[Using a mix of “ Researching in Germany ” and my own personal experience.] One of the questions most often asked by someone going to Germany is, "How does one obtain money there. Should I take some Marks (Euro) with me, or Traveler’s Checks, Letters of Credit, or dollars?"
The best, easiest thing to do is to take a debit card, which debits your account immediately upon its use. Germany is filled with Geldautomaten, or ATM machines, and you can use the card there just as simply as you would here. Of course, you will get your money today in Euro. The exchange rate is very good. No other method will approach the favorable rate that you can get with the card.
Since January 1, most nations on the continent have replace their national currency by a unified currency system in which the basis is the Euro (pronounced “ooy-row”). If you have German (Deutsch) Marks, you will no longer be able to spend them. Twelve nations have made the switch.
One Euro costs about 92 cents in US funds. The Euro is divided into one hundred cent. The plural of both the Euro and the cent is written without adding an “s” to the word. In other words, the Euro and cent may be singular or plural. No price changes have taken place. The conversion rate of the dollar to the Euro, and the old conversion rate of Marks to Euros, show that costs today are essentially the costs of yesteryear.
The Geldautomaten are fairly numerous in Germany. In Austria, they were less common, and one can go to the bank and use your plastic to get currency (which would now be Euro there also). If you use a credit card, you will be charged interest from the date of use, until the bill is paid. If you are depending on going to a bank to obtain money, you must be careful about their holidays the banks may be closed.
On the whole, it was as easy to use a card in Germany as it is to use the card at home. One card type that is not readily accepted in the ATM machines is the American Express card. Many times it was not listed as an acceptable card.
Be sure to carry your plastic in a safe place. I prefer to make a sizeable withdrawal, and then to tuck my card away in a safe place where I won’t need it for a few days. Meanwhile, I am spending cash.
(15 Jan 02)
We gratefully acknowledge the work of John Blankenbaker who published over 2,500 Germanna History Notes via the Germanna-L@rootsweb.com email list from 1997 to 2008. We are equally thankful to George Durman (Sgt. George) for hosting the list and republishing the notes via rootsweb.com.