Buying currency online in US? Help please!
Mar 14th, 2012, 05:30 PM
#161
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 49,521
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
It doesn't sound like the OP is interested in using credit cards or ATM machines. I have traveled to Europe like most people have without more than one or two Euros in my pocket for a 3 week period and never needed cash at all!
The OP simply wants to know where to get Euros prior to arriving in Europe and doesn't mind traveling around with lots of cash. It is foolish and expensive, but sound like she doesn't particularly care.
The advice everyone is giving from personal experiences is great to read but remember she is not really interested.
The OP simply wants to know where to get Euros prior to arriving in Europe and doesn't mind traveling around with lots of cash. It is foolish and expensive, but sound like she doesn't particularly care.
The advice everyone is giving from personal experiences is great to read but remember she is not really interested.
Mar 14th, 2012, 06:32 PM
#162
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,179
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
flpab, I remember reading about your difficulties with your USAA ATM card. I have yet to encounter any problems using mine anywhere I often travel, in the USA, Canada, Japan, the UK, Netherlands or in France. You might have had card magnetization problems or maybe your card was somehow not activated for certain foreign withdrawals. You would really need to ask USAA for an explanation.
I have been eying the Andrews CU credit card (does not answer the cash procurement problem however). My USAA Visa card is not EMC and does pass along the 1% Cirrus currency conversion fee (no transaction fee) but does reimburse 1% on all purchases meaning I have a net zero cost for foreign transactions albeit with using a magnetic strip credit card.
I also have a no foreign fee PenFed card but unfortunately PenFed recently reduced their cash back offer from 1% to .25%. For me, the 1% Cirrus fee of the Andrews card represents giving up a significant sum annually adjusted so I have hesitated for now. Hopefully USAA will finally issue an EMC card and the problems we all experience will be but a distant memory.
I have been eying the Andrews CU credit card (does not answer the cash procurement problem however). My USAA Visa card is not EMC and does pass along the 1% Cirrus currency conversion fee (no transaction fee) but does reimburse 1% on all purchases meaning I have a net zero cost for foreign transactions albeit with using a magnetic strip credit card.
I also have a no foreign fee PenFed card but unfortunately PenFed recently reduced their cash back offer from 1% to .25%. For me, the 1% Cirrus fee of the Andrews card represents giving up a significant sum annually adjusted so I have hesitated for now. Hopefully USAA will finally issue an EMC card and the problems we all experience will be but a distant memory.
Mar 14th, 2012, 07:30 PM
#163
Join Date: May 2003
Posts: 27,868
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I think the Andrews credit card and a second, totally fee free credit card together make the most sense. Use the totally free one where ever you can and save the Andrews card for where you need a true Pin and Chip card [can't swipe or unmanned kiosks]. That is what I plan to do in October. Cap One cards [both ATM/debit cards and credit cards] have absolutely no fees to use and no annual fee. Those are my other travel cards.
Mar 15th, 2012, 01:06 AM
#164
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,271
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Talking of reward credit cards..
The best I had was a visa card offered by Charles Schwab brokerage. It featured no annual fee, no foreign currency or transaction fee, and a 2% cash rebate on all purchases. Originally the rebate was automatically deposited into your Charles Schwab account every month. Later on, you could set it up to have the rebate deposited into any account you wanted. I used it for all my foreign trips and told myself I was getting 5% namely the 2% rebate and the asinine near criminal 3% foreign transaction fee. I combined that with a Pen Fed visa card offering 5% on all gasoline purchases and I was in pig's heaven or something like that.
The card was serviced by FIA, the remnants of MBNA which was bought out by Bank of America several years ago. In October, the demise of the card was announced and done. We were offered as a replacement the Bank of America cash rewards card keeping the no annual fee with a sliding 3-2-1 per cdent rebate (gasoline though not needed because of the Pen Fed card, groceries for 2% but limited to $1500 a quarter and 1% for everything else). Believe it or not, the one thing they did do is reain the no foreign transaction fee, a rarity for a Bank ASmeridcard (alathough this is only for those who got the cash rewards cards from the Schwab card). Also if you deposit the rewards into a Bank of America account, you getr an additional 10% reward. So that when the reward reaches $25, which has to be redeemed in $25 increments, if it is deposited into a Bank of America account, you get $27.50.
Not as good as the Schwab card of course. So I began looking around (such important earth shaking decisions). I came up with an American Express card, serviced by FIA, which indeed has the 2% cash rebate on everything although it cannot be redeemed till rewards reach $50. It's not a bad deal as it has no annual fee but it does charge a 1% foreign transaction fee (bummer) and since it's an Amex card, at times there are places that don't take it, no so bad in the USA but somewhat of a problem in Europe.
Of course, as noted above, I went for the Andrews card to have something to use in a sitution where only chip and pin will do although that means a 1% foreign transactin fee.
Also I watch the Chase Freedom card. Although it has the #=asinine quasi criminal 3% foreign transaction fee, in the second quarter of this year, they are scheduled to have a 5% rebate on restaurant and lodging charges, I think. So...if they give me 5% and I pay a 3% foreign transaction fee, that's like having a 2% rebate, isn't it? ?And of course Discover has a similar program but as we all know, Discover is not accepted outside the USA (athough in theory, you can use Discover anywhere Diners Club is aken which it is in China but of course Diners Club is almost nonexistnt today in Europe).
Boy do I have to make some tough decisions.
