Take note of the euro changeover deadlines

HOLIDAYMAKERS planning a New Year getaway to Europe are being urged to buy euro travellers cheques early - and to lay in a supply of francs, pesetas or lire for spending money on the first few days of their trip.

Although the euro becomes the official currency of the 12 "eurozone" countries from January 1, travel agent Thomas Cook is warning that bureaux de change operators at UK airports may run out of notes on launch day - and cash machines throughout Europe may empty quickly too.

So-called "legacy" currencies such as the franc, the peseta and the lire, however, will still be accepted in most European countries until February, the travel agent - which has branches in York, Scarborough and Goole - says.

That means laying in a supply of those currencies may be the best way of ensuring you don't run short of spending cash in the first few days of your holiday.

Jacqui Holt, regional manager for Thomas Cook in Yorkshire, said: "Bureaux de change operators at UK airports are predicting that they may run out of euro notes on launch day and cash machines at key locations throughout Europe may also be emptied very quickly.

"We suggest that holidaymakers travelling to any of the 12 eurozone countries should not rely on collecting all their holiday money at the airport on the bank holiday.

"The best advice if you are in Europe on January 1 is to take some francs or pesetas so you have cash to spend during the first few days of your holiday and the bulk of your spending money in euro travellers cheques."

Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Portugal and Spain will stop using their old currencies on February 28. In The Netherlands the deadline is January 28, Ireland on Febuary 9, and France on February 17.

Until those dates, you will still be able to use your old currency in shops and restaurants.

The only one of the 12 "eurozone" currencies which you won't be able to use in shops and restaurants from January 1, in fact, is the deutschmark - meaning that unless you're travelling to Germany you won't need to lay in stacks of euro notes straight away.

A survey conducted by Thomas Cook has revealed that many holidaymakers are still confused about the introduction of the euro, and unsure how it will affect them. The survey of 300 holidaymakers revealed that one in three people did not even know that a new currency is being launched in "eurozone" countries on January 1.

While the majority of people surveyed were aware the euro was being brought in, almost half of those surveyed were

concerned that they were not prepared for the introduction of the new currency. Those travelling over the New Year - when the new euro notes and coins officially become legal tender - are particularly concerned, the travel agent says.

To help travellers who are planning a European break over the New Year, here, with thanks to Thomas Cook, is a euro survival guide:

- Anticipate queues for euros at airport bureaux de change on January 1. Foreign cash machines may also run out of the new euro notes

- If you are planning to be in Europe over the New Year, take euro travellers cheques with you. If you want to take cash and you are travelling before January 1, take old style pesetas or francs with you. You can still use them until February

- Shop around when you arrive. You can expect to pay a fee of between 0.5 and 1.75 per cent for changing your euro travellers cheques into cash abroad

- Check your change. Shops and restaurants on the continent will still be getting used to the new currency

- If you use your credit or debit card in a eurozone country, your bank will still charge you a foreign currency loading fee

- Credit card companies will also use the euro exchange rate on the day the transaction is processed and not the rate when you made the purchase

- You don't need the euro in Denmark, Sweden or Switzerland.

- Remember, one euro is worth about 62p at current exchange rates - so if you've got a 500 euro note, don't lose it. It's worth something like £300!