Welcome to America. We accept Euros
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Useful Links for European Visitors to the USA
- Do you Have To Tip the Waiter?
Best description I've ever seen of the American system of tipping in Restaurants--must read for first time visitors. - GasBuddy.com - Find Low Gas Prices in the USA and Canada
compare gasoline prices throughout the USA - Clothing Size Conversion Table
- Online Conversion - Convert just about anything to anything else
- Miles to Kilometers Conversion Calculator
convert miles to kilometers and back again
The Good Old Days Are Gone
There was a time when American tourists rambled happily through Europe like children at a birthday party gathering up bargains and paying with fistfuls of greenbacks from London to Latvia. Now the shoe is definitely on the other foot. These days we are struggling to pay our mortgages and fuel bills and if we are traveling at all, it is not to Europe where our formerly ferocious dollars buy less and less, but more often to domestic destinations, where we can still eat dinner for less than the price of a new car.
For those who earn their money in Euros, however, the United States has become a shopper’s paradise with everything from luxury goods and electronics to sneakers being available as much as 40%cheaper than at home. Buyers offering British Pounds, Scandinavian currencies and Canadian Dollars are also basking in the glow of the weak dollar and filling their shopping carts with newly affordable American goods.
The Euro exchange rate being what it is, more and more European visitors are turning up in American towns and cities every month. Last Christmas Virgin Atlantic ran three day holiday shopping excursions to New York from the UK for thousands of Brits and this summer promises to bring record numbers of tourists from Germany, France, Spain and Italy. Thank you folks, we need the money. Welcome to America. We definitely accept Euros.
Tips for the First Time Visitor
Whether you come to shop, sightsee, go camping in Maine, relax in a Florida timeshare or a Las Vegas condo, you will be running into Americans on their own turf—possibly for the first time. Don’t think that because you have seen us running around your country for decades with our fanny packs, and white sneakers that you know all about us. We are best observed in our own surroundings, as you will see. Here are a few suggestions for getting the most from your American idyll.
The USA is a huge country. Just to give you an idea of it’s size, the distance between New York and San Francisco is greater than the distance between New York and Reykjavik. The distance between New York and Phoenix Arizona is about the same as the distance between London and Istanbul. Though our fast food and our music may seem very homogeneous from abroad, there is as much difference culturally between an American from New England and one from Southern California as there is between a Frenchman and a German (though, in theory at least, we do speak the same language.) If you only have a week or two to visit us, don’t try to see it all or you will end up seeing nothing. If you want to shop in New York, come and shop. If you want to lie on the beach, fly to Florida or California and stay there. Rent a car and poke around, but don’t try to see the whole country in one go and don’t think that because you’ve been to Disney World you’ve visited America. A Big Mac may be the same all over the world, but every small town American coffee shop has its own version of apple pie. Now that we are an affordable destination for you, we hope you will come see us many times and get to know us better.
The hidden costs that can trip you up. Traveling within the USA can be confusing. Each state has it’s own tax structure, and some big cities, like New York City, impose their own levies on top of state taxes. So depending on where you are, the posted price of anything may not be the final price you must pay. Don’t think it is because you are a foreign visitor. It happens to us too. Gasoline is taxed in all states, but is cheapest in New Jersey, where the state gasoline tax is low, and most expensive in California, where it is high. Most states charge a sales tax on certain items, and what is taxed for how much varies from state to state. For example, if you buy a $100 suit in New York, 6% sales tax will be added to your bill. The same suit bought in New Jersey will be tax free,as New Jersey does not charge sales tax on clothing,but does have a 7% sales tax on a variety of other items. Cigarettes are $8.00 a pack in New York but only half that in North Carolina because of state taxes. States like Florida, Vermont, and Maine with thriving tourist industries charge a rather sizable “hospitality tax” on hotel rooms which will be added on when you go to pay your bill. Ask about taxes when you book as the additional charges can add up. There are also taxes on theater tickets, amusement park admissions and the like so the price you see posted is not always the final price you will pay. Be prepared. Then there is tipping in restaurants. Yes, it is expected. The service is almost never included in American restaurants. Generally speaking, in a cafeteria or fast food establishment like McDonalds you are not expected to tip, but in any restaurant, even a modest one, where you are served by a waitperson, you are expected to leave 15 to 20% of the total bill as a “tip” for your server. Keep in mind that the waiter does not get a real salary and lives from tips—so you are not being taken advantage of. It’s just the way the system works.
