World Youth Day USA Guides International Pilgrimage Leaders Guide | Page 55

If your group has any mobility-impaired

Money and Currency Exchange

pilgrims, but sure to take appropriate

While most European countries have

precautions and note their situation when

standardized their currency on the Euro (€),

registering, checking in, or arriving at World

Poland has not made that conversion and uses

Youth Day events with the on-site volunteers.

the Polish złoty (zł or PLN). Just like 100 cents
makes a U.S. dollar, 100 groszy equals 1 złoty.

Medical Issues

The exchange rate between the U.S. dollar ($)

According to the Center for Disease Control

and the Polish złoty (zł) can be very beneficial

(http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/tra

for travelers from the United States. Once one

veler/none/pola nd), pilgrims do not need any

knows the current exchange rates (as they

special vaccines other than routine vaccines for

fluctuate regularly), it is helpful (when looking

travel to Poland. Pilgrims should check with

at prices) to find a system to calculate what that

their doctors to ensure they are healthy to travel

would be in U.S. currency. For instance, if the

and with their health insurance to see what

exchange rate is $1.00 = 3 zł, then travelers can

coverage, if any, they receive when traveling

easily divide the amount they see by one-third

abroad. World Youth Day may provide some

to have a better sense of price.

limited health insurance as part of the pilgrim
package (though this is not guaranteed or

Encourage pilgrims to obtain some złoty prior

known at this time). Travelers will want to

to their departure to Poland – which they can

review that and their personal insurance, and

get from their bank, currency exchange, or

consider if they (or their family) will need any

from an ATM or currency exchange kiosk as

supplemental health insurance.

soon as pilgrims arrive at the airport or train
station in Poland. Since złoty is not as common

In addition, pilgrims should have a copy of

a currency as the Euro, it may take extra time to

their current prescriptions with them in case the

receive this money in the United States. Allow

traveler’s medication gets lost or needs to be

extra time for this type of transaction.

refilled unexpectedly. Having a copy of these
prescriptions can also be helpful in case medical

Currency exchanges are convenient, but

attention is needed overseas – and the medical

pilgrims may get a better deal at an ATM or

professionals need to know what medications

major bank. Credit cards are handy in Europe,

are regularly taken by the patient.

but not all are accepted and many street

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