I will be leaving for Madrid on May 14th. I would like to have a few hundred dollars worth of euros when I arrive.Can anyone suggest some places to get a good exchange rate for euros in NYC?

Depends what you mean by a "few hundred" but you probably don't need that much.

But if that is what you want -- just buy them at your departure airport.

In Kansas City we have to order them thru our bank. I know there is a charge, but having some Euros on me when I arrive and just want to get to my hotel seems like a small price to pay, to not have to search for an ATM. I know there are plenty in European airports, but another reason to purchase Euros before you leave, is at least you will only pay what they cost before you leave, and not the inflated price if the USD drops any more. I love Madrid, Have fun.

Well actually the dollar has risen a bit recently so buying ahead would have been a double whammy.

I would personally just use an ATM at you arrival airport - but my recommendation above was not about ATMs/arrival airport. It was that IF you want to get € ahead of time, to buy them at your US departure airport.

Chase Bank will order them for account holders. They may also do this for non-account holders; you can call and ask. Or ask your own bank. The exchange rate is never going to be good in NY. There are many ATMs at Madrid airport; I would suggest getting the bulk of your cash there.

I get mine at the American Express Travel Related Services office on lower Broadway at Rector Street(next door to Trinity Church).

I also use an Amex. There's one nearby Park Av and 23rd St as well.

Just get the minimal in advance, perhaps for cab ride, and a quick bite. After that, use ATMs and credit cards.

There is nowhere in NYC - or the US for that matter - that will give you a decent rate. Wait until you get to the departure airport and buy the minimum amount at the bureau de change. Anything else is a waste of time.

I just ordered Euros from my local bank and they were at the bank branch the next day. They charged a 10 dollar fee and the mark up was a lot. I think I paid 1.64 today. Just awful how they overcharge you on the currencies. But, I wanted to be able to take some cash with me for the first couple of days.

I can walk into my bank in Kansas City (Commerce but at selected branches) and they sell packs of Euros, Pesos, Pounds, etc., and always have them on hand.

There used to an exhcnage in the PanAM building now MetLife).
I beleive they went the way of 1 1/4 euros for the dollar.

But there is an apocryphal story about its origins. It seems Harold had a newspaper stand in Times Square and the hookers brought him foreign currency and old Harold would give them dolalrs. Then he went legit.

Sorry his name Harold Reuter.

I use the Amex that's inside Macy's on 34th.

ATMs at the arrival airport.

I still don't get why people want to give away their hard earned money, but to each his own.