A Typical Salad Bar
Typical American Food
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American Restaurants
Big cities like New York offer a broad range of international cuisines for every pocketbook and are prepared to cater to international tastes. In most of the country you will have to deal with some unfamiliar Americanisms in restaurants. This is particularly true in chains like Olive Garden (which bears only a passing resemblance to anything Italian) and Outback Steak House(which is Australian in name only), and others too numerous to name.
Here you will find that salad is offered as an appetizer, or at a separate, serve yourself “salad bar”and is eaten by Americans before the main course, not after it .The main course will be called an entree and what you think of as an entree will be called an appetizer. Got it? Whatever you order, portions will be huge. Not to worry. You are not expected to eat it all. Your server will give you a “doggie bag” to take the leftovers home in. You can have them for lunch tomorrow or toss them in the nearest garbage can.
If you don’t want to be confronted with a main course large enough to feed a family of four, order an appetizer as your main course and ask to have green salad served afterwards
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Coffee and Tea in America If you are visiting us from anywhere in continental Europe you are going to hate our coffee. If you are from the UK you won’t mind our coffee so much, but you are not going to be carried away by our tea(nothing fancier than Lipton and always in a teabag). Lately, we’ve gotten into herbal teas though, and you can find a wide variety of them almost anywhere. Some are very good. If you want a cup of good strong coffee, order an espresso or, find yourself a Starbucks and ask for an Americano.Ordinary American coffee is going to taste like leftover dishwater to you. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.
Don’t be surprised if the waitress who takes your lunch order also asks you where you are from, tells you her name and even shows you a photo of her boyfriend. Smile, nod and tell her what you want for lunch—she’ll get it for you. She really doesn’t want to be your new best friend, in spite of the fact that she tells you to“have a nice day”. In fact, by tomorrow she won’t even remember who you are unless you forget to tip her:-)
We are not good at foreign languages. In fact, the English would tell you that we don’t even speak very good English. We speak an American vernacular that has many regional variations and most of us, unless we are the children of recent immigrants or recent immigrants ourselves, do not speak another language and don’t have a clue of what it is like to try and get along in a language that is not your own. After all, only 25% of us have ever traveled abroad and we can go thousands of miles in any direction and encounter only other Americans. Please be patient with us. We’re trying to understand you and we do want those Euros!
Weights and Measures in America Before you venture out shopping in America, be sure you know what your American clothing and shoe size is. In fact, particularly if you are buying for the whole family, bring along a conversion chart. Temperatures are always measured in Fahrenheit so if you want to know how hot or cold it is, you better know how to convert to Celsius. Liquids are in ounces, pints and quarts. Nobody will get you a liter of anything, certainly not beer( You don’t want American beer anyway, trust me. It’s terrible. Go native and try California wine or Kentucky bourbon) But back to my subject— distances are in miles not kilometers and speed is, of course, in miles per hour. Land is in acres not hectaires and solids are in pounds and ounces. Nobody will sell you a kilo of anything so you better study up
Now that I think about it, there are advantages to not being the world's strongest currency anymore. It was a terrible burden to bear and I personally am happy that the Euro has taken it off our straining American shoulders. So now here's to you Euro-zoners.(and Brits and Scandinavians and Canadians too) It's up to you to spend and keep the wheels of the global consumer economy going round. Signs saying " We accept Euros" are sprouting all over American cities and even the fabled taxi drivers of New York are happy to have them. We set the standard for years--now it is your turn. Enjoy it while it lasts and come visit us soon.
Something to Carry Your Goodies Home In
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Comments
I am very surprised how many Russians are visiting here. My husband and our sons were ice fishing couple week-ends ago. There were Russians ice fishing. My family tried to talk to them but it was hard but they did give them the fish they caught. The Russian people wanted to pay for them but we are Americans we don't take money for just being friendly.
