Do we buy all our euros in the US from our bank (better rate than the exchanges) or buy enough to get us to the first hotel (Florence, Italy) hotel and buy the bulk of them in Italy or France?

I hs assumed we should purchase euros in the US but have seen several bits of advice about getting a better rate of exchange in Europe??

Also had thought we would buy Travelers Checks in euros and am hearing that "no one takes euro travelers checks." If so, do we go with no travelers checks or with USD checks?

There's always plastic but I understand many small restaurants, bistros, cafes and shops don't do plastic. C'est vrai?

Yes, No, Maybe?

What's the collective wisdom have to say?

Many thanks, as always, for the amazing education being offered by posters!

QuinnAdams

Quinn, there has been quite a lot of discussion on this board on 'what should I take' etc., but unfortunately can't guide you as how to find past posts on the subject! - Somebody will I'm sure.
As for me - I take two credit cards with which I pay my hotel bills and use them for dinners in the evening.
I also take plenty Euros in notes purchased from my bank or Rennies Foreign Exchange, which I either leave in the hotel safe together with my passport, but of late my room always seems to have its own safe which is much more convenient. I always bring some coins back from a trip to avoid having to run off and purchase something to get a bit of change in coins which one sometimes needs on arrival.
The cash I carry on a daily basis, about 200euros, is for purchasing gifts and other stuff. Not all markets and street traders will have card facilities.

Get a debit card and use it at the nearest ATM, quite often the best exchange rate as well. Plus the advatage is you are using your own money...not the greedy banks.These days you can find an ATM almost anywhere! Travellers cheques are harder to get rid of than the flu !

I agree use ATM's with your debetcard. The best, easiest and cheapest way.
For hotelspayment etc., use your creditcard.
Traveller's cheques are hardly used nowadays.

Another vote for using your ATM card. Just make sure that your PIN number is 4 numbers - or if it is four letters, figure out what the corresponding numbers are before you leave home. letters. You can get them euros at any airport ATM when you arrive. Don't carry too much cash, there are banks with ATM everywhere in larger cities.

Just my 2¢ - buy and wear a money belt. Not a belt per se, but a neck pouch, or an Eagle Creek money pouch that has a loop that slips through your belt and then tucks into your pants. Carry $$, tickets, passports, credit card(s), ATM card(s), etc.. in this and they will be safe.

Only carry enough cash on you for minor expenses. You can always stand off somewhere and retrieve more money or your credit card/ATM as needed from your hidden 'safe'.

Never never carry your wallet in your back pocket, you might as well just hand it to a pickpocket.

Don't worry about finding money in Italy or France ... the ATM's are convenient. Don't worry about the exchange rate, it is impossible to figure out the daily rates between here and there - and it will probably only amount to a few dollars either way. The fees that you will pay here if you purchase them in advance, if the rate is better, will eat up any savings.

Also if you have two accounts or two ATM cards for the same account, take them both with you
incase one gets eaten by an ATM - that doesn't happen often, but better safe than sorry - and without cash.

Enjoy your trip.

Don't bother with T/C. US$ pesonal checks are of no use whatsoever in Europe.

If you have a debit/ATM card, I see absolutely no reason why you have to carry more than €100 in cash with you.

Better than 2 cards for 1 account is 2 cards for 2 accounts - preferably with different banks / Credit Unions. Then if something does go wrong with one of them you have the 2nd.

Also tell your bank before you go that you'll be in Italy - for some reason US banks assume foreign use of a debit card is "unusual activity" unless they've been told before hand.

Also use 4 digit PINS which MUST be a number as Non-US ATMs don't have letters on them.

The only euros I ever bring with me are the ones left over from my last trip. Assuming you have a debit or ATM card, all you have to do is draw € from an ATM machine at the airport, just as you draw $ from an ATM at home.

Check with your bank to find out what the transaction charges will be. Sometimes it is better to make fewer transactions of larger amounts when there is a high charge per transaction.

There's no reason why you shouldn't buy a small amount of euros in the US if it makes you more comfortable. True, the exchange rate will be higher, but some people like to have some local currency in their pockets when they arrive in a foreign country. If you are one, it will only cost a few extra $ for that peace of mind.

Hi Q,

Some folks like to exchange about $100 for euros at the departure airport. This will cost about $4 more than getting euros from an ATM at the arrival airport, but you don't have to look for an ATM.

Once in the Eurozone, charge everything chargeable and use ATMs for walking around money.

We have two ATM cards on each of 2 accounts in 2 different banks.

We also bring a visa, a MC and an AMEX card.

TC's are useful only as emergency backup. Get them in dollars and deposit them back to your account when you get home.

Enjoy your visit.

I buy a few hundred at my home bank for the "comfort" factor, knowing this is not the best rate plus there is a fee.

Then I use my ATM to get the rest along the way as I need it, again a few hundred at a time.

I use my credit card to pay the hotel bill.

I have a few hundred USD, that I save aside for airports or an emergency knowing I could go change it somewhere.

I don't take travelers checks. If you do ... get them in USD, so when you don't use them you can put them back into your bank, or save them for future trips.

One other point - check the withdrawal fees your bank will charge and see if there is a minimum charge, otherwise you'll get home and find all those €10 withdrawals have cost you almost as much in fees

I boarded the last plane to Europe with only $3 in my wallet. Good thing I was flying British Airways as the drinks and wine were included. When I got to the airport in Berlin, I withdrew Euros.

Afterall, what if the plane crashes and you are carrying all of that money! Right?

I'm surprised no one else has mentioned to check the fees your credit card companies charge for conversion. My Capital One card is the one of my collection that charges NO fee.

Hello all, thanks and I hear you loud and clear:
1. Use ATMs in Europe; your pin needs to be 4 numbers or you need to know the numeric equivalent of letters
2. Two ATM a/c are better than one.
3. Not bad to have an extra ATM card in case of hungry machines.
4. Forget about TC altogether in any country's money.
5. Get euros in Europe not in US unless you're the nervous type like me.
6. Check your bank to see what the withdrawal fee per transation is.

You all are the best!

Quinn

Quinn: Quick learner! You worked it out perfectly. We should copy/paste your post into every thread that asks this question Very clear/concise.

BTW - take what your bank's customer service folks say about ATM fees w/ a grain of salt. Most of the time they'll say the European banks will tack on fees -- but they don't.

Thanks for the compliment, janisj!
Q

>>>>>
for some reason US banks assume foreign use of a debit card is "unusual activity" unless they've been told before hand.
>>>>>

british banks do this also. hsbc (the 'world bank') is a particularly bad offender. try to use a british issued hsbc card in asia and you'll see what i mean.

Take our ATM Card and PIN and some small cash (Euro) for the first Taxi trip from the Airport. Traveller cheques in US$ or Euro are only useful outside Euroland. And even there you can use your ATM Card.

You find that all have their preferred way.

For me, depending on how long a trip, of course, I take 1500 or more euros with me, several credit cards. I have ATM card with me, but never use them. When in France in Sept. I passed an ATM machine in Sarlat and decided to try it..it worked, but an expensive way to do it if you "buy" small quantities. The fees and charges add up.
I may pay a bit more doing it my way, but the convenience is worth it to me. The extra cost is minimal.

Which ever way you do it, please make sure that you call your credit card companies and bank to advise them of your travel dates and countries. If you don't do this, you may find everything blocked.

Have a good trip.........

For currency exchanges:


https://www.xe.com/fx/


For working out conversions:


http://www.xe.com/ucc/