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Page 2: Money; VAT
Tax; Clothing Measurements; Electricity & TVs;
Crime
Money
Currency:
Germany's currency is the Deutsch Mark
(DM). 100 Pfennigs (Pf) make up one Deutsch Mark. Important to note, Germany will stop using the
Deutsch Mark in 2002, and will begin using the Euro at that time.
Bank notes and coins:
Bank notes or bills come in denominations of 10,
20, 50, 100, 500, and 1000 DM. Coins come in 1, 2, 5, 10 Pf, and 1, 2, and 5 DM.
Changing money:
Although the exchange rates fluctuate, the rate as of
April 2001 is 2.2 DM to 1 USD. You can exchange money at almost any bank or
exchange, or you can use an ATM to withdraw cash. Find out before you go if your
ATM card or credit cards will charge you any fees when you use them in
Germany. Fees can be substantial.
Useful Links
Currency Converter from XE.com
Deutsch
Mark Banknotes View Germany's currency, both coins and bills, until the Euro takes over in
2002. Includes a currency converter. From Bass Hotels.
Euro Banknotes
from the European Monetary Institute - see what the new money will look like.
Cirrus/Mastercard
ATM Finder
VAT Tax
Items you purchase in Germany will
have a VAT (value added tax). The VAT (Mehrwertsteuer) will always be included in the price. The
standard VAT in Germany is 16 percent or 7 percent, depending on the item. Tourists can recover the amounts they
paid on VAT for goods that they are exporting from Germany, but not for services
such as
hotel accommodation, car rentals, gasoline and meals. Business travelers can
recover the VAT on services.
To get the VAT refund, you will need your original
invoice. At the time of the purchase, tell the retailer that you are
taking the item to a non-European Union country. You might have to show your
passport to show your address. The retailer will give you an export certificate
form. When you are leaving Germany, show the certificate, your invoice, and the
item to the German customs official, who will stamp the certificate.
When you return to your home country, you have
to mail the export certificate and the original invoice back to the retailer to
get your refund. The retailer will prefer to give you the refund on your credit
card, so it's best if you paid for the item this way. Is
getting the VAT refund worth the trouble? You decide.
Clothing Measurements
| Women's
(Damen) Measurements - Clothing |
| American |
8 |
10 |
12 |
14 |
16 |
18 |
| British |
10 |
12 |
14 |
16 |
18 |
20 |
| Continental |
36 |
38 |
40 |
42 |
44 |
46 |
| Shoes |
| American |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
|
|
| British |
4 1/2 |
5 1/2 |
6 1/2 |
7 1/2 |
|
|
| Continental |
37 |
38 |
40 |
41 |
|
|
| Men's
(Herren) Measurements - Clothing |
| American |
36 |
38 |
40 |
42 |
44 |
46 |
| British |
36 |
38 |
40 |
42 |
44 |
46 |
| Continental |
46 |
48 |
50 |
52 |
54 |
56 |
| Shoes |
| American |
8 |
8 1/2 |
9 |
9 1/2 |
10 |
11 |
| British |
8 |
8 1/2 |
9 |
9 1/2 |
10 |
11 |
| Continental |
42 |
43 |
43 |
44 |
44 |
45 |
Electricity & TVs
Be aware when buying anything electrical
that Germany's electrical current is 220 volts, compared to the
U.S. 110 volts.
If you are bringing anything electrical with you, it will either
have a built-in converter or it will need a converter. Many laptop computers
have built-in converters. Germany's outlets use a plug that is widely used
throughout Europe and elsewhere in the world, with two round prongs. You can
also buy plug converters before you go from electronic or hardware stores.
Germany and the rest of Europe use the PAL
television standard. The U.S. uses NTSC for now, with a switch to
high-definition TV in the works. The different standards means you can't play
your U.S. video tapes on a European VCR with a European TV. You won't be able to
usually buy tapes for your camcorder in Germany.
Crime
Violent crime is uncommon in Germany, but any traveler should exercise caution
on unfamiliar ground. Theft and property crimes are more common. Pickpockets are
especially active in train stations, carnivals, festivals, and any large
gatherings of people.
Police
uniforms are olive green. Marked police cars are green and white. The German
word for "police" is "Polizei".
German policemen on horses.
© Corel Corp. used with permission
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