Enjoyed your hub.
Hi robie2! Great hub! I would add, "Don't be surprised if half of the Americans you meet come from overseas." Thanks for another good one with a wry twist.
Hi Everyone-- wow three comments already--thanks sooo much. Glad you enjoyed it Funride. Moonlake--thanks for your Russian story and PG I'm so glad you stopped by to read. Euros rule--at least for now.
Hi ... I invite You To the " GOD OWN LAND " - KERALA
See this website of tourism department http://www.keralatourism.org/
Today at my work we had a British man come and ask for directions. This hub is so up to date. Good job!
Thanks for the invitation, prems4u. Kerala looks beautiful. and thank you ahmu for reading and commenting.
Great fun hub! which was easily digested, very informative,..I hope to go to the USA one day and meet a fellow hubber or two!! but i would rather convert my pounds and pence to dollars and dimes anyday..
Down with the Euro lol
Hi Compu-Smart-- you just bring those pounds and pence right over here.They're as good as Euros from our perspective, and have the pedegree of age which makes them even better:-) Just let us know when you are coming so we American hubbers can kill the fatted calf and have a big hub-party for you.
BTW I remember being very confused by pounds and shillings the first time I went to England many years ago--it was 12 pence to a shilling and 16 shillings to a pound which made no sense to me--and then there were things priced in guineas which I was told was a pound and a shilling but actually didn't exist any more as currency -- it made for some very interesting monetary transactions LOL.
Glad you stopped by and thanks for reading and commenting:-)
I'd like to add a ...
P.S. Please just don't come to Florida. We have enough people living here full time who don't speak the language. And if you do come, please don't get huffy because we don't have your favorite european foods. Get over it. This isn't Europe. I'd imagine that's why you're "vacationing" here.
Hi Dafla-- ahhh yes only been to Florida once--don't know it very well--but just think what all those Euros could do for the economy:-) BTW I like your new avatar--very elegant. Thanks for stopping by.
You forgot to mention -an entre is a main meal and entre is an appetiser -and an entre is far too big for 1 person to eat unless they are a teenage boy going thru a growth spurt!
Right you are, Lissie, about the confusing American usage of the word entree--I should also have included information on the appalling amounts of food presented to diners in some American restaurants and the "doggie bag" to take it all home in. LOL. A family of four could live for a week off of one "lumberjack's breakfast" at the HOuse of Pancakes! Thanks for the suggestion. I think I'll go back in for a bit of a rewrite:-)
I find Europeans act much better than many American's who go overseas :)
Great hub!
Thanks for reading and commenting UW. I don't think we are worse than anybody else--tourists from anywhere are not exactly the best representatives of their country abroad. It's just that until now there have been so many of us all over Europe compared to the number of Europeans who come here. All that is changing now eh? Won't it be fun to have Europeans asking us " How much is that is Euros?":-)
What I find interesting is that the very qualities which make American tourists so obnoxious abroad(acting like loud, rude, ignorant children and getting too personal with everybody too fast) are the very qualities that foreign visiters like when the come here. They are charmed by our openness and friendliness when they see us on our own turf--go figure.
oops--my apologies Uninvited Writer. I just checked your profile and discovered you are Canadian--not American. In my reply to your comment I assumed you were a fellow Yank--so sorry. I know that drives Canadians nuts! Must admit that Canadian tourists are usually quite well behaved as tourists go. Well, for whatever it's worth. I'm your newest fan--We like Canadian dollars these days too :-)
Kill the fatted calf lol.Thankyou, that was very sweet of you!...... i dont remember the shillings at all but i hope by the time i do get to visit i will have lots of pounds n pence:)
:)
Too young to remember shillings<sigh> ahhhhh youth:-) that means you have lots of time to get rich and bring all those pounds and pence to America for a big partying shopping spree:-) thanks for the return visit CS. I'm enjoying your "color(oops I mean colour) hubs BTW.
lol, thanks..n i sure hope so!
