are on a tour lunch stop in St Petersburg (ship and private tours say lunch on your own) do you remember what kind of an area they stop you at for lunch? Are there several places to eat or do they take the whole van or bus to one restaurant? Thanks.

We took full day tours with Denrus and a lunch was included--the usual hotel area set aside for tour groups. It was a good meal and I remember it being the kind that North Americans would like but I can't remember exactly what was served.

[Spinner2]

We too just returned from the Eurodam--Baltic, Scandanavia, UK--and while bank ATMs would be the wisest exchange you have to somehow get to one (bus, tram, cab, etc.) and you might need local coinage to do it. We obtained pounds via the bank-ATM route in London pre-cruise so we had enough for our needs for the entire journey's UK stops. That took care of London, Dover, Newcastle, Invergordon, Edinburgh.

 

For small amounts for other countries (not Russia) we used the ship's exchange; you'll pay a little extra but you can conveniently get small amounts. The ship advises that if you want rubles for St. Petersburg that you get them the day before in Tallinn where rubles can be obtained (their currency is the Euro as reported above but rubles are available).

 

Whether or not you'll even need the local currency depends, I think, on what your plans for the day are. Small shops, local city transportation, street vendors or if you're going a ways out of the city--you're more likely to need local currency as these places may not take credit cards either. Certainly downtown Copenhagen, for example, will take dollars or euros but we took a short train trip out to the Deer Forest which is a lovely local forest/amusement park. There, to buy a bottle or water or an ice cream required local coins. In a few places there a credit card was acceptable. No one there took dollars or euros.

 

In St. Petersburg our private tour guide told us if we saw something we wanted to buy she'd pay for it in rubles and add it to our bill with her agency, but we heard of others on larger tours that couldn't buy drinks or snacks because they had no rubles. In Stockholm, the ice cream vendor by the Vassa would take pounds, euros or dollars, but there was considerable delay while the exchange values were calculated--kroners were much faster.

 

If you're aboard the Eurodam and Ian Page is the port guide, just ask him what you'll need. He's very knowledgeable, and can tell you where you can make the exchanges if you need to.

 

The ship will exchange pounds for other currencies but they'll convert it to dollars first, There is probably some loss of value in this additional conversion.