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Exchanging your Money in Europe: The Basics of Currency Conversion

Traveling to Europe not only means immersing yourself in the culture of the Europeans, but also using their currency to pay for things. Most places will not take American money, so you need to know how to exchange your cash for money in the country you are visiting. A currency converter will help you to easily figure out how far your American cash will go when converted to another form of money.

The Currency Rate in Europe

Before you can figure out the exchange rate of your American money, you need to know what the currency is in the country where you are staying. A large amount of European countries use the Euro and even those countries that have not adopted Euros as the official money will still accept this as a form of payment. 17 countries have officially made the Euro their country currency, which means about 300 million people currently use Euros. The Euro was adopted to make travel between European Union countries easier, as having a universal form of currency makes it possible for Europeans to go to any other EU country without having to exchange their money when entering and leaving. The Euro was originally intended to be nearly equivalent to the American dollar, but unfortunately for Americans, the dollar has fallen against the Euro. When an American exchanges their dollars for Euros, they end up with less cash than they thought they had.

A money and currency converter is necessary so that you can figure out how much your American dollars are in Euros. The currency rate of the Euro and the dollar changes often, so you need a tool that will enable you to determine the amount of money that you have. This tool will give you the current currency rate in Europe. This site also has a Europe currency converter, where you can enter in how much American dollars you have and find out how much this equals in various European currencies.

Not all countries use the Euro, as mentioned above, and while many accept them you will get a far worse exchange rate than if you use the currency of that particular country. Exchange your money if you plan to spend a lot of time and money in a country that does not use the Euro, like Switzerland, to save yourself the cash.

To exchange your cash for a European currency, you can go to a number of different places that will gladly give you the accepted form of currency for your dollars. You will often pay fees at many of these currency exchange sites, so using the ATM is an even better option. With an ATM, you can put in your American bank debit card and receive cash in the currency you request. This is very easy to do and while you will pay some fees to your bank, it is usually a cheaper and easier option than going to a currency exchange station or bank.

The Euro may be stronger than the dollar right now, making it a little hard to swallow for Americans exchanging their cash, but experts expect the two currencies to even out eventually.

Europe Travel tips provided by EuropeTravel.net

Oman

Oman is not the kind of country which often stands at the top of people’s to visit list, unlike Brazil, India or Australia. However, it is an amazing destination with an extremely rich cultural heritage and cuisine. I made my way over to Oman because a friend recommended it, and I thought it was a superb country.

Here are some facts about Oman for those of you are wondering what it’s all about. Oman has a population of 3,300,600 and is considered as a paradise for nature lovers due to its dramatic landscapes and beautiful coastline. It remained largely peaceful during the Arab spring, in case any of you feel that political instability in the region would put you off going to Oman. There is a great range of tourist activities that you can undertake. My favourites were the Forts of Nizwa and the Wadi desert safari. The mountains are also very beautiful indeed and our private tour of Muscat was extremely interesting and engaging. The food was a real treat for your taste buds and while similar to other Middle Eastern cuisines that I have tasted, had a very individual feel. Chicken, fish and mutton are regularly used in dishes. A favourite drink is laban, a salty buttermilk. Yoghurt drinks, flavoured with cardamom and pistachio nuts are also very popular.

Not only was I enamored by the country, I was lucky enough to be staying in the Shangri La hotel – if this isn’t luxury, I don’t know what is. This hotel is completely divine. Everything about the way it has been put together is classy, with hints of international interior influence but also a good amount of authentic Omani touches.  If you stay in Oman and you can, stay here. Huge arched hallways and entrances in a very Middle Eastern style, beautiful curtains which stretched from ceiling to floor – the ceilings where enormous. One thing that was a real blessing after all the safaris, mountain walking and long walks in Muscat was the reclining armchair they had in the bedroom – making the dream of holiday relaxation possible. I am definitely going to get myself one of those. I hope they make them outside of Oman.

All in all, it is well worth a visit and will open your mind a LOT!

Baku: Off the Beaten Track

If you're looking for a destination that deviates from the usual holiday hot spots, a Baku holiday could be an interesting alternative. It's the capital of Azerbaijan, a country with a fascinating history which sits on the western shore of the Caspian Sea.

Baku's story is a long, interesting and violent one; even in the last 500 years various regional Shahs and Russian rulers have laid siege to it and annexed it on several occasions. Azerbaijan occupied a strategic location between the Russian and British Empires in the 19th century before oil became the big prize.

Baku is now a transformed city built on oil money so what is there to see in the capital city? We'll start with the Maiden Tower – built around 800 years ago it's been a focal point for each subsequent generation. The 'Maiden' was probably a relative of one of Baku's early Khans and may have been imprisoned in the tower at one point. The Maiden Tower is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The 500 year old Palace of the Shirvenshahs was built by Ibrahim I after the capital was relocated from Shemakha to Baku. Part of the historical fascination of the palace is the way it lapsed into disrepair until the middle of the 20th century. It's now a sprawling site, some of which is restored and some not but it's a great visit.

One of the few beneficial additions the Russians made during their decades of occupation was the Fountain Square, a spacious public area which features dozens of fountains and places to relax. Cafes and restaurants occupy the periphery for the thirsty tourist.

Baku Old City is another of Baku's World Heritage Sites and parts of it date back around 1300 years. It's the walled area which would have housed the first inhabitants and it's one of the first stops for any visitors. In subsequent centuries fortifications were added and the 19th century cannon emplacements are easy to spot.

Interrailing: Is It Worth It?

I had the good fortune to be able to afford to go interrailing around Europe this summer. It was certainly an unforgettable experience, but if you’re looking at doing it yourself, you might be struck with all sorts of doubts – hopefully I can dismiss some of these here.

The most confusing thing is the sheer number of options you have. Not only can you use EUrail regardless of your nationality, but if you happen to be a citizen of an EU country then you can also get an interrail ticket. It’s definitely worth giving both consideration if you can, as they both offer different options.

The main thing to look at here is that you can travel for a certain number of days within a certain period, say ten days out of 21, or you can just stick at it and have the option to travel every day. If you can afford to, I’d certainly recommend this option, as then it doesn’t matter what you do and you can freely move whenever you like.

However, if you’re doing the big old city tour, then it’s definitely worth considering limited days; in essentially every major (and even many minor) European cities, there’s so much to see and do you could be there for a week at a time! Rushing through can be interesting if you’re willing to be raring to go all the time, but those wanting to take a more relaxed approach definitely have the alternative.

Cheap hotels in stylish Paris

Paris is by far one of the most exciting and vibrant cities in the world to visit, and considered by many to also be the most romantic. The worry for many, however, that due to its status it will be very expensive to stay there. The truth is like everywhere else, there are affordable hotels in Paris  to be found, and this article aims to highlight just a few of them.

Hôtel du Séjour proves the point that budget can still mean stylish. Whilst some of the rooms have had modern makeovers, others are still very traditionally decorated. State whether you want the white covers and pop art instead of the traditional décor, and also if you want ensuite instead of the cheaper, shared facilities.

The Hôtel Ecole Centrale is an abundance of potted palms and greenery as is described as  being decorated in a Tuscan style. The ladies who run this establishment have gone to great pains to make their hotel as comfortable as possible, and as well as air conditioning and free Wi-Fi, taking the stairs up to jacuzzi under the gables is well worth it.

Port Royal Hôtel is a small but very proud hotel that sits on the edge of the Latin quarter. It has been run by the same family for 4 generations and enjoys a reputation for its friendliness and cleanliness. There are rooms with just a washbasin as well as ensuite and prospective visitors should note that they don't accept credit cards.

Absolute Budget is an appropriate name for an economy priced hotel, and it’s good to note that budget doesn't have to mean bland. While the rooms are on the small side, they are bright, airy and tastefully decorated. It is well worth paying a  few extra Euros to enjoy  a stay in a larger room with ensuite facilities, and the hotel is ideally situated to crawl home from the pubs and clubs in the popular Oberkampf area.

Recently converted from a so-so budget hotel, Plug Inn Boutique Hostel now has designer décor, ensuite bedrooms but the bunks remain in some. Other rooms have flat screen TV's and proper beds,  which couples obviously prefer. There are computer terminals and free Wi-Fi and in keeping with its description as a boutique hostel, there are no curfews but earplugs are recommended.

Article courtesy of Cheap Hotel Finder

The Great Lakes… of Georgia?

A geographically rich state, Georgia has long been known for its abundance of forests, minerals and, of course, water. It is permeated by rivers, including the Savannah as well as other major and countless lesser instances, and is replete with a healthy stock of freshwater lakes to boot, many of which are perfect for fishing. But how do these lakes compare to their more famous, more northern cousins?

Lanier, technically a reservoir, is the largest of the lakes in Georgia and has a whopping surface area of approximately 150 square kilometres. Named for the famous Georgian musician-poet Sidney Lanier, it is something of a watersports haven, with all kinds of activities from jetskiing to canoeing taking place among the 7.5 million annual visitors. Besides all there is to do, the lake also offers truly breathtaking vistas, all year round.

Lanier is followed in terms of surface area by Oconee at c. 77 square kilometres, a lake with a disputed etymology – some claim it means ‘great waters’... and others, ‘people of the skunk’. Whatever the case, since its creation in 1979, this reservoir has been a hotspot, again for boaters, but also for birdwatchers due to its rich wildlife. Along with Lanier, it also serves as one of the primary bass fishing locations in the whole state.

However, those interested in such activities should definitely have a think about visiting Clark’s Hill (J. Strom Thurmond) lake on the border to South Carolina, an absolute paradise for fishermen of most persuasions – in the spring it is second to none for variety and quality of the catch.

Overall, there is certainly no comparison as far as size goes – the famed Great Lakes are on a completely different scale. But for many Georgians, there’s little reason to travel to Superior and co. other than for pure novelty value; fishing and watersports and beauty are all easily combined in the Peach State.