Grandma137

Where is the best place to convert American dollars to Euros? I understand the rates vary considerable.

*Airport?
*AMEX?
*ATM?
*In US or when we arrive in Europe?

Thanks

suze

The BEST way is to use your debit card in an ATM after you arrive Europe (not "converting" at all).

Airports, AMEX, and anywhere in the US will have higher fees to exchange cash for cash. Some people do this anyway for "peace of mind" factor, to have local currency upon arrival.

kerouac

ATM in Europe.

Cholmondley_Warner

ATM all the way (and credit/debit cards).

Grandma137

Thanks for the quick responses. ATM in Europe is obviously the best choice. What about cab fares?

Challiman

I take 200 or so Euros with me, just in case. Others will say they've never had a problem, but all it took was one day with no ATM and needing cash to let me know I wanted a little backup, plus I don't have to scramble at the airport ATM.
Otherwise, ATM's and CC's are used for everything else.
I got Euros today when the dollar rose a little, but it is a gamble trying to guess which way it will go. Our trip is in 2 weeks.
Good luck and happy travels.

yk

<i>What about cab fares?</i>

Not sure what you really meant. The most obviousl answer is to pay your cab fare with euros. Very few taxis take credit card, if that's what you're wondering.

We usually have some leftover Euros from our previous trip, so it's nice NOT have to hunt down an ATM on our arrival day (tired from flight; hands full with luggage). If it makes you feel better, then go ahead and exchange $100 before your trip into Euros, for a peace of mind.

On our most recent trip, we only used our CC twice - to pay our hotel bills. For the rest of our trip, we used cash only, which we got out from the ATM.

travelgourmet

I never bring cash. I just get cash at an ATM, but mostly I use cards. And, yes, I routinely use them for cabs.

sandra3120

Grandma - I concur with other posters that ATM is the best, though some have said debit cards. I don't know why, but there is some difficulty in some places with debit over ATM cards. It's incomprehensible to me because are tied to one's bank account, but it seems that a debit card, which is also used like a credit card, is often refused in Europe, whereas straight ATM cards, as long as the bank has corresponding symbols on the back of it, don't have that problem.

All that said, and after having 3 out 5 friends in the UK and in Italy unable to get money with their debit cards, I've never converted funds on this side of the pond before traveling. If I need immediate funds, I use my ATM card in the airport on arrival for a mimimal amount, and then go to a major bank once I've gotten where I'm finally going and there are cashpoints everywhere in major tourist areas. I'm assuming the other poster that was unable to find an ATM was in a more remote area. Where in Europe are you going?

Sandra