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to take cash from USA or from ATMs in France?

to take cash from USA or from ATMs in France?

Old Jul 7th, 2014, 05:26 PM
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to take cash from USA or from ATMs in France?

I have BOA. I can with draw Euro from ATMs that are associated with BOA in Paris once I get there or I can order some befor eI leave through BOA.

Which one is a better choice?

Thank you
Samira
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Old Jul 7th, 2014, 05:30 PM
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It is much less expensive to pull cash from your checking account at an ATM after you get to france - lose perhaps 1/2% versus 8 to 10% of value for changing cash in the US.
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Old Jul 7th, 2014, 06:15 PM
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nytraveler is absolutely right.

You'll find ATM's in the airport when you arrive. ATM's and credit cards are the way to go. The exchange will be much more favorable.
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Old Jul 7th, 2014, 09:03 PM
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Better in what sense? Exchange rate? Having cash already when land?

If exchange rate, you can do the computation what-ifs on your own easily. This depends on how much Euro you are using. For this example, get 100EU. For right now,

Order some at B of A:
https://www.bankofamerica.com/foreig...erter.go#70EUR
Feed 100EU and you get $143.34. On top of this, you get hit with minimum of $7.50 for standard shipping. So you have $143.34+$7.50=$150.84.

The www.xe.com says 100EU interbank equivalent is $136.047.

So how much % you got hit by ordering before? (150.84-136.047)/100 = 14.8%

Use ATM belonging to a BA member bank, BNP Paribas:
http://www.bankofamerica.com/deposit...aq-atm-fees.go
scroll down to "What are some tips for using an ATM in foreign countries?"
The verbage says 3.0%

Use ATM NOT belonging to a BA member bank:
The verbage says non-BA or member bank usage fee is $5. The transaction fee is still 3%, so total you get hit with 8.0%

Now, was it that difficult to compare the cost of converting?
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Old Jul 8th, 2014, 03:31 AM
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If you get 100 Euros at home, it will cost you an extra 5-10% vs the same transaction on arrival. On the other hand, you will be able to get to your hotel and have a snack without having to add another task to your jet lagged arrival. Is not having to find an ATM on arrival while handling baggage in an unfamiliar place worth $5 or $7.50 or $10? That's is up to you.

As a bonus, you can become a bit more familiar with what the foreign currency looks like.

If you do decide to get cash before you fly, insist on small bills only. 50 Euro bills are a pain to use many times.
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Old Jul 8th, 2014, 03:37 AM
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Agree with AJ. There were a few times when the first ATM I stopped at in the airport was out of order and there were lines at others. Having 100 euros on you just ensures you won't have any immediate hassles to deal with upon arrival, which can be a bit hectic anyway.
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Old Jul 8th, 2014, 10:33 AM
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Yes - but if all you want is a small amount of cash in hand suggest you just get it at the bureau de change in the the departure airport. Won't cost any more than B of A and will take a lot less time (as in about 2 minutes - and you can be sure of what notes you get).
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Old Jul 8th, 2014, 11:20 AM
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I would do both. I never want to have only one method to count on for getting cash/local currency.
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Old Jul 8th, 2014, 12:27 PM
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Plan to get most of your money from ATMs after you arrive. If you are someone who feels that must have the local currency ahead of time, the bureau de change at your departing airport is ok - the exchange rate will be poor, but I assume you'll only get a little.

If you plan to do more international travel, you would benefit from a bank account that won't charge per use fees and will only charge maybe 1% on foreign exchange, and may even reimburse you for fees (if any) charged by foreign ATMs. Also, take a look at your credit cards. You will likely want to charge as much as possible (hotels, meals). Most cards charge you 3% on foreign exchange, but you can easily find cards that don't charge you for foreign exchange.
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Old Jul 8th, 2014, 12:30 PM
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Ordering foreign currency in advance (delivered to my nearest BoA branch) is a better deal than using the airport exchange bureaus. And if you're going to bother doing it, might as well get a few hundred (not just 50 or 100 euro as some suggested).