The best I had was a visa card offered by Charles Schwab brokerage. It featured no annual fee, no foreign currency or transaction fee, and a 2% cash rebate on all purchases. Originally the rebate was automatically deposited into your Charles Schwab account every month. Later on, you could set it up to have the rebate deposited into any account you wanted. I used it for all my foreign trips and told myself I was getting 5% namely the 2% rebate and the asinine near criminal 3% foreign transaction fee. I combined that with a Pen Fed visa card offering 5% on all gasoline purchases and I was in pig's heaven or something like that.
The card was serviced by FIA, the remnants of MBNA which was bought out by Bank of America several years ago. In October, the demise of the card was announced and done. We were offered as a replacement the Bank of America cash rewards card keeping the no annual fee with a sliding 3-2-1 per cdent rebate (gasoline though not needed because of the Pen Fed card, groceries for 2% but limited to $1500 a quarter and 1% for everything else). Believe it or not, the one thing they did do is reain the no foreign transaction fee, a rarity for a Bank ASmeridcard (alathough this is only for those who got the cash rewards cards from the Schwab card). Also if you deposit the rewards into a Bank of America account, you getr an additional 10% reward. So that when the reward reaches $25, which has to be redeemed in $25 increments, if it is deposited into a Bank of America account, you get $27.50.
Not as good as the Schwab card of course. So I began looking around (such important earth shaking decisions). I came up with an American Express card, serviced by FIA, which indeed has the 2% cash rebate on everything although it cannot be redeemed till rewards reach $50. It's not a bad deal as it has no annual fee but it does charge a 1% foreign transaction fee (bummer) and since it's an Amex card, at times there are places that don't take it, no so bad in the USA but somewhat of a problem in Europe.
Of course, as noted above, I went for the Andrews card to have something to use in a sitution where only chip and pin will do although that means a 1% foreign transactin fee.
Also I watch the Chase Freedom card. Although it has the #=asinine quasi criminal 3% foreign transaction fee, in the second quarter of this year, they are scheduled to have a 5% rebate on restaurant and lodging charges, I think. So...if they give me 5% and I pay a 3% foreign transaction fee, that's like having a 2% rebate, isn't it? ?And of course Discover has a similar program but as we all know, Discover is not accepted outside the USA (athough in theory, you can use Discover anywhere Diners Club is aken which it is in China but of course Diners Club is almost nonexistnt today in Europe).
Boy do I have to make some tough decisions.
Mar 15th, 2012, 07:19 AM
#165
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 203
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I also opted for the Andrews card as a result of this long and informative thread. Years ago I used to "buy" a few Euros at my B of A location, but now I usually have Euros leftover to use on the next trip and then rely on ATM's while in country. A Cap One card eliminates 3% charge fee. So the combination works for my travels
Mar 15th, 2012, 02:53 PM
#166
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 203
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Clarification: the 3% charge fee is for purchases. Cap One and several other cards don't charge this.
Mar 16th, 2012, 01:35 AM
#167
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,094
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Huh......? I really don't understand the original question. The OP and most people here travel often to Europe. That being the case why not take a hundred euros or so from an atm just before returning home and eliminate the problem that you seem to perceive in buying euros back home? You end the hassle and save money as well.
Mar 20th, 2012, 02:06 AM
#168
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 241
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Ok lets do the reality game. Walked from one end of frankfurter airport. To the other without noticing an ATM. Are you really gonna.use a credit card for a pack of mints? I did see an exchange.
Here in Cannes you could have to walk as much as several miles out of your way to get to an ATM. Are you really going to pay for a coffee or pastry or newspaper with a credit card?
It was totally worth it to arrive with Euros! And I'm definitely glad I have MAD in my pocket before arrive jng in Morocco!
Here in Cannes you could have to walk as much as several miles out of your way to get to an ATM. Are you really going to pay for a coffee or pastry or newspaper with a credit card?
It was totally worth it to arrive with Euros! And I'm definitely glad I have MAD in my pocket before arrive jng in Morocco!
Mar 20th, 2012, 02:13 AM
#169
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 241
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Oops. Sorry. Kindle buttons small lol.
This forum is not just for those who are always traveling but for newbies too. And I heartily recommend the comfort of a hundred bucks or so in euros in your pocket when you arrive. Especially where my danged bank is dinging me five bucks plus 2-2% in fees for ATM withdrawal! Not everyone can change banks for a trip.
And I can guarantee that the luggage boys in the Medina do not take credit cards l!
This forum is not just for those who are always traveling but for newbies too. And I heartily recommend the comfort of a hundred bucks or so in euros in your pocket when you arrive. Especially where my danged bank is dinging me five bucks plus 2-2% in fees for ATM withdrawal! Not everyone can change banks for a trip.
And I can guarantee that the luggage boys in the Medina do not take credit cards l!
Mar 20th, 2012, 11:48 AM
#170
If you had consulted the Frankfurt airport web site before leaving you would have found this:
http://www.frankfurt-airport.com/con....0.before.html
The place appears to be littered with ATMs.
There are at least ten in Cannes:
http://visa.via.infonow.net/locator/...72829-ac130104
I had no trouble obtaining MAD in Casablanca airport.
http://www.frankfurt-airport.com/con....0.before.html
The place appears to be littered with ATMs.
There are at least ten in Cannes:
http://visa.via.infonow.net/locator/...72829-ac130104
I had no trouble obtaining MAD in Casablanca airport.
