Algeria

Money & costs

Money

Some Algerians, especially in rural areas, might give prices in centimes rather than dinars (there are 100 centimes in a DA1). To confuse matters further, they might also drop the thousands, so a quote of ‘130’ means 130, 000 centimes (ie DA1300).

Changing foreign currency is no problem at banks and larger hotels. Travellers cheques might be accepted in Algiers; credit cards can be used only in the international chain hotels where they still use the old fraud-friendly slip system. You’ll need dinar for day-to-day expenses, although tourist-oriented businesses (hotels, airlines, tour companies etc) might accept US dollars.