Exchanging Money in Advance for Trip to Ireland on 5/15/2008?
Apr 21st, 2008, 07:21 AM
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Exchanging Money in Advance for Trip to Ireland on 5/15/2008?
We are leaving for Ireland on 5/15/2008 and while I have, in the past, just withdrawn money from European ATM's, I'm wondering this time, with the terrible US to EURO exchange rate, if exchanging at my bank before I go would help me at all. Any experts/ideas/suggestions?
Thanks
Thanks
Apr 21st, 2008, 07:29 AM
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I would say probably not in any big way. I always take a few hundred euros with me, just in case the ATM at the airport is broken, but I don't see that it will make a huge difference between now and May.
Apr 21st, 2008, 07:33 AM
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Considering that you will be paying a fee to the bank for getting those euros (often 5% and up), I can't see any reason to do so. It is a gamble, if the US$ does go down more than 5% you are ahead, if not...
I do myself get a few euros at home for when I land, but no longer large amounts.
I do myself get a few euros at home for when I land, but no longer large amounts.
Apr 21st, 2008, 07:33 AM
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Off to UK and hopefully Ireland in just 8 days!
We have taken British pounds & Euros on cash along with our credit cards.
The Euros are for Paris - last leg of our holiday.
PS. Our Euro exchange rate is about 12 to 1 euro. So you can feel better now!
We have taken British pounds & Euros on cash along with our credit cards.
The Euros are for Paris - last leg of our holiday.
PS. Our Euro exchange rate is about 12 to 1 euro. So you can feel better now!
Apr 21st, 2008, 07:43 AM
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artbutusbeach - Can't you just go to your bank like I did (here in South Africa) and request X amount of euros? I was under the impression you guys don't even need to take along:
a) Your Passport
b) Your Air ticket
c) Proof of your residential address by way of a Utility bill(what the hell they want that for?)
Believe me, it takes at least 3 days to get the cash!
a) Your Passport
b) Your Air ticket
c) Proof of your residential address by way of a Utility bill(what the hell they want that for?)
Believe me, it takes at least 3 days to get the cash!
Apr 21st, 2008, 07:53 AM
#7
The exchange rate is bad - so you want to pay an even worse rate to buy them at home? That really doesn't make sense. Get a FEW € if you wish. But you will get a much better rate using ATMs after you are there.
May 6th, 2008, 06:16 AM
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I am a little confused. One poster said that you will probably get a better exchange rate using your ATM card after you arrive in Europe. Won't the rate be whatever it is for that day? Who is to say the rate will be not be worse then it is now?
We are fortunate that our bank does not charge a fee for exchanging US $ for EUROS because of the type of account we have.
Thanks for all the great info over the years.
We are fortunate that our bank does not charge a fee for exchanging US $ for EUROS because of the type of account we have.
Thanks for all the great info over the years.
May 6th, 2008, 06:57 AM
#16
anniemoll: We meant that whatever rate you get in the States will be worse than the rate you would get from an ATM in Europe on the same day - and quite a bit worse. The exchange rates would have to fluctuate substantially to make buying € ahead even close.
Your bank does not charge you a "fee" but they do use a much worse exchange rate than you would get from an ATM in Europe.
Besides - one never knows what will happen. In the last week or so the $ has risen about 3¢ or 4¢ against the €. So anyone who bought their € ten days ago has lost about 10%, considering the inflated rates used by Stateside banks.
Your bank does not charge you a "fee" but they do use a much worse exchange rate than you would get from an ATM in Europe.
Besides - one never knows what will happen. In the last week or so the $ has risen about 3¢ or 4¢ against the €. So anyone who bought their € ten days ago has lost about 10%, considering the inflated rates used by Stateside banks.