With regards to color and colour, i always use the American spelling even though im from the UK because i know the majority of readers are from the US so it's only fair!...i just thought id add my 2 cents! ;)
I sure know a dollar goes far....in some places .I did a hub about how much a $100 buy you where you live, and the best place is Kenny Wordsmith home India which is another place i also would love to visit
Good news to hear that the dollar still goes far in India. Maybe I'll go there one of these days--sure would like to.....before it is crawling with American touristsLOL
This is a very well researched hub. Good information for all of us Americans. Also, good tips for Europeans visiting America for the first time.
Hello SweetiePie. It's always good to see you and your Teddy Bear and thanks for the kind words. And welcome Decrescendo. I hope you have Euros:-)
At least it is good for the US to get more visitors and buy goods will help the economy a little. But this trend will be there for a long time, Bush has put us in a big mess.
I totally agree,cgull--the actions of this administration will have world-wide reprucussion for many years, I am afraid. This is just my attempt to look on the bright side cause if you don't laugh, you're gonna cry:-) Thanks for reading and commenting.
Come visit Oregon...split your big meals with your mate, and unless you are in downtown Portland, they wouldn't know what to do with a euro! No sales tax here, either. Though they keep trying. Almost every large issue here has to be put before voters and win by a majority vote. Sounds good but it gets tricky.
I have yet to see all the varied landscapes and points of interest in Oregon.
There are some hotel taxes. Tip your servers well, their minimum wage is lower than the standard job minimum wage.
I completely agree with Robie's take on the long term cost of the past 8 years of madness. And yes isn't it sad we've been reduced to a nation of consumers.
Hi Mary and thanks for your comment--let's hear it for Oregon. Never been there but have been told it is breathtakingly beautiful--Since you share my opinion of the gang of theives in Washington, i know you must be exceptionally intelligent and well-informed LOL. Thanks for stopping by and for your comment.
Thanks for the lighthearted look at this....I was starting to think that there was something personal with my overseas clients....Now it makes sense! You rock!
Well thanks Lacy--likewise I'm sure--time to up your international prices:-)
Great tips for most Americans that only make it out of our hometowns a couple of times per lifetime. I live 200 miles from Glacier Park and 300 miles from Yellowstone park. I know people who have lived here all their life that haven't visited either park. The question is what is America? Just like your advice, it is where you are looking and where you aren't.
What a beautiful spot you must live in--no wonder nobody goes far away:-) Thanks for dropping by and adding your two cents(love your avatar BTW)
Love this hub, as I love to travel. Odd that the tables have turned somewhat on us Americans, don't ya think?
Fair is fair, I say. Soon we will hear Americans complaining about busloads of rude European tourists while the Europeans ask things like "how much is that in real money":-) hmmmmmm sounds like a good SNL sketch to me LOL
This is AWESOME! Great hub, robie.
gamergirl--glad to see you and glad you liked it. I am a great fan of your forum posts as well as your hubs so I'm particularly pleased you stopped by to read:-)
Oh shucks. I'm just me, what can I say. People love me enough to keep liking me after my *cough* flareups on the forums, so I'm happy. :D You are an awesome writer, so you just keep it up.
Fact-filled hub written in an informative and entertaining manner. A friend of mine from Ireland recently led a party of schoolboys on a trip to New York (school trip to New York? Whatever next?) - and they persuaded her to return with an iPhone!
I like your advice about sales tax and various hidden taxes.
Lastly, you have shown me how to add Hub tags -many thanks.
Thanks ,pjd, glad you likrd the hub--I think your friend deserved an iphone just for chaperoning a bunch of schoolboys in NYC--not an easy job, I think:-)
What a thoughtfully well-written hub! The title certainly hits an Anerican reader like a ton of bricks, and the rest of your article follows through. Even reading as an American who's travelled I found it very interesting and worthwhile, reading it from the opposite perspective. Your foreign travellers, however, may be interested to know that many of our drug dealers have already adopted metric, and they will happily sell you a kilo. (It doesn't really matter just where the Euros are spent, does it?)
You have a take on things that somehow manages to be cynical, pragmatic, and refreshing, all at the same time. I appreciate your sharing your writing, and your thoughts.
Thank you Satori for such a long and thoughtful comment. And, of course I like that you liked the hub:-) Right you are about drug dealers lol there are some things you can buy a kilo of in America. I stand corrected:-)
Well, US now is falling deep in the economy slump while the EU is rising up like shooitng stars.
