Mark frae Crieff Posted August 10, 2018 Posted August 10, 2018 Ok what currency can we use over there? As the arse has fallen out of the £ is it a chickens and Levis bartering system?
Barney Rubble Posted August 10, 2018 Posted August 10, 2018 The Albanian LEK is not a tradeable currency, so you cannot get any before you arrive there. Bring Bank of Imperialist Oppressor's notes or Euros (or US dollars, Swiss francs) and you exchange them at the many currency places in the main cities. A word of warning - do not exchange at places that take a % commission - rather stick to places that show the commission free exchange rate. As always, if at all possible avoid exchanging in airports or ports of arrival for obvious reasons.
wubbs Posted August 10, 2018 Posted August 10, 2018 1 hour ago, Barney Rubble said: Bring Bank of Imperialist Oppressor's notes or Euros (or US dollars, Swiss francs) and you exchange them at the many currency places in the main cities. I'll second this. When I was there last year, withdrawing money from an ATM came with a hefty fee though - not sure if that was down to my bank (which is Slovak) and the Albanian bank. Fortunately many places accepted Euros at a fair rate.
Zicoladud Posted August 10, 2018 Posted August 10, 2018 allready picked up albainian euros from ramsden cost a wee bit more but less hassle when you get there
Barney Rubble Posted August 10, 2018 Posted August 10, 2018 1 hour ago, wubbs said: I'll second this. When I was there last year, withdrawing money from an ATM came with a hefty fee though - not sure if that was down to my bank (which is Slovak) and the Albanian bank. Fortunately many places accepted Euros at a fair rate. Good point - because this is a non-tradeable currency, do not use ATMs unless absolutely necessary, otherwise your home bank will murder you with charges. Albania is one place when you bring hard currency with you and change as necessary. Bring notes with Lizzie's head on it folks and you'll be fine. Forget about using a card unless you want to make your bank smile.
DavyP Posted August 11, 2018 Posted August 11, 2018 Talking to the Albanian Bus administrator he told me that the Albanian LEK has dropped 14% against the Euro since I booked the buses but would honour my payment in Euros as agreed 3 months ago.......so looks like the Euro will get you more beer tokens
mariokempes56 Posted August 11, 2018 Posted August 11, 2018 12 minutes ago, DavyP said: Talking to the Albanian Bus administrator he told me that the Albanian LEK has dropped 14% against the Euro since I booked the buses but would honour my payment in Euros as agreed 3 months ago.......so looks like the Euro will get you more beer tokens Assuming folk take a drink of course...
kumnio Posted August 11, 2018 Posted August 11, 2018 Halifax Clarity card, no transaction fees, and the official exchange rate is the way to go.
Barney Rubble Posted August 11, 2018 Posted August 11, 2018 55 minutes ago, kumnio said: Halifax Clarity card, no transaction fees, and the official exchange rate is the way to go. There is no official exchange rate - the LEK is not a tradeable currency.
wubbs Posted August 11, 2018 Posted August 11, 2018 19 hours ago, Barney Rubble said: Good point - because this is a non-tradeable currency, do not use ATMs unless absolutely necessary, otherwise your home bank will murder you with charges. Think my bank charged me about 10%
Paisley Buddie Posted August 12, 2018 Posted August 12, 2018 I'm taking a prepaid MasterCard, the Caxton FX card. Load it with pounds before you go, get Leks from their ATMs. They say there are no fees or transaction charges.
doonhameronthedon Posted August 16, 2018 Posted August 16, 2018 Interesting, will load up my Monzo card then and hopefully avoid hefty charges.
