Euro-prat

[nutraxfornerves]

The easiest way to get local currency these days is to make a withdrawal from an ATM/cash machine using a debit card. You have to do some figuring to avoid bank service charges, but you usually get the bank exchange rate. In fact, in developed countries you can usually do just fine without ever having to actually trade a fistful of dollars, pounds, lira or baht for a fistful of some other currency.

International airports usually have currency exchange places, although the exchange rate can be terrible. Places that get a lot of foreign tourists often have an exchange bureau or two. In many undeveloped countries a bank is still the best choice in many cases. Or, for real fun, the black market.

[Slave to the Phone]

How does one change their money into US currency if not in a bank? I don't get out much, but back in the day when I did travel, I would always change my US money into the local currency at a bank because they gave the best exchange rates.

As someone who raises Monarch Butterflies from seed (no, that's not a typo, you have to plant milkweed to attract egg laying females because that is the only thing the caterpillars can eat.), When I saw the beautiful Mexican 50 Peso note celebrating Monarchs, I really wanted one and was disappointed to learn that the only way I could find to get one for my own was off ebay.

Give up the info, please and thank you

[nutraxfornerves]

I thought I had heard that some Canadian businesses - mostly right across the border but perhaps in other places as well - also took American money? I could be mistaken.

As with the U.K. example, stores in towns near the US/Canadian border will often take the other country's currency, but not coins. Your change will be in the currency of the country you are currently standing in. You can use US dollars in most places in Mexican border towns, but American places rarely accept Pesos.

I have seen foreigners in my US bank throwing a fit because they couldn't change money. Most US banks do not change currency at all, and if they do, it's only for good customers. Even then, there may be a minimum you can change and you may have to drive way the hell and gone to the only branch that does forex.

[csquared]

A lot of locations that are in "border towns" will take both currencies... As a convenience.

When I visited my folks in Texas, we use to hop across the border to the market in Reynosa. EVERYTHING was priced in US dollars.

[An Haddock]

I would have said that's as dumb as saying 'Canada is in North America so you have to take American money...' but then realized the sort of SCs we have who would actually believe that...

I thought I had heard that some Canadian businesses - mostly right across the border but perhaps in other places as well - also took American money? I could be mistaken.

I wonder if the same goes for some places in England, especially in larger cities like London. Is it possible some businesses take Euros since they probably get a lot of visitors from the rest of Europe?

[Kit-Ginevra]

I would have said that's as dumb as saying 'Canada is in North America so you have to take American money...' but then realized the sort of SCs we have who would actually believe that...

[bainsidhe]

Typical SC behavior. If I argue long and loud enough, the store will be convinced I'm right.

[Shyla]

20 Euros is a decent amount of money. Nice amount for charity.

[Pixelated]

The UK has never used Euro's...
*snip*

That's what I thought. I was in the UK several years ago and was pretty sure I remembered NOT using Euros.

[Kazim]

Sweden has also been rather resistant to accepting the Euro, and we still get people that wants to pay with them

[Weaselwise]

The UK has never used Euro's... we kept our Sterling Pounds and Pence when the Euro came in on 1 January 2002...

Per history of Euro, originally twelve (12) of the 15 EU countries (Germany, France, Austria, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Finland, Greece and Ireland) were members of the so-called Eurozone. Euro history tells us that these states were joined later by Slovenia (2007), Cyprus (2008), Malta (2008), and Slovakia (2009).

Some shops in ferry-port towns on the South-East coastline eg Dover, Folkestone and Harwich that I personally know about, will accept Euro notes, but they will give any change due back in Sterling notes/coins. The ferries over to France and Holland will accept both Sterling and Euro currency.

[Rosco the Iroc]

He wants to get rid of any more € he can send to me. I can swap them.

[Catwoman2965]

Even an ignorant and very self absorbed American like me knows that England opted out of the Euro thing.

What a moron. I went to London last fall. and while I was pretty sure they didn't use Euros, guess what, I CHECKED. Justto make sure I didn't make a fool out of myself.

[Pixelated]

At least he got rid of that pesky Euro note ...

As others have said, Brexit was HUGE news even on this side of the Atlantic. What planet was this idiot from?

[sirwired]

Even before Brexit - as LNS says, Britain was never part of the Eurozone, so why on earth this plum thought he could spend that in a petrol station is beyond me.

Even as a yank, I was thinking the same thing... Brexit or no, that was never gonna work. I might as well argue that NAFTA means I can spend my USD anywhere I want in Canada or Mexico.