Currency
Apr 8th, 2013 | 07:29 AM
#22
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 7,561
Likes: 0
<< I will go to my bank and get Swiss franks and Czech crowns.>>
NO NO NO NO NO.
Tell your bank you will be traveling so it doesn't put a block on your account. Get what you need in local loot from the ATMs while in the foreign countries. On our last four trips out of the US we left with NO local currency and had no problems because the destination airports have ATMs and you can just withdraw there (and this included Japan, where ATMs are harder to find than in Europe). We carried some US money in case we needed to change at a bank and haven't tapped into a nickel of it. US bank exchange rates are terrible - US banks generally do not transact foreign currencies and to do so with any reasonable cost-coverage, they must charge you a ton.
Your cost for Francs at an American bank will be ridiculous. The CHF is about $1.06 and you'd do well at a US bank to get it for $1.18-1.20. At an ATM in Switzerland, you'll get the international rate plus a conversion fee of around 3% ($1.10 or so). Think that's minor - how often do you choose a gas station based on a 5-10 cent difference in price on your 15-20 gallon transaction, which is a difference of $1.50 per fill-up? Now think about how that 10-15 cent difference affects a $300 transaction in foreign withdrawal/exchange.
Obtaining Czech koruna in the US is a bad move. First, it will be hard to find because it is a minor currency - not Euro, Canadian, GBP, Swiss francs, or yen. Who uses koruna? Only the Czechs, so it is unlikely you can find it if you do not live in NYC or DC, if then. Second, the conversion rate will be terrible. The rate for CZK/US is about 19.75 koruna to the dollar. At a US bank you'll be lucky to get 17.5 - a hit of more than 12%. Now multiply that 12% by 200-300 dollars and you're paying an extra $25-35 for the privilege of not waiting until you get to Prague to obtain the local wampum. Prague is a heavily touristed city with ATMs everywhere. QED.
NO NO NO NO NO.
Tell your bank you will be traveling so it doesn't put a block on your account. Get what you need in local loot from the ATMs while in the foreign countries. On our last four trips out of the US we left with NO local currency and had no problems because the destination airports have ATMs and you can just withdraw there (and this included Japan, where ATMs are harder to find than in Europe). We carried some US money in case we needed to change at a bank and haven't tapped into a nickel of it. US bank exchange rates are terrible - US banks generally do not transact foreign currencies and to do so with any reasonable cost-coverage, they must charge you a ton.
Your cost for Francs at an American bank will be ridiculous. The CHF is about $1.06 and you'd do well at a US bank to get it for $1.18-1.20. At an ATM in Switzerland, you'll get the international rate plus a conversion fee of around 3% ($1.10 or so). Think that's minor - how often do you choose a gas station based on a 5-10 cent difference in price on your 15-20 gallon transaction, which is a difference of $1.50 per fill-up? Now think about how that 10-15 cent difference affects a $300 transaction in foreign withdrawal/exchange.
Obtaining Czech koruna in the US is a bad move. First, it will be hard to find because it is a minor currency - not Euro, Canadian, GBP, Swiss francs, or yen. Who uses koruna? Only the Czechs, so it is unlikely you can find it if you do not live in NYC or DC, if then. Second, the conversion rate will be terrible. The rate for CZK/US is about 19.75 koruna to the dollar. At a US bank you'll be lucky to get 17.5 - a hit of more than 12%. Now multiply that 12% by 200-300 dollars and you're paying an extra $25-35 for the privilege of not waiting until you get to Prague to obtain the local wampum. Prague is a heavily touristed city with ATMs everywhere. QED.
Apr 8th, 2013 | 07:41 AM
#23
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 44,550
Likes: 3
Unless you are arriving at some so-called "minor" airport you should be able to find an ATM that isn't broken (ask me about my arrival at Milan's Linate airport once upon a time...horror story for sure) to get some local currency.
You've received what I think is good advice from others
use ATMs to "change" money
make sure an establishment takes your credit card
do not buy things in a store with other than the local currency even if other than the local currency is accepted (and at a tremendous disadvantage to you)
You've received what I think is good advice from others
use ATMs to "change" money
make sure an establishment takes your credit card
do not buy things in a store with other than the local currency even if other than the local currency is accepted (and at a tremendous disadvantage to you)
Apr 11th, 2013 | 05:53 AM
#25
Original Poster
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
Wow, I was going to head to the bank this morning to order the currency and I decided to have a quick look at my thread. Whew! Glad I did. Thank you so much for your concern that I wouldn't get a reasonable exchange rate. Plus, I don't live in NYC, so I wouldn't have been able to get the Czech korunas.
