The Talking Suitcase

Cruise & Curated Travel Specialist

Living Abroad

How to Manage Money in Europe: Travel Money Tips, Currency & Credit Card Advice

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Disclosure: This post may contain an affiliate link & I may have been compensated for my time writing this article.

Updated October 2025

Are you planning a trip abroad and want to know how to manage money in Europe without wasting your hard-earned cash on hidden fees or bad exchange rates? After living in France and traveling across Europe for four years, I can safely say we’ve learned a few lessons — and made some costly mistakes. I’ve gathered all our best Europe travel money tips in one place to help you avoid the same blunders.

Let’s dive in to discover the best travel debit cards for Europe, how to avoid ATM fees, understand the local currency in each country, and even what ATMs are called throughout Europe.

How to Manage Money in Europe:

Knowing the Local Currency in Europe

Before your trip, it’s important to know what type of money you’ll be using in each country. Luckily, more than half of Europe uses the euro (€) — which makes traveling between many popular destinations much easier. No need to constantly exchange money or worry about confusing conversion rates! I’ve heard stories from my parents traveling Europe many years ago and needing a different currency in every single country. What a hassle!

That said, not every European country uses the euro. Some still rely on their own local currency, so it’s smart to double-check before you go. Using the right currency will help you get the best exchange rate and avoid paying more than necessary at shops or restaurants.

Countries That Don’t Use the Euro

Here’s a list of European countries that don’t use the euro and the currency they use instead:

  • Albania (Albanian lek)*
  • Azerbaijan (Azerbaijani manat)
  • Belarus (Belarusian ruble)
  • Bulgaria (Bulgarian lev)
  • Croatia (Croatian kuna)
  • Czech Republic (Czech koruna)
  • Denmark (Danish krone)**
  • Georgia (Georgian lari)
  • Hungary (Hungarian forint)
  • Iceland (Icelandic krona)
  • Liechtenstein (Swiss franc)
  • Macedonia (Second Macedonian denar)
  • Moldova (Moldovan leu)
  • Norway (Norwegian krone)**
  • Poland (Polish złoty)
  • Romania (Fourth Romanian leu)
  • Russia (Russian ruble)
  • Serbia (Serbian dinar)
  • Sweden (Swedish krona)
  • Switzerland (Swiss franc)
  • Turkey (Turkish lira)***
  • Ukraine (Ukrainian hryvnia)
  • United Kingdom (Pound sterling)

*Some touristic places in Albania also accept Euros, Pounds and American Dollars.
** Some tourist places in Denmark and Norway also accept Euros, but exchange rates are often poor.
*** We used Euros in Ephesus, Turkey but I don’t think the exchange rate was the greatest.

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Christmas in Nice – Provençal Christmas Traditions

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Christmas in Nice - Provençal Christmas Traditions

Missing France……

Celebrating Christmas in Nice is similar to celebrating in the United States. The sprit of the season is all about family and traditions.

How We Celebrated Christmas in Nice

Although it may not have met our abnormally sophisticated expectations, there was some level of holiday decorating throughout  Old Town Nice and some decorations on apartment balconies. The most popular outdoor decoration was a climbing Santa which seemed to be present on 4 out of every 5 apartments.  Old Town and the main squares were decked out with a fair amount of lights and other decorations.  But we did miss being in the US and seeing all the houses lit up as if in a competition.   It was our little tradition to drive around trying to find the gaudiest light displays or to take walks in the evening to see which of our neighbors put out the tackiest Santa.

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Celebrating Thanksgiving in France – Sharing an American Holiday with French Friends

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Celebrating Thanksgiving in France

 

A look back at Thanksgiving 2015!  While we missed family, it was a fantastic day with friends!

This Thanksgiving was the first time we haven’t been home in the US to celebrate. Celebrating Thanksgiving in France was an educational experience, a little bit sad, and, as it turned out, a lot of work!!

Since we didn’t have family to celebrate with this year, we planned a big Thanksgiving dinner with another American family.  It was nice to have others that understood the tradition and to help share some of the cooking-particularly since, stateside, I was always given pie making duty.  No one was ever crazy enough to assign me anything more difficult.

What started out as a small(ish) celebration with just two American families, turned into a massive sixteen person extravaganza.   In terms of our usual Thanksgiving gathering, sixteen is still small, but we could only fit so many people inside a tiny French apartment.

As it turns out, the French (or those that we know well) are fascinated with the idea of Thanksgiving. What we see as a normal holiday, the French see as an intriguing American tradition.   I guess you can’t get more American than celebrating pilgrims, indians, stuffing ourselves with food, watching football and giving thanks for our blessings.

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Carrefour = The French Walmart

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Carrefour the French Walmart
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If you plan to visit France (or anywhere in Europe) you often hear people talk about not having Target or Walmart stores to shop.  You’ll find a bakery, butcher and sweet shop on every corner!  Europeans don’t shop at Walmart!

Well, let me tell you.  I found the French equivalent to Walmart.  And it was NUTS!

Our first ever visit was because I needed to purchase a pillow since the apartment only had one per person. I just couldn’t sleep without two.  We walked past several bakeries, butcheries, sweet shops and corner stores to the Centre Commercial Nice Etoile.  The mall here in Nice. Inside you will find clothing shops, jewelry stores, eateries, and a massive store – Carrefour.

I couldn’t stop staring, open mouthed at this gigantic store that I almost walked right into the back of my husband (who was doing some staring of his own).

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What Foreign Kids Need Instead of a French Residence Card (How To Get a DCEM)

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UPDATE: You can now apply online.  If anyone has current experience getting the DCEM, please share.

*This doesn’t apply to citizens of the EU or UK as far as I know*

Did you know that expat children in France need to apply for a DCEM or Document de Circulation Pour Étranger Mineur? I didn’t!

After our first year in France, it was time to renew our Visa’s.   Since you don’t actually get a new Visa, instead a Carte de Séjour,  that poses a bit of a problem for kids. Only adults get a fancy residents card. So what about the kids? According the lady at the Préfecture,  the kids didn’t need anything since they are residing here with their parents.   We thought that was cool and went about our lives.

Fast forward to us trying to enter the Netherlands after a vacation in Ireland. Apparently, kids DO need paperwork saying they can come back into the EU.  Thankfully, we weren’t given too much of a hard time.  The customs officials just instructed us to get the kids documentation.

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