San Stefanos Online ~ North West Corfu

Welcome to San Stefanos (NW Corfu) => San Stefanos news and views => Topic started by: Jackson on September 08, 2020, 02:01:49 PM

Title: Currency
Post by: Jackson on September 08, 2020, 02:01:49 PM: We are due to fly to Corfu on Monday from Manchester staying at the little prince. In the past we have been totally local currency with cards as back-up.

What is it like this summer, is cash generally still used? I cant remember the last time I got cash from an ATM in the UK. Are most people in the village paying with their cards or is cash still freely used. I don't want to offend the locals with my grubby notes.

I was thinking reduced currency (tip money) or can that be added to the bill and paid for by card. I know early in the pandemic, access to bank funds was limited, so is cash still king? I don't want to order a stack of currency if its not needed or (and I hope not) the holiday gets cancelled last minute due to further changes.

Thanks in advance

J
Title: Re: Currency
Post by: Jimbo on September 08, 2020, 03:39:34 PM: By law, all venues in Greece must accept plastic for payments over €30. I'm not sure if there's a lower limit. The best way to pay is to use a non-fee credit card, such as the Halifax Clarity card for meals, and use cash just for a few drinks or a bit of light shopping.

Either way round, the pound-euro rate is dismal at present. It got worse today as the "government" announced that it might renege on an international treaty it had freely signed.
Title: Re: Currency
Post by: Gavlah1973 on September 08, 2020, 03:46:58 PM: Cash is more than welcomed
Title: Re: Currency
Post by: geordieborn on September 08, 2020, 05:25:38 PM: Not the best of rates, but it was a lot worse mid-covid this year - 1.06 mid-rate 19Mar20, currently 1.10. At Jlewis currently they are giving 1.0931.
Title: Re: Currency
Post by: Evertonendo on September 08, 2020, 11:49:43 PM: Hi
We always use cash in San Stef and did again this year but plenty of people were using cards too
Title: Re: Currency
Post by: BAJ on September 08, 2020, 11:54:04 PM: We went in August and cash is welcomed still. We only paid for one meal on a card towards the ends when cash funds were drying up ;)
Title: Re: Currency
Post by: Tredegar Boy on September 09, 2020, 01:47:54 AM: Quote from: Jimbo on September 08, 2020, 03:39:34 PM

Either way round, the pound-euro rate is dismal at present. It got worse today as the "government" announced that it might renege on an international treaty it had freely signed.

Go Boris ;)
Title: Re: Currency
Post by: geordieborn on September 09, 2020, 01:51:46 AM: Quote from: Tredegar Boy on September 09, 2020, 01:47:54 AM
Go Boris ;)

He went when you were not looking - sorry TB BBC (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-54081131) I'm afraid! Just as well you are in Wales....
Title: Re: Currency
Post by: Jackson on September 09, 2020, 11:20:02 AM: Thanks all.
Title: Re: Currency
Post by: Lesley on January 02, 2021, 11:14:31 AM: I see this morning the pound to euro rate creeping up - on Spot showing 1.13 today - best it's been in past few weeks .......
Title: Re: Currency
Post by: Lesley on January 04, 2021, 11:23:53 AM: Back down again this morning to 1.11 on Spot......
Title: Re: Currency
Post by: Jimbo on January 04, 2021, 12:24:38 PM: That's probably because of the disastrous effects of the virus at the moment. Things will almost certainly improved when the vaccines have an impact - probably by Easter.
Title: Re: Currency
Post by: Lesley on February 18, 2021, 02:36:50 PM: Creeping up again 1.16 on spot rate today.
Title: Re: Currency
Post by: WINKIE on February 18, 2021, 03:01:34 PM: Got our Euros safely tucked away from last years postponed trip, looking forward to splashing out in SS this year 8).
Title: Re: Currency
Post by: Tredegar Boy on February 18, 2021, 08:44:08 PM: 1.14 on TravelFX just now. That's not bad. Considering getting some ready for the green light.
Title: Re: Currency
Post by: Jimbo on March 15, 2021, 03:17:02 PM: Pound is up again. Now 1.1534 on TravelFX.
Title: Re: Currency
Post by: Tredegar Boy on March 15, 2021, 11:45:38 PM: 1.1649 at present which is the highest since March last year. It seems there's a steady rise which is good and all this with the UK and EU at loggerheads over the protocol. May get to around 1.17 or 1.18 come the summer hopefully.
Title: Re: Currency
Post by: Jimbo on March 16, 2021, 02:00:17 PM: TravelFX dropped to 1.1441
Title: Re: Currency
Post by: Lesley on March 16, 2021, 02:54:53 PM: Seen it has dropped a point today.......1.16 on Spot now.
Title: Re: Currency
Post by: Tredegar Boy on March 29, 2021, 08:10:00 PM: On the way back up now.....1.1714 at the mo.
Title: Re: Currency
Post by: Tredegar Boy on March 31, 2021, 01:54:18 AM: Still rising 1.1725 today.
Title: Re: Currency
Post by: Lesley on April 02, 2021, 10:38:48 AM: Up again 1.18 on spot this morning.
Title: Re: Currency
Post by: Jimbo on July 13, 2021, 02:26:00 PM: Pound edged up against the Euro today. Interbank rate is 1.17 and cash on TravelFX is 1.1571
Title: Re: Currency
Post by: Lesley on October 21, 2021, 04:53:10 PM: Pound to Euro on Spot looking good today 1.19 ?
Title: Re: Currency
Post by: geordieborn2 on October 21, 2021, 05:51:00 PM: Quote from: Lesley on October 21, 2021, 04:53:10 PM
Pound to Euro on Spot looking good today 1.19 ?

I would hate to think how many people are sitting on an awful lot of Euro due to not going away because of covid, must be millions of €.
Title: Re: Currency
Post by: Tredegar Boy on October 21, 2021, 06:01:24 PM: Quote from: geordieborn2 on October 21, 2021, 05:51:00 PM

I would hate to think how many people are sitting on an awful lot of Euro due to not going away because of covid, must be millions of €.

Yep I have over e1000 sitting in my wardrobe awaiting our visit to Tenerife in December and Majorca next June (this years holiday reassigned).
TravelFX 1.1726 as at 3pm today.
Title: Re: Currency
Post by: Tredegar Boy on November 22, 2021, 03:33:16 PM: TravelFX 1.1773 today and still rising. 1.1921 exchange rate overall. Apparently its the pressure of rising covid cases and the new lockdowns in some countries causing the rise.
Title: Re: Currency
Post by: Jimbo on November 22, 2021, 03:58:33 PM: Yes indeed. When the WHO says that the situation in parts of Europe is very serious the markets react!