GLOSTA Posted August 16, 2018 Posted August 16, 2018 On 8/11/2018 at 6:40 PM, Barney Rubble said: There is no official exchange rate - the LEK is not a tradeable currency. I swear by the Halifax clarity card, no charges for use abroad. I paid for everything on it. Take out the hole in the wall and all you do is get a wee bit of interest. Just been in France for 2 weeks and not a single transaction fee and got €1.12 to the £1 whereas at Heathrow the money folks offered 93 cents. I used a card last time I was in Albania for work. no problem.
calum83 Posted August 20, 2018 Posted August 20, 2018 im taking pounds english notes i got a lot of strange looks in tbilisi when i asked them to change scottish notes english notes no problem and the funny thing is there is more bloody english fake notes around than scottish lol might take some euros to be on the safe side and whatever shekels i have left
Albanian Hibs Posted August 20, 2018 Posted August 20, 2018 Take english notes, Lots of exchange places in tirana.
Ormond Posted October 14, 2018 Posted October 14, 2018 I’ve been swotting up today on stuff. I notice prices given online for a lot of things are in Euros. Now, is that just to pay online or are they accepted in shops over the counter?
CAT Posted October 30, 2018 Posted October 30, 2018 When using an ATM in Albania, do you get the option to withdraw LEK or €?
Barney Rubble Posted October 30, 2018 Posted October 30, 2018 1 hour ago, CAT said: When using an ATM in Albania, do you get the option to withdraw LEK or €? From experience in Tirana, one of the terminals at the Intesa Sanpaolo Bank opposite Hoxha's house does so, and the one in the lobby of the Rogner Hotel on the main boulevard, and the one in the Taiwan centre. I would imagine the terminals at the Sheraton Hotel do so too. Can't speak for Shkodra as I've never had to use an ATM there.
CAT Posted October 30, 2018 Posted October 30, 2018 8 minutes ago, Barney Rubble said: From experience in Tirana, one of the terminals at the Intesa Sanpaolo Bank opposite Hoxha's house does so, and the one in the lobby of the Rogner Hotel on the main boulevard, and the one in the Taiwan centre. I would imagine the terminals at the Sheraton Hotel do so too. Can't speak for Shkodra as I've never had to use an ATM there. Thanks for the reply.
Que Sera Sera Posted November 2, 2018 Posted November 2, 2018 My surmusing of this thread tells me to bring either: a currency card, Euros or English notes. Can anybody tell me if I should think any differently in Kosovo and Montenegro?
@neaver82 Posted November 2, 2018 Posted November 2, 2018 Without doubt the best card to use abroad is the Starling Bank card. It is an online bank and its big selling point is that it is the ideal card to use for travelling. Great exchange rates with 0% commision. No fees for using abroad. Using the card at the moment will give you 142Lek to the £ You apply for a card online and is usually through the letterbox within a couple of days. Have used it in Mexico and Spain and its brilliant. Also gives you an instant price of exchange on your app so you can keep track of your spends.
Scotschic Posted November 4, 2018 Posted November 4, 2018 On 11/2/2018 at 8:53 PM, @neaver82 said: Without doubt the best card to use abroad is the Starling Bank card. It is an online bank and its big selling point is that it is the ideal card to use for travelling. Great exchange rates with 0% commision. No fees for using abroad. Using the card at the moment will give you 142Lek to the £ You apply for a card online and is usually through the letterbox within a couple of days. Have used it in Mexico and Spain and its brilliant. Also gives you an instant price of exchange on your app so you can keep track of your spends. With you on this. Ordered my Starling card on Wednesday and card came 3days later. Recommended on many money sites and saves taking Euro’s or English notes.
Scotland Ever More Posted November 4, 2018 Posted November 4, 2018 Can these Starling cards just be used anywhere that takes a credit card then?
DoubleSC Posted November 4, 2018 Posted November 4, 2018 Very similar to the Revolut card which works a treat with no fees. Just top it up via the app and use it as a credit card where ever in tbe world you like giving you the interbank rates which is the best you can get.
Scotland Ever More Posted November 4, 2018 Posted November 4, 2018 Just ordered one and it's due on Thursday. Thanks for the tip.
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