Currency Exchange Rates Looking Good for Trip

The dollar is definitely stronger on this trip, though that's probably more a reflection of a weak Euro.

Back in July 2008, it cost us $1.5843 to buy 1 Euro. Then two years ago, it fell to $1.2945 to a Euro. It went up last year to a high of $1.4838, but has steadily lost value to the dollar where it's now $1.2660 to a Euro.

It won't make too much of a difference to us on this trip. We will only use Euros in Poland. The stores in the airport will take dollars and the tourist stores downtown where we will be at Saturday night take credit cards.

In Ukraine each of our dollars buy 8.0785 Ukrainian Hryvnia. Since 2009 the government has kept the currency pegged at around 8:1.

The rates are of June 28.

For up-to-date exchange rates:

•  US Dollar ($) / Euro (EUR)
•  US Dollar ($) / Ukrainian Hryvnia (UAH)

Exchange Rates Looking Good for Trip

For most of our past mission trips this decade the exchange rate has been about 5 Hyrvnia to $1. Today it's 7.9 to 8 Hyrvnia to a dollar.

While that helps our purchasing power, when gas is up so is their costs to import. We've also noticed that prices have increased over the last few trips. What used to be dirt cheap is now just inexpensive.

For more information on Ukraine's currency and to see more pictures of their notes in circulation, check out the Wikipedia article.

Lunch is about 25 Hyrvnia according to some sources online so figure $3 to $4 and the current exchange rates.

Poland uses the Zloty as their currency. Currently the rate is about 3 to a dollar, though we won't have many places to spend money in Warsaw other than the gift shops in the tourist/historic district downtown and at the airport. All of those places will take credit cards.