Euros in PNG?

Hi there,

my question is simple, can I take only euros to PNG or, as it looks like, will I have to exchange in advance all my euros for dollars at home before flying?

Thanks a lot and greets,

Iker

Greetings, Iker ! Banish any thought of taking EITHER Euros or dollars - kina are KING! I just returned from 7 months' work in Port Moresby and in Manus Province, besides airport shopping in Lae and Kavieng, and I never once saw PNG people accept or want any currency other than kina. Definitely get this right before you go there ! Cheers!

Hi Emeraldsnail, thanks for your answer, a bit surprising, XD...I mean, cannot I travel with euros or dollars from Spain and exchange them for Kinas at least in the airport when arriving or in some bank in Port Moresby?

Of course that for travelling around the country you can only use Kinas, I suppose, but I guess I can do as above...please confirm me.

Thanks a lot and kind regards,

Iker

at the airport international terminal you can change most major currencies for kina
at the BSP or ANZ banks

outside of moresby you can only change USD or AUD at the banks in the large cities

in the cities (garoka wewak etc) there are ATMs which allow you to get kina from a charge or credit
card - ANZ worked well for me, local bank BSP not always internationally connected

Hi majordom, and thanks, that's what I supposed so, besides the airport, where I arrive at 5am, it sounds like it will be better to take dollars with me, XD...

A couple of questions, if you or anyone else can help, what time will they openexchange office in the morning? I arrive on Monday Sept 1st. And, second, lately I always take all my money in cash and always try to use credit card, no emergencies for now, would you do the same in PNG with the raskol sure risk of being mugged?

Thanks again and kind regards,

Iker

I meant that I always try to avoid using the credit card, as you probably have guessed, :-)

the banks will be open for the early international arrivals - there is a BSP
in the luggage collection area which seems always open and an ANZ just outside as you come
out the terminal both with ATMs but has different hours

dont buy kina outside PNG - terrible exchange rate - i was getting a better rate
from the ATM than with cash exchange but that just may be that i have special
credit card for international travel

Thanks a lot for all, majordo

This got cut, upppsss...just wanted to thank you, majordom, although a bit late, for your help, XD...

Then I will take also 2/3 total euros with me and 1/3 total dollars, exchange all euros in airport or Port Moresby's banks and keep dollars for my ongoing travel in case I need them, ;-))

Cheers!!

Just as info for everyone, WESTPAC has office branches in quite a number of places in PNG where they exchange euros for kinas in all of them, so no need to exchange euros for USD or AUD in advance, ;-))

Here the list of places for Westpac, I have verified this info through email with their head office in Port Moresby:

http://www.westpac.com.pg/pacific/find-branch-atm/