I'm leaving for a trip to Ireland at the begining of Jan and was wondering where the best place to get euros would be. I can't get them from my bank b/c they donot offer that. So I need to get some euros, what would be better: ordering them somewhere while I'm still home, or putting the cash I want to use in my checking account and using my debit card to make purchases and withdraws at ATMs. Any info anyone has would be appreciated. Thanks so much!

Getting cash from ATMs is easy, but if you want some Euros in advance you can order them from a number of banks. I got mine from Bank of America, but I had to pay a "delivery fee" of $7.00 on top of the exchange rate.

Use your ATM card. The Shannon airport has ATMs, so you can get some euros as soon as you land.

As I've already posted, the best place to get a few €€ in cash in Munich on Jan 3rd would be in downtown Munich, since I need $$ for my trip to Florida on the following day. Tell me where to meet. 1k-2k$ at the official rate of this day. ;-)

Hi char,

The least expensive way to get euros, unless your bank charges a lot for out of network transactions and adds a "transaction fee", is an ATM in Europe.

If you are concerned about getting cash at the arrival airport, you can convert about $50 at your departure airport. It will cost you a few dollars more than in Europe.

hy would you want to use a debit card for purhases? If you use a credit card, you don't have to pay until you get back AND you have some protection against fraud.

The most economical way to get euros is to use an ATM upon your arrival.

If there are currency exchange shops near where you live you might find it comforting to pay extra to have some euros in your pocket when you land. Phone around and see where you can get the best rate.

Another insurance in case your card does not work (unlikely but could happen) is to simply have some of your home currency with you. Most places in Europe have currency exchange places. Again expect poor rates but in an emergency who cares?

Keep some euros from this trip for your next one!

ATM!
Its the best thing for travellers since the jet plane.
However, credit and debit card acceptance (VISA, M/C) is at an all-time high in Europe. Unless you're headed for rural areas, cash is only needed for small incidental expenses, taxis, public transport.

This question always opens a BIG discussion.......and it all boils down to if you want personal convenience when traveling.
A lot of people use ATMs entirely overseas and even take offense when others of us do it a different way.
We usually order euros(they tell me it is alway "euro" even when plural) from our bank or the 800 number....and they send to our bank. Many banks do this, and will even send to your home. We haven't noticed too much difference in the exchange rate, , but yes there is a little delivery fee.
We use ATMs occasionally overseas, and usually charge accommodations ...but do take a fairly large ammount of euro from home.....and "hang on to it tightly". &gt It's so simple.!

But..."to each his own" , Happy New Year.!

Without question, the best rates will be getting your Euro from ATM's using your ATM card/pin hooked into your checking account.

If it will make you feel warm & fuzzy, get $50 worth at the money exchange booth at the airport before your departure, but it certainly won't be necessary.

There is an ATM machine in the Shannon airport lobby once you leave customs and enter the rental car counters. I'm assuming you are renting a car, so if the ATM machine happens to be out of order, you can stop at an ATM in one of the towns on the way to your destination.

If you happen to want coffee/snack, the coffee bar will take $$$. You might not get a great exchange rate, but it won't be so bad if you are just getting a sandwich/coffee/soda/water.

Thank you all so much for the advice. I think what we decided on was taking the credit card to make purchases for dinner, gas, and some larger stuff souveniers. And then having the rest of the money in our checking account and withdrawing some( a few hundred maybe) for sightseeing and little things that would be pointless using a credit card. I hope this works out good.

Great decision. Most of the B&B's, if that's where you are staying, only took Euro, so we just did the ATM thingy to pay them off.

Have a great trip -- I've never been in January, but you'll have fun. Ireland is one of my favorite places. Post a short report & let us know how things went.

May I offer a bit of advice for using your credit card? When using your credit card, make absolutely certain you are charged in euros. Do NOT allow them to convert the charge to dollars, as they will do it at a very nice premium for themselves. There have been numerous discussions on the board about this practice. It's a scam called Dynamic Currency Conversion, and from what I've heard it's a growing problem. This happened to me several years ago when I was in Ireland, but at the time I was not the savvy Fodorite I am today, so I got ripped off. If you want to learn more, do a search on this board about Dynamic Currency Conversion.

Good point, P_M.

The Dynamic Currency Conversion will cost you an additional 3% to what your bank rate gets.

I am looking at a receipt from Kerry Woollen Mills in Dingle -- they got me.

If you see a $$$ amount on your charge receipt, tell them NO. You want to be charged in Euro. If they refuse to charge you in Euro, write across the receipt "Local currency not offered" when you sign, and dispute the purchase with your credit card company.

Do a search on this website for further information.

Thanks, really good to know about not letting them charge in american dollars.

If you have a Credit Union ATM Card you get the best exchange rate: No Foreign Currency Transaction fee like most Bank ATM cards charge on top of a 1% Visa or MasterCard.
Whether you arrive Shannon or Dublin, look left as you exit Customs. At Shannon, there's a Bank of Ireland ATM and at Dublin airport there are several ATM's.

Whether they charge you in dollars or Euros, using a credit card for purchases is NOT a good idea. Visa or MasterCard will charge you a Foreign Currency Transaction fee about 3.5%

I haven't departed from JFK for several years; but at Newark's Liberty Intnl. I saw a Money Exchange where you could buy some Euros before departing (just in case).

<Whether they charge you in dollars or Euros, using a credit card for purchases is NOT a good idea. Visa or MasterCard will charge you a Foreign Currency Transaction fee about 3.5%>

That's not exactly the case. USAA does not charge me any fees for foreign currency transaction. The only fee I have to pay using my USAA credit card is the 1% imposed by Mastercard/VISA. The fee varies from each credit card company/credit union/bank.

I'm probably going to get flamed for my stupidity on this. But I have to ask. I realize that it's obviously better to use a credit card that doesn't charge 3%. And I will check with mine before we go. (Does anyone know Chase's policy?) But, if you don't have one that doesn't charge, is 3% really that bad? It's $3 on every hundred, right? It seems to me that it would be worth paying that for the convenience of using a card rather than having to worry about that much cash. Especially considering that you'd be paying ATM fees every time you got cash. Am I missing something here?

Budman has it right about USAA........
and others may do the same. Just call the phone number on your bill(or back of card) and see what they charge. They ALL have the 1 % from Visa or MC...but some banks (like USAA) charge 0% for their part of it.

I don't agree with Budman on his first reply...but that is neither here nor there. We still think it's nice to have quite a few euro when arriving in at destination...and not have to fiddle with ATMs at that time. Perhaps later in the trip. You'd be suprised to learn how many banks charge a fee to use your ATM card!, AND convert.

"They ALL have the 1 % from Visa or MC..."

This is incorrect. Some card issuers absorb the network fee, making the net markup on purchases 0%.

I called my bank and asked them if they charged a fee for foriegn transactions, and they said they charge NO fee and no charge for using an nonbank ATM-the only fee for atms is the ATM your using(and thats what? a few dollars?)and you get the same exchange rate that VISA gets b/c they go thru VISA.
Also, My VISA credit cards only charge a 1%fee for purchases. So if I use my debit card for purchases there is no fee and I get a good exchange rate.