Convert money here or in Greece
 

Is it cheaper/easier to convert money here in the states before you leave or wait until you arrive at the aiport in Athens?

Cheaper to convert it in Greece, but it would be best to get your money using the ATM's. ((b))

It's cheaper to convert there, but there are ATM machines everywhere in Greece now. Take your debit card and you'll get the best rate. Some banks won't charge for the transaction, some do. Ask you bank.

Also inform your ATM bank what countries you are going to as they may block out transactions from abroad unless they have notice as a security measure - same for credit cards give the issuing bank a call and tell them you're going to Greece. Yes ATMs are the way to go.

Great thanks!

FYI,

I used a Visa card to pay Fantasy Travel in Athens for our trip and Capitol One card for the balance. Visa charged a 2% conversion fee, Capitol One charged none.

Just returned from 2 weeks in Greece. We found ATM machines everywhere we visited (Athens airport, Athens, Nauplion, Olympia, Arachova). The only exception - Delphi. If there was an ATM machine it must have been well hidden as we stayed 2 nights and never found one.

I'm bringing this thread to the top, as we are leaving for Greece in a few days.

Is the ATM method of exchanging dollars to euros still the best way to go?

Just in case I will alert our bank and credit card companies.

Thanks.

Bob

Yes, still the best way to go! :-)

You might also want to increase your daily ATM limit on your debit card. You never know when you might need some extra cash. If your card is set to $500 that's only about 300 Euros... not so much in this day and age.

My bank can do this for me right at a teller... they enter in the new limit (I usually bump it to $1,000) and for how many days and it's done. ATMs you'll encounter will likely have lower limits but you can do more than one transaction or use another machine down the street if need be.

Personally, I don't like to arrive in Europe without at least a couple hundred euros in my pocket. The last thing I want to do when I land is hunt up an ATM at the airport.

Getting euros in the US will cost more than using an ATM once in Greece but for me the small premium is more than worth it.

Rob

Follow-up on our recent Greece trip, regarding ATMs. As with the wifi and driving in Greece, NO PROBLEMS. Each of the airports we went through had ATMs. Whenever we needed cash it was quite easy to find one, whether it was Mykonos Town, Fira, Athens or Nafplio.

As others have said CherylnBob, those of us who advise really appreciate you coming back after your trip and reporting on your experience. Lets us know how things worked AND it also educates Newbies who won't believe us old hands!! Thanks.