Go Back  Fodor's Travel Talk Forums > Destinations > Europe
Reload this Page >

Convert money here or in Greece

Search

Convert money here or in Greece

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old May 17th, 2006, 10:55 AM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
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?
Cdowden is offline  
Old May 17th, 2006, 10:58 AM
  #2  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 11,244
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Cheaper to convert it in Greece, but it would be best to get your money using the ATM's.
Budman is offline  
Old May 17th, 2006, 10:59 AM
  #3  
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 6,804
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
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.
brotherleelove2004 is offline  
Old May 17th, 2006, 11:11 AM
  #4  
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 5,641
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
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.
PalQ is offline  
Old May 17th, 2006, 11:37 AM
  #5  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
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.
Cdowden is offline  
Old May 17th, 2006, 01:02 PM
  #6  
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 3,500
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
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.
TexasAggie is offline  
Old Apr 5th, 2009, 05:54 AM
  #7  
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 69
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
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
CherylNBob is offline  
Old Apr 5th, 2009, 08:39 AM
  #8  
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 9,969
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Yes, still the best way to go!
Heimdall is offline  
Old Apr 5th, 2009, 09:30 AM
  #9  
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 2,541
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
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
ParisAmsterdam is offline  
Old Apr 29th, 2009, 04:15 PM
  #10  
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 69
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
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.
CherylNBob is offline  
Old Apr 29th, 2009, 07:29 PM
  #11  
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 4,205
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
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.
travelerjan is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Cameo62
Europe
6
Aug 30th, 2009 04:33 AM
Brockbank
Europe
9
Feb 25th, 2008 11:30 AM
Budro
Europe
23
Jan 20th, 2006 08:42 PM
Matrexx
Europe
25
Aug 14th, 2005 10:21 AM
quantum
Europe
11
Apr 30th, 2005 11:56 AM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are On



Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -