is it worth converting AUD to USD then to Euro will it make a difference, if so how should i go about it, planning on taking $30,000AUD.

Every time you change funds, you lose a bit in the transaction.

Best to go directly from AUD to Euro, if that's what you want.

It'll make a small difference to the profitability of your friendly neighbourhood currency exchange, which will take its 1, 2 or 3% margin twice. Actually three times, since in order to converst USD to EUR in Australia, the bank has to reconvert to AUD. You'll be getting Christmas cards from them for the rest of your life.

If your Australian bank is likely to charge you for taking euros through a European ATM straight from your home account, search the UK and Western Europe boards on the Thorntree site for suggestions made by posters for how Australians can minimise these charges.

Speaking as someone who's quite comfortable taking large sums of cash to countries with primitive banking systems, I'd say it's simply balmy taking cash to the Eurozone (where ATMs are ubiquitous), unless you're planning something illegal. And you have to declare cash exports of over AUD10,000 to the Reserve Bank anyway, so it's an unwise way of paying for cocaine.

Get the right bank account, and use your debit card.

why on earth would you want to change australian dollars to US dollars for a trip to Europe?

I mean, I don't remotely understand why you think it should be necessary.

The euro is as strong a currency as the USD - and if the oil rich nations would only adopt it as their currency of preference for futures and stuff - it has been mooted - then that would be brilliant.

And don't you have an ATM card? unless you think the aussie dollar is going to plummet some time soon - why carry all that cash? and TCs are now a pain. Just put your card into a hole in the all.

On reflection - I find this post seriously scary - do you really think Europe's currency is subservient to that of America?

You should leave your money in your bank account and take an ATM card.

There is no reason to go thru USD for conversion. That makes absolutely no sense. I can't imagine why you would think to do that.

Suggest you carry as much as you feel comfortable with in cash (close to body under clothing) and transfer to euros at a currency exchange (not a bank) with good rates and no commission. China towns usually have the best rates. In Paris the best I've found for the last three years running is Puccini, 20/22 av de Choisy in the 13th. On a 15k$ exchange I usually save enough over a bank transfer to pay my R/T air fare to San Francisco. Obviously, this is not for the weak of heart and you'll want to know what the currency laws are in AU before going through customs.

Is it worth the changes of currency you describe? No.

I would not walk out of any bank in the world with that much currency in my pockets.

Why in the world would you tote that much money in the first place?

If you exchange currency in any form for euro notes, you will pay a less favorable rate of exchange than you will get if you take the money from a bank machine using an ATM card.

I cannot imagine needing that kind of loot for a single transaction unless you are planning on buying a car. In that case, there are better ways to move the money.

If you need it for a one time splurge, I would discuss the matter with my bank before I would wander around with enough money to fund some pickpocket in style for 3 months.

Can you imagine the reaction of some pickpocket who heists a billfold and finds the equal of more than €17,000 in his hands?

I wonder how he would convert it without drawing attention to himself, assuming the victim reported the theft in full?

I don't think he would swap the whole wad in one transaction!!

you need to describe your situation better if you want a good answer on how to transfer money. the answers here are making a lot of assumptions that may or may not be correct.

I'd say obviously no, but it's just a simple math exercise to figure out, based on whatever source the OP planned to do this at.

There are some people who think that there are certain currencies that are more desirable in Europe and that they get a better rate for them than others. I don't know where this idea comes from, but I've seen it before. I'm sure this may be true for some really unstable worthless currency, but not for any currency that is from a stable, developed country that I know. I think they may be thinking something like converting from AUD to euro may cost them 10 pct, but from USD to euro may only cost them 3 pct and somehow they will get a better deal by doing AUD to USD first or something. I've exchanged various currencies in Paris, for example, and the standard exchange service I use and the rate was standard no matter what the country (eg, I've converted USD, as well as money from Poland or the Czech republic). It was always something like 2 pct over the interbank rate (where I exchange, I know a good service) regardless of the currency.