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The official currency of the Latvian
Government is the Latvian LAT. There are three abbreviations that are commonly
used. They are (LS), (LVL) and sometime (LAT or LATS). The Euro is used
for hotel, apartment and real estate pricing and for most apartment rental
transactions. The US Dollar is being used less and less.
Payment for goods and services in shops, hotels, cafes and restaurants is
only in Latvian Lats and usually in cash.
Credit cards are not widely accepted especially out of
Riga.
It is recommended that you use your ATM Bank card to withdraw Latvian Lat
money from a bank automat machine which are located all over the city, in the
airport, train and bus stations and in some hotel and restaurant lobbies.
ATM and
Debit card usage
Travelers Checks
Due to a practice of steeling credit card numbers, is it NOT recommended
that you use credit cards at small restaurants, cafes or shops. Some
restaurants are now using portable credit card terminals that the server
brings to the table.
Taxis usually
do not accept credit cards unless arranged in advance by telephoning the taxi
company dispatcher.
more info on taxis and problems with taxis
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