Currency Exchange Question
 

We are flying into Gatwick with 6 hour layover before departing for Dublin where we are staying a week in County Wicklow.

Arriving in Dublin late day with one-hour trip ahead of us by car, so would prefer to use ATM at Gatwick to get local currency instead of taking time to find one in Dublin and deal with rental car pickup etc.

But now I hear London doesn't deal in Euros, just pounds. So can I get Euros from an ATM at Gatwick or must we wait until Dublin? How long are ATM lines in Dublin Airport?

Guess I'd better take about $100 US cash so if need to change at Gatwick for a few pounds for snacks, etc., we can.

Plan to use AMEX card or Visa for major purchases, ATMs for everyday cash (will be out in the country a lot in villages). I know AMEX charges 2% conversion fee, but we have Platinum Delta AMEX and use it for everything so we can get miles and I like customer service w/AMEX. And we pay it off monthly.

My husband's MBNA MasterCard did tell him they charge no fees, but I wonder. He also has a Visa Check Card from his bank (SunTrust) and I have a regular ATM (SunTrust). They told me $2 per transaction fee for using my regular ATM card oversees, but told him there'd be no fees for using his Visa Check Card. Maybe I'm confused on how a Visa Check Card works. Can you use it as both Visa or an ATM card?

Also, is line at Dublin Airport to get VAT refund before leaving usually long?

Advice appreciated. We leave in 2 days.

You cannot draw euros from an ATM at Gatwick, but can draw pounds and convert to euros. There is no point: it costs much the same to buy euros in the States. I am afraid I do not know how long queues are at ATMs in Dublin airport.

I expect that a Via Check card is a Visa Credit card, and those can be used as a Visa card and an ATM cared. As a Visa card they do not give Britons the protection they get if the use a Visa Debit card: I am afraid I do not American law.

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Get Euros before you leave - then you wont have to worry about ATM lines in the airport.

You do not charged commission at post offices in the UK & there is a Post Office at Gatwick. Also if anyone is in London then change your cash at Marks & Spencer Stores,again with no commission.

Great tip, Godfrey26.

Hi apempel,

I suggest that you change about $100 into Euro and about $50 into pounds at the departure airport. It costs a few dollars more, but you don't have to look for ATMs on arrival when you are jet lagged and in unfamiliar surroundings.

Hi again,

Re fees.
Mastercard and Visa charge 1 point over the bank rate for converting your charge from foreign currency into dollars.

I also have a Suntrust Visa Check Card. It is both a debit card and an ATM card. That is, if you use it at a shop your bank account will be immediately debited.

Your bank might then add 1-3 points above that. MBNA does not add points.

oops, slightly garbled

Re fees.
Mastercard and Visa charge 1 point over the bank rate for converting your charge from foreign currency into dollars.

Your bank might then add 1-3 points above that. MBNA does not add points.

I also have a Suntrust Visa Check Card. It is both a debit card and an ATM card. That is, if you use it at a shop your bank account will be immediately debited.

Thanks all for the advice. So, if I want to change some US dollars for Euros and a few pounds before departing, should I do that at the airport here in Orlando or should I go to my SunTrust local bank office today.

In other words, where's the best exchange rate with the least fees for doing that before leaving US. I've always heard changing it in US before leaving is the worst way.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Let's be honest here. I don't get any cash in advance because I have a total trust of ATM's. But if I wanted 50 euro or so before going just to be "safe"-- the difference in cost of getting it at the airport or getting it through your bank can't be more than a dollar or two. So why worry? Just do whatever is more convenient.

From my experience with Bank of America, it takes about a week to order Euros since they do not actually keep them at the bank. Call your bank to check their policy. Since you leave so soon, I think your best bet would be getting the Euros at the airport. Have a great trip!

I don't know about Orlando, but in San Francisco we discovered that the best rate of exchange was in a money exchange office rather than at the bank, both in terms of rates and up-front fees.

You'll have to ask your bank what their fees are, banks differ. Also, call the exchange bureau at the airport and ask them as those rates vary all over the place, even within city.

I also think exchanging this in the US is the worst way, but that might depend on your bank's rates. My bank charges a fortune for foreign currency, more than an exchange bureau at an airport in UK. I've seen posts from a few on here who say their banks have very modest markups.

Personally, I would never spend my time running around doing errands to get 100 euro in the US at a worst exchange rate when you are having a 6 hr layover in Gatwick and will have plenty of time to do so. Even if your US bank is lower, it can't be low enough to pay for the time you'll spend doing that IMO, unless you'll be at the bank anyway. Travelex at Healthrow in UK charges about a 12 pct markup over interbank rate, if that's any help.

Lot's of ATM's in Dublin Airport and all round the country (except obviously smaller places - ie if your in the middle of the Wicklow Mountains!!!. Just be safe and check with your bank that your card is compatible. I've don e the reverse using my card in the US, for me I just needed to check I had the "cirrus" or "maestro" logo's on the reverse of my card.

Hope you enjoy your trip, driving around Wicklow is beautiful, hope you get the weather..

ATMs are the best way to exchange money, but they may not be the best way if you are in a hurry. The transatlantic phone lines can cause them to decline your card for an hour or so at a time.

The first 4 times I tried to use an ATM in London, that happened. About an hour latter, the same machines worked fine.

Also, my charge card was turned down the same way, but worked fine the next day.

Keith


Keith

Some of the best travel advice I ever got was NOT to obsess over the exchange rate within reason. As long as I don't think I am getting a MAJOR rip off then I just don't worry.

I do use my MBNA card instead of my Bank One. For all I know the actual exchange rate comes out the same, but seeing that extra charge makes me mad!