Page 550 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Germany

548  SUR VIV AL GUIDE PR A C TIC AL INFORM A TION  549

Banking and Local Currency ATMs Currency by mid-2002. EU members using coins, however, have one side
The most convenient way to get The euro (€) is the common the euro as sole official currency identical (the value side), and
Debit and credit cards are widely accepted in Germany, cash is at an ATM (Geld automat), currency of the European Union. are known as the Eurozone. one side with an image unique
but it is still advisable to travel with some cash. Many of the found on main streets and in It went into general circulation Euro notes are identical to each country. Both notes and
smaller shops, cafés and bars, do not accept credit cards. Cash shopping centres, airports and on 1 January 2002. Germany throughout the Eurozone coins are accepted in all of the
can be easily obtained from automatic cash points (ATMs), railway stations. Most have was one of the 12 original countries, each one including participating EU countries (not
designs of fictional architectural
multilingual instructions or
all European nations belong to
countries taking the euro; the
and bank branches are easy to find. Bureaux de change are are self­explanatory and Deutschmark was phased out structures and monuments. The the Eurozone).
located at airports and larger railway stations. carry logos showing which
cards are accepted. Euro Bank Notes
Costs for cash withdrawals
Banks and vary, so contact your bank for Euro bank notes have seven
Bureaux de Change advice before travelling, to denominations. The €5 note (grey in
There are no limits on the avoid any high fees. colour) is the smallest, followed by the
€10 note (red), €20 note (blue), €50 note
amount of foreign currency (orange), €100 note (green), €200 note
that can be brought into the Debit and Credit Cards (yellow) and €500 note (purple). All notes
country and credit and debit show the stars of the European Union.
cards are accepted in most of In Germany, the most popular 5 euros
the larger hotels, restaurants cards are Maestro debit cards.
and shops. Foreign currency Visa, MasterCard and American
can be exchanged in a bank Express are widely accepted;
or exchange bureau Diner’s Club a little less so.
(Wechselstube). Both offer a Always check that credit or 10 euros
similar rate, but usually charge debit cards are an acceptable
a commission. Be sure to check method of payment before
commission rates and confirm making a purchase, and watch
how much you will have to Cash point machine (Geld automat) for minimum charges in
pay before beginning a restaurants and cafés.
transaction. Money can also Travellers’ cheques are best Lost credit cards or travellers’ 20 euros
be changed at special ATMs. purchased in euro denomina­ cheques should be reported
Some hotel reception desks tions and can be used to pay immediately to the issuing
will change cash, but the for goods and services or hotel bank or company.
exchange rate may be poor. bills, but they are not always 50 euros
Most banks are open accepted. It is often better to DIRECTORY
Monday–Friday 9am–5pm, with pay by cash or card.
a break for lunch, and once a For wiring money, contact a Lost Credit Cards/
week they are open until 6pm. Western Union branch in a Travellers’ Cheques 100 euros
Opening hours may be a little major city. If you hold a bank­ All Cards
longer in larger cities and some issued Visa or MasterCard Tel 116 116
of the larger branches open credit card, you can transfer (nationwide free number).
until 1pm on Saturdays. It is money through the Western
often more convenient to take Union Bank website. American Express
advantage of the services For all financial transactions Tel (069) 97 97 20 00.
offered by branches located in Germany, decimals are Barclaycard
in airports and larger railway indicated by a comma and Tel (040) 89 09 98 77. 200 euros
stations as soon as you arrive. thousands by a point.
Diners Club
Tel (069) 90 01 50 135. 500 euros
EC/Maestro and Bank Cards
Tel 01805 021021.
MasterCard
Tel 0800 819 10 40.
VISA
Tel 0800 811 8440.
2 euros 1 euro 50 cents 20 cents 10 cents
Wiring Money
Western Union Bank Coins
Tel 0800 181 1797 The euro has eight coin denominations: €2 and
(free hotline). €1; 50 cents, 20 cents, 10 cents, 5 cents, 2 cents and
Tel (069) 85 09 83 73 (English). 1 cent. The €2 and €1 coins are both silver and
∑westernunionbank.com gold in colour. The 50-, 20- and 10-cent coins are
A branch of Sparkasse branch, Berlin gold. The 5-, 2- and 1-cent coins are bronze. 5 cents 2 cents 1 cent

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Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Practical template “UK” LAYER
(Source v1.7)
Date 5th March 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm