Show me the money
The official currency of Slovakia is now the Euro. Prices have crept up a bit since it was introduced in January 2009, but as the Average costs chart (below) demonstrates, a big night out is still a bargain, especially compared to London, or Sheffield for that matter.
There are money exchanges around the city, but the simplest thing is just to bring your cashpoint card and get your cash that way. You’ll get a better exchange rate than any currency exchange anyway. Certainly do not be tempted to exchange pounds to euro with money changers who approach you on the street or at the train station. These guys’ sleight of hand would put Paul Daniels to shame.
If you’re not buying electronic gear, fancy designer clothes or other imported goods, Slovakia is still cheap compared to the UK. Here's what you can expect to pay for the essentials:
Average costs
(at time of writing)
-one beer (2.50 Euro = 2 GBP )
-one packet of fags (2.50 Euro = 2 GBP )
-one bottle decent wine (6 Euro = 5 GBP)
-one basic meal (10 Euro = 8 GBP)
-one taxi ride (17 Euro = 14 GBP )
A word on tipping
While tipping isn’t compulsory, the done thing is to round the bill up to avoid accumulating change. If you want to be that bit more gracious, a standard 10% tip for decent service will mark you as a man among men, at least as far as your waiter is concerned.
Bratislava STAG INFO
