Since the introduction of the Euro, it is now easier to travel to several countries in Europe without having to exchange currency again and again. The € Euro is the official currency in most of the countries in the European Union. At this time the exchange rate is about $1.30 for each € 1 Euro

Britain, however has not adopted the Euro and still uses the £ (pound). Here the exchange is about $2.00 for each £1 pound.

The exchange rate varies daily. To check the Exchange Rate, Oanda is a good site.

It is always a good idea to have some of the currency you will need for tips or taxis when you arrive. You can get some Euros or pounds at your bank before you leave, get travelers checks or use the airport ATM’s. There are ATM’s in every major airport in Europe, and I recommend using them. It is fast, easy and you will get a better rate than at currency exchange offices. All cash withdrawals, regardless of size, are exchanged based on the wholesale exchange rate, which is usually reserved only for very large interbank exchanges; you are getting the advantage of your bank affiliation.

Once there, you can use ATM’s to get cash and use your credit card to purchase things or pay your restaurant tabs or hotel bills. You will find ATM’s at most banks. You will find many banks in each city. If you have debit and credit cards that are part of the Cirrus, Maestro, Mastercard system, you can look here for ATM locations abroad. Those using Visa, Plus or Interlink systems can look here to locate ATM’s in Europe.

A few other things to note:

European ATM’s do not accept PIN’s longer than four digits and only have numbers on the keypad. If your PIN is longer than 4 digits, contact your bank to have it changed. And if your PIN is based on letters rather than numbers, be sure to translate the letters into numbers while you are still in the USA. Most ATM’s abroad will only let you access the primary account on your ATM card.

Credit card companies have now imposed a fee or percentage for using a different currency. Each credit card company has a different policy; so check it out and use your credit or debit card with the best terms.

Be sure to call your credit card company and your bank before you leave, letting them know where you will be using your credit and debit cards. Using cards in unusual locations and circumstances sometimes trigger fraud alerts and you may find your card unusable.