Euros - or not Euros - that is the question?

[Fuzzy Duck]

Happy New Year Everyone!

300 million people are using a new currency today (so the news tells me) - but how long will it take before the currency becomes as international as the US Dollar, GB Pound, French Franc etc?

I'm planning a trip across Africa in 2002 from top to bottom, but is it worth taking any Euros or travellers cheques in this currency - or just stick to US Dollars?

Please post your comments and any advice you have.

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Fuzzy Duck
(I'm quackers about bikes)

[JonHarbour]

Happy New Year to you too!

I would suggest sticking to the good old US Dollar for the moment. Something like this will take a little while to filter down to the more remote locations.

Six months from now, the situation may be different, but for the immediate future, the US Dollar would be what I would take.

Good luck,

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Jon Harbour

Middle East Off-Roader
http://www.mid-east-off-road.com

[rclafton]

I'd back that one up - we are off to Morocco in April so we'll have Eoros as we'll have run across spain but the good old dollar will be currency of choice for africa

But I think it will eventually get good recognition, this year the countres its legal tender in will be sorting it out let alone african countries

Rich

[Malcolm Woodruff]

US Dollars ok for much of Africa but what about West Africa? This has been tied to the French Franc and dollars have traditionally been not so welcome. We are off to WA next month so any info as what is happening there would be most welcome!

Malcolm Woodruff

[GWJ]

Hi,

Most people in North Africa, having something to do with money, were well aware of the Euro even six months ago. I don´t think there will be any problems paying with Euro all across in Africa.

If you do take US$, try to avoid 100$ notes as they are the most popular notes for forgery and you might have great trouble exchanging or paying with them (as happend to us two years ago in MAR, even the banks would not entertain them)

frank

[Sam Rutherford]

Also very interested in acceptance of Euro across W.Africa.
My guess is that there should be no problem, in Algeria (for example) the French Franc was pretty much the only thing anybody wanted to see - given that it no longer exists, I imagine people will be very quick to move to Euro-acceptance.

Hm, how long until we (Brits) do??!!

If anybody returning now from Algeria etc. has first hand experience, t'would be great to know!

Sam.

[andrasz]

re Franco's comment on $100 bills - in Libya last november the experience was just the opposite - everyone wanted $100 bills, we had quite a bit of difficulty changing smaller bills, usually at a 5-10% worse rate.


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Happy Travels,
Andras

http://fjexpeditions.virtualave.net

[Jose Brito]

Hi all,

Reporting from S. Louis, Senegal, after crossing the Atlantic Route, Atar, Chingetti, Nouakchott.

Everybody is aware of the Euro, and in some stores they asked me to see an Euro bill, to see what they do look like.
So, if you're planning to leave immideatly, I would suggest FF or USD, but in 6 months I guess everybody will know the Euro rates, etc.

Jose