billywinter

Does anyone know how practical it is to change USD to Euro's at the CDG airport. Normally I would never think of doing this but my apartment rental requires cash upfront in Euros upon arrival which exceeds my maximum atm limit. I called the bank and asked for a temporary increase but was denied. Is there a fee to change money and are the rates posted on the CDG website somewhere? Will this take a while to do? Is there a better way (i.e. american express)? Thanks!

TimS

Shame on your bank! See if you think this would work. If you will be using a money belt, carry a few hundred dollars US in it. When you arrive at CDG, go to an ATM and withdraw the maximum your card--and the machine--allows. Then go to a currency exchange bureau and get as many additional euros as you'll need to pay for your apartment. The exchange rate will be lousy, but hopefully you won't have to part with too many of your dollars. Keep the dollars you have left for an emergency such as an ATM not working just when you're short of euros.

Christina

yes, of course there is a fee, they don't do this for charity, only businesses. I think the rate at the exchange bureau is around 10 to 12 pct which isn't too bad for airports

Christina

oh, CDG isnt going to post rates on their website because this is not an airport function, but private business

W9London

Depends on the amount, but have you thought of doing international bank transfer and avoiding the risk of carrying wads of cash? You'll need the account details of the recipient including receiving bank's BIC or SWIFT codes and account number. Your bank can charge $30 or so. It can take up to 5-10biz days, but we did it a couple of times and it worked fine. Just a thought...

clevelandbrown

When I've rented apartments, they often want the deposit wire transferred to them, and that is a fairly pricey activity.

I would suggest you look at
http://www.xe.com

I've not used their services yet, but from what I have read, this is a relatively economical way of transferring funds. Of course, I don't know if you would want to send the rental in advance.

I don't know if you have a companion, but the ATM limit set by the bank is per card (there is also a limit set by the individual ATM, but you can usually circumvent this by doing multiple transactions, or using another ATM). So my wife and I each have an ATM card, which effectively doubles our daily limit. If I anticipated needing more than that, I would simply open a free checking account at another bank or a credit union, and get two ATM cards for that account.

Travelnut

You could also change from $ to € at your departing airport, rather than waiting until you arrive at CDG. Just use a moneybelt to keep the cash secure (under your clothes).
Or - would the agent accept travelers checks in euro? (rather than cash)

ira

Hi B,

>I called the bank and asked for a temporary increase but was denied.<

In which case, you should call them back and tell them that if they don't raise your daily limit, that you will move to a bank that will.

In addition: If you are traveling with your spouse, you should each have an ATM card. That doubles your limit.

Also, open another account and have 2 cards on it. That quadruples your limit.

Gretchen

I guess alternatively you could buy traveller's checks in euros.

TimS

I'm glad clevelandbrown mentioned xe.com. For security reasons it takes some time and effort to set up an account, but then everything goes quickly and smoothly. I use my account to send money to relatives in the UK and I've used it to book a room in a B&B in Europe that didn't accept credit cards. The rate is only slightly higher than the official exchange rate on the day the transaction is processed. The cheapest way is to have a bank draft issued in the foreign currency of your choice and mailed directly overseas. Wire transfers are also possible, but they cost more. Go to www.xe.com/fx.

alanRow

<< When you arrive at CDG, go to an ATM and withdraw the maximum your card--and the machine--allows. >>

Why not wait until you are near your apartment, then there's less chance of the money getting "lost".

<< You could also change from $ to € at your departing airport, rather than waiting until you arrive at CDG >>

Aside from the reason given above, I always understood that US money changers gave lousy rates

Xander

If you want to change cash, and can work out the time, go into Paris. There are many shops along the rue de Rivioli near the Louvre that change money. Unfortunately, I can't remember which one offers the best deal, but if you do some comparison shopping you'll find a very good a rate almost as good as an ATM.

I always do this because I know which shop it is when I see it. Sorry I can't be more help.

travelgirl2

I don't know how the rate would compare to airport exchange booths, but you can get Euros from the automobile club (AAA).

I ordered Japanese Yen and Chinese Yuan at AAA, waited 2 days for a call that the currency was at my local office, and went to pick it up. It was very easy. I think they may have Euros in stock.

AAFrequentFlyer

and now to answer <b>billywinter's</b> question.....

There will be multiple currency exchange kiosks at CDG. There may be one inside customs area, and if not there will be few just outside of customs exit door. Nothing to worry about. The exchange rate will not be as good as your ATM card, but it's not the end of the world.
The exchange rate for local currency is always better at the destination airport. Exchange rate at the departure airport is usually 2-3% less, so don't do it here, do it there.

Have a great trip!

Dave_in_Paris

And if you're uncomfortable carrying cash en route, you can take American Express travelers checks in dollars and convert them to euros at one of Amex's kiosks at Charles de Gaulle. (I agree with Ira, whip that bank into shape or move on.)

billywinter

Thanks for all your replies. As my wife also has an ATM card I was hoping that would help but I found out that my limit is based on the account not the number of cards. We need around E1200, my $500 limit is only around E393 so it looks like I have no choice but to change the rest at the airport! Anyway, the apartment in the 5thE was a great deal compared to a hotel room and I'm leaving tommorow so be it.

Gretchen

Take note of the Amex euro travellers checks. change at Amex.

Christina

I was just at CDG a couple days ago, and in Terminal C there were 2-3 exchanges -- both American Express. It was as I thought, the rate for USD was 1.37 which is about exactly 10 pct markup (as the official rate is now about 1.25 USD to euro). One odd thing was that Amex had a better rate for USD TCs than for USD in cash, which is not the usual thing in Europe. In fact, I was just in Poland a week or more and there, exchange bureaus wouldn't even take TCs, only cash. The one in Krakow that took TCs had a worse rate on them.

Anyway, at Amex at CDG, I think the TC rate was 1.35 rather than 1.37. I am not sure if that is only for American Express TCs, which is what I expect. I get mine from AAA for free, but my office only uses Visa TCs nowadays, not Amex.

That is actually not too bad for an airport. I know better places to exchange within Paris, but they might not be convenient and it's probably not worth it, just chalk it up as an expense. But, for what it's worth, my favorite exchange place is in MOntparnasse around the corner of rue Stanislaus (north side), inside a travel agency there. I know they give very good rates as I've used them for years. For example, on 7/17 I was there to exchange some Polish zloty to euro, and I checked their USD TC rate, and it was only 1.29 for a euro. That day the official rate was 1.265, so that is only a two percent markup. There are no other fees on top of that. I've used them for 15 years because they always give rates almost as good as an ATM. They are only open around 9 to 6 on weekdays, though.