Visiting Poland : bring dollars or euros

Dear James,

Twice I have been to Poland, and both times I took Złoty, and you will be surprised how strong it has become in the last couple of years. No doubt the Dollar or Euro is easily exchanged as there are many money changers in Kracków and I easily changed fifty British Pounds on my last day in the city last August. As elsewhere I might just add that there is considerable variability in the range of exchange rates. It is worth asking your hotel, or someone in the know [no trouble for me under the circumstances], to suggest a good place to exchange currency. I managed to find a good rate without difficulty.

Have fun there! George

I have always taken enough Zloty to last the first few days, and then the rest in Sterling. I don't know if it is still the case, as I haven't been for a few years, but you used to get a much better exchange rate in Poland than you did in the UK.

Thanks everyone for the advice.

As I said in 2001, I was advised tro bring US dollars and change them there. But now that I think of it the euro did not exist then [I have just checked that it started on 1 Jan 2002 !!].

So I will get some zlotys [for the bus / taxi from the airport] and bring a credit card and some euros.

James H.

P.S. When I brought dollars I had to change from Irish pounds --> dollars --> zlotys.

ends==

quote:

Originally posted by djftw:
I have always taken enough Zloty to last the first few days, and then the rest in Sterling. I don't know if it is still the case, as I haven't been for a few years, but you used to get a much better exchange rate in Poland than you did in the UK.

Exactly the advice I was given, and, as I was advised to expect, it is not difficult to find a better exchange rate from Sterling to Zloty in Poland than in UK [as of last summer]. How that works for Euros, I am not sure, though.

Have fun! From George

I am back from holidays in Cracow ...

Got some Zlotys in Dublin at rate of 325 for euro 100.

Rate in Poland was 330 and the best I saw was 334.

James H.

I'll ask our Polish secretary tomorrow she goes back home regularly

Whoops, a bit slow there as you are back.

I'm going touring to some remoter parts of Poland soon (on a proper metal bike), so would still like to know please.

I'll ask on Monday Rd

My Polish colleague takes english cash and just goes to a bureau de Change and gets the best rate for Zloty. No arrangement fees or anything. She often negotiates a better deal if she has over £2-300 to change.

Hope that helps

Diccus

Same advice as given above then. Seems to be the concensus.

George