What currency do I need for my holiday?

What currency do I need for Croatia?

Croatian Kuna

Despite being part of the EU, Croatia doesn’t use the Euro. This means you can’t use your leftover cents from your last trip here, but instead you’ll need Croatian Kuna – often abbreviated as Kn. The word Kuna means Marten, a weasel-like animal whose fur was often used as payment back in Medieval times. Why not spend your Kuna on some Game of Thrones’ set sightseeing? Or try some Croatian gelato – it’s as good as the Italian stuff.

What currency do I need for Bulgaria?

Bulgarian Lev

Bulgaria might not be one of the better-known holiday destinations, so you can be forgiven for not knowing the currency – it’s Bulgarian Lev by the way. Although many prices are quoted in Euros, you’ll find that local places will only take Lev, so make sure you take enough with you. Bulgaria has plenty of markets and malls for you to spend your money in. Or, if you fancy something a little more relaxing, you can splash your Lev on a VIP cruise where you can top up your tan, enjoy an open bar and even snorkel. You should make sure you have extra Lev for tipping, as it’s expected in Bulgaria – around 10% of your bill at restaurants and in taxis.

What currency do I need for Iceland?

Icelandic Króna

Iceland is another place that displays prices in Euros, but doesn’t accept payment in them. It’s purely for tourists’ convenience, so they know roughly how much they’re paying for things - although we think it’s pretty confusing. You can also take credit and debit cards with you as they’re widely accepted in most places. If you’re struggling to work out what you spend your Króna on, a visit to the Blue Lagoon is a must. It’s a huge geothermal pool for you to take a dip in, which is rich in minerals so it’s a lovely treat for your skin. Or, grab an authentic Iceland jumper, made from the wool of Icelandic sheep, to make the ultimate fashion statement when you’re back at home.

What currency do I need for Turkey?

Turkish Lira

If you’re travelling to Turkey, you’ll need Lira – one Lira is made up of 100 Kurus (pronounced koo-roosh). Grabbing some souvenirs at the Turkish markets are the best place to spend your holiday money. We’re not talking novelty hats and fridge magnets, it’s all about Turkish Kilim rugs and marbled ceramics to deck your home out with. Plus, Turkish coffee is some of the best in the world, so make sure you stop for caffeine breaks in-between some serious shopping. You can pop your Turkish Lira on our Thomson Multi-Currency Travel Money Mastercard for the easiest, and safest, way to carry your holiday money.

What currency do I need for India?

Indian Rupees

Indian law states that tourists are not allowed to take Indian Rupees in or out of India, so you’ll need to change your money when you’re there. The best way to do this is to take some Sterling with you and change it when you get to the airport, or with an Authorised Foreign Exchange dealer. Shopping, especially street food and souvenirs, is very cheap in India, so your Rupees will go far. Make sure you book on to the Dudhsagar Day Out excursion, where you’ll get to see the impressive 1,000-foot-high Dudhsagar waterfall and spend time splashing around in the water while wild monkeys swing around in the trees above you.

What currency do I need for Sri Lanka?

Sri Lankan Rupee

If you’re heading to Sri Lanka, it’s best to take money with you to exchange as you can only take 5000 Sri Lankan Rupees into the country – roughly about £25. But don’t worry, there’s no limit on how many Pounds you can take, and you can easily exchange them when you get there, so you won’t be left short when you want to explore tea plantations, visit ancient cities and do some elephant watching – as well as bring a few souvenirs back. You’ve also got plenty of watersports to get involved with, such as kayaking, paddle boarding, and even going whale watching. If you’re a real foodie then you can’t leave Sri Lanka without trying kottu roti from the street markets – roti bread mixed together with finely shredded veg, meat, soy sauce, spices, ginger and garlic and cooked on a flat iron skillet using two metal cleavers with wooden handles. Plus, it’s incredibly cheap.

What currency do I need for Mexico?

Mexican Peso

Despite what many people think, you can’t spend US dollars in Mexico. So it’s always better to bring some local Mexican currency with you. When you’re not spending your Peso on tacos, margaritas and buying authentic wrestling masks – one of Mexico’s popular souvenirs, you can also go off-roading in the jungle on quad bikes, hop on a safari tour or even go to the world-famous Cirque Du Soleil show.

What currency do I need for Costa Rica?

Costa Rican Colón

Costa Rican currency is not only useful for buying stuff, it’s also super pretty. The different notes have colourful pictures of some of their native animals on - sloths, butterflies, sharks and monkeys - and puts other currencies to shame. You can also widely use US dollars in Costa Rica, but we’d recommend getting Colón purely because they’re so much nicer to look at. Costa Rica is great for animal conservation and biodiversity, so you can be sure that going to somewhere like the Green Turtle Museum, or a sloth sanctuary, will be pumping money back in to saving wildlife.

Ready to get your currency? You’ve got a few options:

Click and collect – you can order your currency online up to seven days before you go, and collect it from your nearest Thomson shop.

Home delivery – if you order your currency online before 2pm, you can have it delivered to your door by 2pm the next working day. Very efficient.

And, if you’re taking Euros or Dollars, you can check out our Multi-Currency Travel Money Mastercard, which is free to use in over 33 million locations and is a safe and secure way to carry your holiday money around with you.

You can find more info on our Thomson Multi-Currency Travel Money Mastercard in this article, as well as some top tips on how to stick to your holiday budget.

Author: Abi Payne-Humphries