It's a reality that US economy will be suffer a lot in the near future...
Wilson.
yup--what goes up must come down :-) I think you are right, Wilson. Thanks for visiting and commenting.
Very nice and very educational hub!
Now, it is a really perfect time to visit USA and maybe, even to buy some nice big house with garden...
Yup--come on over. I am told that Florida and Arizona houses are at bargain prices right now for those with cash....and what better place for "solar shingles"LOL. Thanks for reading and commenting.
Hello, when i see this hub, this hub make me know what should we do if we go to America, i really want to go to America but i dont know when?. Nice hub. Thanks. Lio_mess from Indonesia
Hello Lio_mess. Thank you for reading and commenting. I hope you will come visit us one day. I would also like to see your beautiful country.
wow, this is really cool when people accepting money from different currencies. ^__^
Thanks for stopping by,Gabby, and for your comment
Despite the fact that having our Aussie dollar close to par with the greenback (94c) makes it a viable proposition to visit, I personally don't deem it necessary.
Thanks to a wonderful "free trade" agreement, I feel America has come Downunder!
We have always had your McDonalds, but when the ads are presented in an American accent, to the point of offering to add tom_A_to to my burger instead of our native tomato, I draw the line! Down here a burger ain't a burger unless it has beetroot, anyway......
As far as television goes, I gotta wait for the weather report to get anything like local content!
Got nothing against Americans, or any other race for that matter, but isn't this globalisation thing getting a bit out of hand? Anyone else feel we are fast losing our local identity? The favourite passtime for my sons in Sydney is "spot the Aussie".....it's getting more difficult by the week!
Avagoodone Mate, and don't forget the aeroguard!
Hi AussiG--well you may have our burgers but we have your beer and I must say I think we got the better of the deal as I'd prefer Austalian beer to a Big Mac any day:-) Thanks for stopping by and commenting--that Aussi dollar of yours will buy a lot of burgers in New York sio come see us soon.
Excellent hub! I agree this is not just great help to non-USA citizens, this is also helpful for USA citizens visiting other areas of the country.
Ah, I am old enought to remember Schillings...
Lots of great points here. There's an old saying, to a European 100 miles is far, and to an American, 100 years is long. This is so very true. Whenever I'm driving around Ireland and I say I flew into Shannon and I'm flying out of Dublin people are shocked. Last time I did that we wound up driving about 300 kilometers in a week. That's about 186 miles. That is just nuts to a European. Here, that's nothing. People here rack that up in a week's worth of work commuting. A European comes here and learns what "far" really is.
Same is true with the age thing. Europeans go to see the Liberty Bell, which we claim is so old. They have family heirlooms in their own homes older than that. When Americans are over there however, we learn what "old" really is. Ever been to New Grange? It was built in 3300 BC. Most Americans can't even do the math to figure out how old that actually is!
Well said Veronica---that 100 years/100miles thing says it all in a nutshell. Delighted that you stopped by and commented. Good to see someone else old enough to remember shillings and pence:-)
Having lived in various countries overseas, I have always wished our currency looked as pretty as theirs! Currency envy!
Now if we could just convince our current leaders to do something positive to strengthen the dollar! Good thing I held on to all those Euros I exchanged for the last few times I went to visit Spain! Who knows - I might be wealthy and not even know it?
Maybe you should turn some more dollars into Euros,chef jeff. Things are not looking too good:-) I share your currency envy--green is very boring and with different colors you aren't so likely to mistake a ten for a twenty or visa versa. Thanks for reading and commenting.
Veronica wrote: "Same is true with the age thing. Europeans go to see the Liberty Bell, which we claim is so old. They have family heirlooms in their own homes older than that. When Americans are over there however, we learn what "old" really is. Ever been to New Grange? It was built in 3300 BC. Most Americans can't even do the math to figure out how old that actually is!"
Sadly, Veronica, as you say we often do not appreciate the ancient treasures here in the U.S. because they are not "ours". We go to Rome and gaze in awe at buildings that are up to 2,000 years old, never realizing that we have structures & sites that old, and older, right here!
