nicolino

we are going to france late august and was wondering if we should just wait till we get to paris to exchange money or if it would be better to do it here in new york before we leave.does anyone have any input concerning this question?

Michel_Paris

Only to get enough (as a backup) to get you from airport to hotel. Otherwise when you are there, use your ATM card everywhere, or CC if you want to pay large bills like hotel. No need to exchange money over there.

You will pay hefty'ish charges to get foreign currency at home.

Michel_Paris

Opps, ignore the Paris note, I was daydreaming

This is a common question here. If you want to know about fees while there...you could read a book of threads here.

Christina

Of course you can buy euros in NYC. That doesn't mean you should, which is a different question.

suze

The most economical is to withdraw euro directly from your home bank account using an ATM machine.

ellenem

I live in NYC and do like to have about €100 when I arrive. Usually I have leftover from the last trip. You can get some at banks around town if you really feel like you need some. I know I usually get some at a Chase bank. It will be a poor exchange rate.

suze

Oops, sorry, to the original question. Yes, of course you can buy euro at a bank in NYC.

traveldawg

My bank, Wells Fargo, has a process where you can order any currency online.

You tell the bank what branch you want the money to go to. They call you when it arrives and you pick it up. They take the proceeds out of your checking account.

This process helped on last year's trip to Egypt so we would have money when we arrived. Your bank probably can do the same thing.

We usually just get money from ATM's in the foreign country when we need it.

Grandma

I walked thru Trump Tower recently.. and the exchange bureau there (on the ground floor between Trump and IBM) was selling Euro's at 1.66 !!! Don't know what banks are offering.

I have 70 E left from our last trip..... think I will hang on to them!

avalon

I always have leftover euros, but if I want more , so I don't have to look for an ATM on arrival I get mine at my local Bank of America. As I am an advantage member I don't pay much over what I pay at an ATM on arrival. Citibank also has exchange desks, you should have no problems getting euros in NYC>

teacherCanada

I was told you could buy anything in NYC.

nytraveler

Yes, you can go to one of the Bureau de Changes near Times Square and buy Euros - but you will be throwing away about 10% of your money.

You get a much better rate of exchange (usually only 2% or so worse than the Interbank rate versus 10% at the B de C - plus no fees) by paying for everything you can via credit card and pulling euros from ATMs in europe (linked to checking account only).

GSteed

Good question. Interesting answers. My suggestion: Buy a small notebook. Record all currency transactions. Calculate US Dollar costs. Let us know what you learn about costs! Next, detemine the time required to effect a transaction and any auxiliary costs: Telephone, taxi, mileage and etc.

ParisAmsterdam

As noted in previous posts
it isn't hard to get euros
in NYC... or at any bank for that matter.

Yes, it will cost you more
but I never arrive in Europe
without at least a couple
hundred Euros in cash.

After a long flight I don't want to lurk about an airport
looking for an ATM... which may be out of order or may have a lineup...

I'm pretty easygoing in most
respects but when I land somewhere I want to be out of an airport as fast as possible and having some cash
in pocket allows for a quick getaway!

Rob

RufusTFirefly

Even if an airport ATM isn't working or is out of money, etc., any major airport will have an exchange booth. Rates won't be as good as at an ATM, but we've never seen one that had worse rates than what you can find in the USA.

Mimar

We too have a little stash of euros left over from our last trip, saving them for next time. We also have leftover GBP's and Canadian money.

I'm beginning to wonder if these little stashes everybody has are affecting the world monetary system. Gotta print more money so we can all hide it away.

That said, I wait and get money from the ATMs. Big airports like Paris CDG have banks of them. They're easy to find and won't all be broken or out of cash.

MFNYC

Amex has some currency exchange places also throughout NYC.

I also just get the minimal (enough for cab to hotel, and maybe quick bite). After that it's local ATMs.

ira

HI N,

>we are going to france late august and was wondering if we should just wait till we get to paris to exchange money.

YES.

At most, change $100 into Euro at the departure airport.

cparris

You could also look at travelex. They will send the money to you. Sometimes it is nice for your peace of mind to have at least 100 euros when you get there.

Margaretlb

I also like to have a few Euro in my pocket and always purchase mine at the American Express Travel Related Services office at Broadway and Rector Street. There is also a Travelex office at Broadway and Morris Street (right across from "The Bull" at Bowling Green). I understand there is another AMEX mid-town that also sells Euro.