Viva Italia - money exchange

[Kiderak]

For those who have gone on the trip to Italy, or European trips, did you exchange dollars for Euros before leaving the US or after you arrived in Europe?

What do you recommend?

Thanks.

 

[Poppins2000]

We are leaving on Thursday for our ABD trip to Ireland. We went ahead and purchased 400 euros from our bank in prep for our trip (the fee for this transaction was $7.50). We want to have some cash on hand - just in case. Most travel sites I checked recommended purchasing some currency before the trip but NOT to purchase at an airport Currency Kiosk (exchange rates are usually poor). On the flip side, almost every travel site agreed that the best exchange rate would be given at an overseas ATM. However, check with you bank on their overseas transaction fees. Our bank, (Bank of America), charges a $5 flat fee and a 3% surcharge for each transaction on the amount we withdrawal from an ATM in Ireland. That means the same 400euros (about $667), withdrawn from the Bank of Ireland, would cost us $25 in transaction fees!!!!

 

[Mamadis]

We are going to take some euros with us on our Viva Italia trip. I checked around here and the best place to buy Euros was the American Express Foreign Currency Exchange. They charge a $4 fee if you are a card member and you can exchange up to $2000 per transaction. They prefer that you pay using a personal check.

 

[wdwsos]

We are leaving on Thursday for our ABD trip to Ireland. We went ahead and purchased 400 euros from our bank in prep for our trip (the fee for this transaction was $7.50). We want to have some cash on hand - just in case. Most travel sites I checked recommended purchasing some currency before the trip but NOT to purchase at an airport Currency Kiosk (exchange rates are usually poor). On the flip side, almost every travel site agreed that the best exchange rate would be given at an overseas ATM. However, check with you bank on their overseas transaction fees. Our bank, (Bank of America), charges a $5 flat fee and a 3% surcharge for each transaction on the amount we withdrawal from an ATM in Ireland. That means the same 400euros (about $667), withdrawn from the Bank of Ireland, would cost us $25 in transaction fees!!!!

Also, be aware that for many countries, anything longer than an 4-digit PIN number may not work at the ATM. You may want to change your PIN number before you leave.

Dotti

 

[Beth]

My bank didn't charge a fee.... so we waited until we got over there to hit the ATM.

We did, though, go to our local AAA office before we left and purchased a couple "Tip Packs," which amounted to $100. ...It was nice to have a little bit as soon as we landed - in case we wanted to get a drink, or something.

Don't forget to contact your bank before you leave to (1) advise them you'll be travelling overseas, so they don't misinterpret your transactions as an act of possible fraud and (2) possibly request that they (temporarily) increase your daily cash withdrawal limit. Our's was $300 - which wouldn't have gotten us far, given the poor exchange rate.

 

[whayes]

My bank didn't charge a fee.... so we waited until we got over there to hit the ATM.

If you don't mind, what bank do you use? Is it a big name bank, a credit union, or a local bank?

Thanks!

 

[Beth]

If you don't mind, what bank do you use? Is it a big name bank, a credit union, or a local bank?

Thanks!

Sorry - it's just a small community bank here east of Tampa....