Obviously we are not ancient Romans, although some like to think we are akin to them. However, because the sites in the U.S. are Native American, those of European or other non-Native American ancestry tend to ignore them, or even denigrate them! I would love to see the pyramids in Mexico, visit Machu Pichu, and perhaps someday I will. I do not belittle the ancient structures of Europe. I, too, stand with mouth agape when I see them, but I also realize that in just about every continent, and amongst every people that ever lived, there are wonders enough to keep us in awe all our lives.
Chef Jeff, great comment. And I know you're right. But most American's don't have the concept of what ancient or old really is, the way Europeans do. That was my point.
I just visited some Mayan caves with ruins in tact in them, in Belize this month. There's alot of world out there, isn't there.
This is a hot topic right now. It's a good idea for american businesses to reevaluate how they accept payment in this global economy. I have turned to business ventures that I can easily promote and earn from internationally, because americans are just pinching pennies too tightly right now!
My advice: if you're looking for side income, get involved in something that has international reach. Europeans and those from other countries are spending more, have more to invest, and are looking for bargains from the US right now. For us, home business has been the best option (and has helped my family to maintain a comfortable lifestyle while others around us who used to make $70K+ per year are seriously struggling). We've greatly enjoyed the spike in business from those overseas, and are not sweating the current state of economic instability. Instead, we're happily planning a trip to Europe in the summer!
Good luck to all!
-PA27
Friends of mine just started a Google France group solely for the purpose of listing things they want to buy on the next trip to the states. The list is a spreadsheet using google docs that everyone can edit. The idea is that 5-10 friends get together and when one of them travels they buy stuff the others want. Everyone gets to have stuff, without shipping or the horrible VAT. DOn't know how long it will last but some analysts here in France think the Euro will go to at least 2€ for $1, Yikes. I earn mostly in dollars but I do have a job that pays me in Euros, not many hours though.
We have many Russians in our metro area and many college students now taking Russian as a course and practicing it in public whole thinking that no one will understand.
All of these folks are suprised with they tell a joke in Russian at tee grocery store or standing in line at the movies and I start laughing. I took Russian beginning in 7th grade in an experimental course and continued all the way through college and for 1 year of grad school as well. Funny! :)
This is an exceptionally timely and well done hub, robie2. It was very enjoyable and entertaining to read, even for an old American like me.
I'm so glad you stopped by and commented, 'Willaim--We live in exciting and unsettled times, don't we-- oh yes, and it is always a pleasure to see Bing too :-)
this is an EXCELLENT article!
Glad you liked it, dutch84 :-) Thanks for reading and commenting.
Very amusing, informative, with a slight taste of disdain for the European visitor. As an American, I will actually take some of this advice...and perhaps NOT get thrown out of Hilton I stay in.
I'll just drop my € 1,- here, shall I?
Enjoyed reading your hub, Robie. And just like Americans, European folk comes in a lot of different shapes and sizes ;)
Goodness. CAfeZ--no disdain here--I promise. Just having a bit of fun with the fall of the almighty dollar. Thanks for stopping by.
Ananta65--Welcome and by all means leave those Euros here:-) and right you are about European diversity.
Do you accept Indian Rupees.... Just Joking. Nice Article. Keep it up.
But of course, guidebaba:-) In fact the way things are going, the Indian Rupee may be worth more than both the USDollar and the Euro one day soon. Thanks for visiting and for your kind words.
Robie- I have a friend who went to UK for further medical studies cleared all the exams but was making peanuts their. I was once joking like you that you guys in Europe who are earning in Pounds and Euros must be coming to US for bargain shopping unlike us over here. What he told me surprised me as the basic things that we so take for granted are pretty expensive over their. For the standard of living in US the cost of living is still pretty cheap compared to most of Europe (and he has been to a couple of countries in Europe). More ever many places even water has to be bought and rest room usage one has to pay unlike in US where we are blessed with a number of Rest Areas which have these basic things free. Good hub and I wish one of these days I get to travel to Europe (again the US currency is getting stronger so maybe in the near future I can)....hehe
Countrywoman-- thanks for reading this one. I wrote it last summer when the dollar was at an all time low against the Euro and before it became clear that the current financial mess was global not just American. I saw busloads of European tourists on shopping trips in New York spending Euros the way Americans used to spend dollars in Europe and it made me laugh. Soooooo I wrote this.
