By Joe Pacific (BonaireTalker - Post #34) on Thursday, March 11, 2004 - 9:54 pm: |
I have done some independent traveling in Europe and found that in many places, you have to be really careful about counting your change. (Mainly in Paris and larger Italian Cities, although a BANK TELLER in Germany once tried to give us change for a $50 traveler check when it was a $500 that we gave him.)
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By Linda Richter - NetTech (Moderator - Post #1715) on Friday, March 12, 2004 - 8:39 am: |
If you use US$ you will get 1.75 rate in the stores rather than the 1.78 rate that you would get at the bank. I have never heard someone having a problem in a local bank. We don't have currency exchange businesses here either.
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By seb schulherr (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1457) on Friday, March 12, 2004 - 9:41 am: |
If you insist on making cashiers do conversion math, you will eventually run into someone making a mistake. Because they are human, and that's what humans do. It's simply easier on everyone to use the local currency, and it's more fun too!
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By herman mowery (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #317) on Friday, March 12, 2004 - 9:48 am: |
"The biggest hassle for Americans probably is the use of coins for 1 and 5 guilder. I heard someone complaining about getting short changed and it had to be pointed out that he had a 5 rather than a 1. The coins are very similar in size so it can be confusing. "
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By seb schulherr (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1460) on Friday, March 12, 2004 - 10:20 am: |
I do the same thing, Herman
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By Dave Flook (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #176) on Friday, March 12, 2004 - 1:55 pm: |
Rather than doing the conversion thing, simply pull local money from the ATM machines. So much easier to use the local currency, or a charge card. Just be sure if you use a charge card that the amount charged is in the local currency, do not let someone convert the amount to "your" currency (Just another un-needed conversion. Let MC or VISA figure it out).
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By Joe Pacific (BonaireTalker - Post #38) on Friday, March 12, 2004 - 7:00 pm: |
Righteeo,
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By joe brannan (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #329) on Saturday, March 13, 2004 - 1:08 am: |
I practiced "change jingling" while on bonaire and pretty much got the skill for discerning 1 guilders and 5 guilders. It's proved quite useful since we got dollar coins in US now. I never got shortchanged in two trips, or at least didn't notice it
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By michael gaynor (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1733) on Saturday, March 13, 2004 - 9:24 am: |
Banks give 1.77 for cash, 1.78 for travellers checks. The best rule of thumb to calculate dollars from guilders is if it costs nafl 10...divide in half and add 10% making it $5.50
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By Lorraine Meadows (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #787) on Saturday, March 13, 2004 - 7:19 pm: |
We've never had a problem with the correct change, never an issue. But the ATM's do give guilders too. I do the same as Herman.
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