Pay in local currency or Euros?

Colentia

Hi,

We will be travelling to Bulgaria for a holiday - i note the local currency is Lev but many places advertise prices in Euros - is it better to pay in Euro's or Lev? We have some spare Euros left over so wondering if its worth taking them to spend or keeping them for the next Euro-country holiday!

Thanks

PeacefulWaters

It depends on the exchange rate at the time.

But I'd expect Lev to give best value.

zagfles

If it's anything like Croatia, lots of places advertise prices in Euros but don't actually take Euros for payment! They just show prices in Euros because they think people understand the prices better and are too stupid to be able to work out what the local currency is worth.

Sometimes hotels won't even give you a firm price in their currency, they give you a firm price in Euros but then charge you in the local currency. So you don't know exactly what you'll be paying. Noticed this in several non-Euro european countries.

But you may as well take any spare Euros you have with you, just as an emergency cash backup if nothing else.

AlexMac

This question reminds me of the quote from a long-disappeared travel company called "New Millenium Holidays", who, in the second half of the 20th Century, and long before the Euro was even a gleam in Brussels' eye, used to take lefties to then exotic destinations in Eastern Europe; fondly remebered by "fellow travellers";
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/1492035

The quotes which stand out were from their Polish and Russian tour, where "a visit to the salt mines" was among the attractions (I kid you not) and you were promised that "if you have hard currency you need not go hungry"!

Those were the days, eh?

PompeyPete

A sale is a sale. I reckon that a tourist area anywhere that shows prices in €uros will accept €uros, US$, and £sterling. But you will [or should] get better vfm if you pay in the local currency. Having a good idea of the current on the street exchange rate helps.

And it's nearly always the case that whatever currency you pay in you will get any change in local currency.

zagfles

PompeyPete wrote: »

A sale is a sale. I reckon that a tourist area anywhere that shows prices in €uros will accept €uros, US$, and £sterling.

Well you'd be wrong. In Croatia several very toursity attractions as well as a boat trip and a small hotel we stayed in advertised prices in Euros but would not take Euros in payment, or any currency other than their currency, the Kuna.

Yet they did take credit cards and one tried DCC! So happy to take CC payments in other currencies!!

PompeyPete

There'll always be exceptions, but...

"You will find that you can pay for some items – private accommodation, taxis, some small restaurants – in Euros. Do note that this is entirely on an unofficial basis; the Euro is NOT an official currency in Croatia, and NO business/individual is required to accept them as payment. (It is just the case that some businesses, particularly small/family-run ones are happy to receive Euros – this probably harks back to the days of Yugoslavia when people were happier “holding” Deutschmarks rather than the unstable Yugoslav Dinar.)"

...and as the OP is going to a poor country like Bulgaria, a sale is a sale.

zagfles

PompeyPete wrote: »

There'll always be exceptions, but...

"You will find that you can pay for some items – private accommodation, taxis, some small restaurants – in Euros. Do note that this is entirely on an unofficial basis; the Euro is NOT an official currency in Croatia, and NO business/individual is required to accept them as payment. (It is just the case that some businesses, particularly small/family-run ones are happy to receive Euros – this probably harks back to the days of Yugoslavia when people were happier “holding” Deutschmarks rather than the unstable Yugoslav Dinar.)"

...and as the OP is going to a poor country like Bulgaria, a sale is a sale.

Don't get me wrong - I'm sure some places will take them, but don't assume (as I did!) that if they show prices in Euros that they definitely will actually take Euros! It wasn't a one-off either.

PompeyPete

zagfles wrote: »

Don't get me wrong - I'm sure some places will take them, but don't assume (as I did!) that if they show prices in Euros that they definitely will actually take Euros! It wasn't a one-off either.

And like I wrote earlier, you [should] always get better vfm paying in local currency. And even if €uro [or whatever] is accepted, then any change will be given to you in local currency.