Yes you lose a little money, but for many people (myself included) the convenience and confidence of having money ready to go already in your wallet are well worth it.
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Old Jul 8th, 2014, 06:22 PM
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My nordstrom visa and also the BOA travel rewards card do not have exchange fees. The Nordstrom card does not have a chip though unlike the BOA one. Does it matter? I like my Nordy card...
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Old Jul 8th, 2014, 06:35 PM
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Nordstrom Visa is a credit card, isn't it?
BOA travel rewards card is a Visa credit card.

Now, was the previous inquiry referring to a BOA debit card? People are answering assuming you are using a debit card.

If you are asking about using credit card cash advance, it is a whole different price point -- more painful. First read: https://www.bankofamerica.com/credit...dvance-fees.go You get hit with a fee plus exchange rate plus interest rates. You have to look up your rate sheet.
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Old Jul 8th, 2014, 08:44 PM
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if you use a credit card to take cash from the ATM it is considered a loan and you pay outrageous fees for that
use your credit card for things that you charge as you do at home. Cards with a pin and chip system are useful particularly if you are buying things like a train ticket from a machine. your nordy card may not work in those machines.

to use the ATM only use a debit card, or if you have one a plain ATM card that allows you to withdraw money from your account. Make sure that your pin is only four numbers not letters, If not change it for this trip. Depending on your account you may or may not pay a fee to withdraw cash but will undoubtedly pay a "conversion" fee...
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Old Jul 9th, 2014, 04:30 AM
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We have BOA and 2 years ago made the mistake of getting about 100 euros before leaving. Very disappointed in the charges compared with what we got when we arrived in France. The partner bank for BOA is BNP Paribas. We used our debit card at the ATM. You will not be able to get a PIN and Sign debit card form BOA until the end of the year at the earliest so you will still need to use a credit card (Visa or Mastercard) with a chip and signature/pin for unattended terminals such as gas.
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Old Jul 9th, 2014, 04:39 AM
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As a bonus, you can become a bit more familiar with what the foreign currency looks like.


This is possibly the oddest reason to get Euros in the U.S. that I have ever seen.

Get 100 Euro before you leave (probably five 20s or two 50s) and carefully study the money as you sit on the plane, taking note of the shade of blue and its feel. Or maybe you get a 50, two 20s, and a 10 and you realize that the denominations are not only different colors, but different sizes! With the extra time to get acquainted with your money, you can surmise that the 100 is bigger than the 50 and that the 5 must be the smallest, unless there is a 1 Euro note, which there isn't.

Having memorized the color and size of each denomination, you are ready to head into the Euro zone and identify a ten or twenty just by the color in the event you are accosted by gypsies and lose the ability to read numbers.
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Old Jul 9th, 2014, 05:11 AM
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I suppose you get to see what a sensible currency looks like the sooner
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Old Jul 9th, 2014, 05:55 AM
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A more practical exercise would be to get a handful of Euro coins and practice counting out change quickly. But U.S. banks don't usually have 1, 2, and 5 cent coins available.
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Old Jul 9th, 2014, 06:18 AM
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In any case make sure you have an ATM card in great shape - I've found on occasion that my ATM card that worked here did not in all French ATMs because my strip on the back was rather worn and French ATMs were more sensitive to it and on occasion rejected it. Never hurts to have a card in pristine shape.
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Old Jul 9th, 2014, 07:54 AM
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thank you all


as for cash withdrawal,I was talking about my BOA debit card to use in Paris PNB Pariba. still not sure of it is worth getting at least 100 euro from BOA beforehand. they would wave the shipping.
as for daily purchases, I was told a credit card with a chip is preferred over one without. that is why the BOA one may be better than nordy as it has a chip and it is brand new. right?

thank you
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Old Jul 9th, 2014, 08:11 AM
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Doesn't your BoA charge card have a 3% international fee on it? Most of them do.
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