Yes, I agree the cost of living is still pretty cheap compared to much of Europe--but the quality of life, I think, is often better in Europe where there is a bigger social safety net in terms of health care, child care etc. for the average person.
In any case, both in Europe and the United States we are still very fortunate compared to much of the rest of the world when it comes to standard of living. So glad you took the time to read and comment. Thanks for stopping by.
Hey Robie – Here's a big 50 euro note in the form of a thumbs up! :) This was a fantastic read and I think very enlightening for Europeans or visitors of any other currency! (In the current economic climate it seems like "currency" is more appropriate than "nationality"!) Even though today's exchange rate isn't the 1.6 that I found in my last foray, your hub is still very applicable!
On foreign languages, I've found that it's rather easy to get around with Spanish, even with those waitresses and waiters that won't remember your name tomorrow but will do everything in their capacity to make your meal a fabulous experience!
Hello Elena, and thank you so much for the 50 euro note:-) I'm also very appreciative of your kind words! Yes, you are right-- it is pretty easy for a native Spanish speaker to get around, especially in certain parts of the country where Spanish is really the unofficial second language.... In Miami, for instance, street signs and advertisements are often in both Spanish and English.
Happy to hear you've had good traveling experiences in America and hope you'll come back soon:-)
Interesting hub.
BTW, I heard that the Chinese are coming over here to buy some cheap property.
1.00 USD = 6.83890 CNY
United States Dollars
China Yuan Renminbi
1.00 CAD
=
5.36890 CNY
Canada Dollars China Yuan Renminbi
1.00 EUR
=
8.67001 CNY
Euro China Yuan Renminbi
Hello issues veritas-- thanks for stopping by this one too. I wrote it long ago when the dollar was low against the Euro and the Dow Jones was high. Hmmmmm how quickly the world changes eh? There are definitely bargains to be had in the American housing market these days for anyone with cash or gold bars:-)
Great, great, great! It is better late than never. I'm glad I've read your hub, though it was published some time ago. I'm going to e-mail a link to it to my friends in Europe.
My son collects foreign currency, but only from the countries we visited, or we had visitors from. When a child, he just loved Turkey, he was a millionaire there!
Hi RV and thanks for commenting on this one-- The dollar is a bit stronger than it was when I wrote this, but the advice on negotiating food and restaurants still applied I think. Thanks for emailing the link-- hope it gives your friends a chuckle--and I would love to visit Turkey-- millionaire or no:-)
This is a great hub - just discovered it, and enjoyed it greatly (-:
"it was 12 pence to a shilling and 16 shillings to a pound" not to be pedantic, but it was 12 pence (d) to a shilling (s) and 20 shillings to a pound (L). So 240 pence to a pound.
Hi LondonGirl and thanks for giving this one a read... it seems kind of outdated now what with the global financial meltdown and all. I stand corrected about shillings and pence and thanks for setting me straight. It was all pretty confusing at the time, especially the part about the guineas:-)
Actually there used to be such a thigns as a farthing in the U.K. 4 to the one penny. And you coudl actually buy a piece of sweet (candy) with it. Sorry off topic.
And the helpings in American Restaurants are huge!! Most Europeans would manage to finish them.
Thanks for hub I enjoyed reading it.
Hi Hypno :-) thanks for the comment. I think I remember reading about farthings in Dickens or something--I'm glad they weren't around in the '60's when I was in London to confuse me further.
Glad you enjoyed the hub-- welcome back anytime:-)
This is a fantastic hub! Excellently written. Thanks for writing it!
Thank you Epsilon5. I'm glad you liked it:-) thanks for stopping by and reading and commenting
funride says:
2 years ago
Eheheheh! Robie, I loved the way you wrote this hub, specially the tips for the first time visitors, simply hilarious LOL! I guess there are always good outcomes for those who have strong currency, at least while it lasts :rolleyes: