Croatia joined the Eurozone this year, which means a lot of changes for Czechs, who go on vacation there in large numbers every year. In fact, they will be able to experience on a larger scale what it is like to pay in euros instead of the national currency in the form of kunas. Unfortunately, along with this came the traditional increase in price, which is caused by the fact that sellers have a strong tendency to round up when converting currency.
Don’t do this
However, the set prices are one thing, you have to accept them, because there is no bargaining mode in Croatia where you would get a better price, especially in brick-and-mortar shops or restaurants.
Unfortunately, something much worse than a ten to fifteen percent increase in price can also happen to you. You can lose a significant amount of money literally in a second if you make a frequent mistake at the ATM. For most tourists, it is the gateway to the local currency, in this case today the euro. Nowadays, few people exchange money in exchange offices, although this is still possible, but they simply insert their payment card into the ATM, press the amount they want to withdraw, and the money simply runs out.
Unfortunately, in Croatia, one feature of ATMs that they have had in recent years can catch you off guard. “I was withdrawing 1000 euro to have cash for our whole family of four during the holiday. The current exchange rate at that time was 23.5 crowns per euro. But when I then looked at how much was taken from my account, I was horrified. They stole 28,500 crowns,” says Ms. Milada, who went to Croatia a few days ago and contacted our editorial office with this case.
At first she thought it was a mistake by her bank that had seized power. However, after contacting her, she learned that she was the one who made the wrong maneuver at the ATM. “They told me that I let the ATM, or rather its operator, do the conversion to my currency himself, and that is said to be often disadvantageous,” says Milada.
How to save money
This is indeed true. ATMs abroad will offer you a conversion using their exchange rate, which is very disadvantageous in practically all cases and borders on deceptive practice, because the exchange rate used is even twenty percent higher.
So always be careful not to confirm the possibility of this conversion. It is usually the option that will show you directly in crowns how much you will be charged. However, most people do not pay much attention to it and do not know the current rates. On the contrary, he feels that he should confirm what is written about Czech crowns.
Although the conversion at your bank will not be without a surcharge, it is usually around two to three percent and is therefore tolerable. However, there are also cards that allow you to make mid-rate transfers, such as Revolut or Curve.
Foto: Shutterstock
2023-06-06 16:00:00
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