We have a layover at Heathrow on our way to Italy.

Will we be able to purchase Euros at a Heathrow ATM at the same exchange rate as in Italy?

AFAIK, ATMs will spit out British Pounds. I never paid attention but I don't think the machines give you an option to chose Euro.

You can purchase Euro at the LHR currency exchange kiosks but it's never a good deal.

Just wait until you arrive in Italy and use the ATMs there to get Euro..

>>Will we be able to purchase Euros at a Heathrow ATM at the same exchange rate as in Italy?<<

No, because you will not be able to purchase Euros at an ATM in the UK.
Wait till you get to Italy, IMO.
Best, Dave

Actually you'll get the same rate of exchange getting euros from an ATM in the UK as you get getting British pounds from an ATM at your own bank in the US.


(Read that carefully, if you're confused).

Usually to get Euros in non euro counties with U.S. dollars means converting the dollars into local currency then that currency into Euros

and of course everytime you exchange between currencies you lose some - banks make money on currency exchanges of course

so most likely better waiting until Italy to only have the dollar to euro exchange - in Britonland it would be dollars to pounds then pounds to euro

at least that's my impression

why there cannot be terminals of Euro country banks in places like Heathrow beats me - some banks are missing out on a market in such a big transit airport it seems (and maybe there are such ATMs but doubtful

<i>so most likely better waiting until Italy to only have the dollar to euro exchange - in Britonland it would be dollars to pounds then pounds to euro</i>

At currency exchange kiosks you can exchange any listed currency without having to exchange it twice, so no need to do $ to BP to EU. Just a straight $ to EU.

Still not a good deal but I just want to make the point clear.

No- you will only get the currency of the country you're in. They can't load ATM macines with a whole plethora of different currencies n the chance someone may want some.

There are a few Euro ATMs in Britain, but as far as I'm aware, none at Heathrow (or at any other airport or international railway station). They're mostly in Tesco branches, but it's bloody hard to find out which

I SUSPECT they're tricky to organise at airports. They'd have to offer non-UK cards really rotten rates (because there'd still be a double exchange going on), and so lead to endless complaints from a relatively small proportion of customers. Not least customers from the Eurozone, who'd get REALLY aggrieved. And I doubt any ATM operator wouold have the clout to take on the world's banks over this.

Doesn't matter in a big supermarket, where all your customers are Britons, just picking up a few hundred &euro;'s for their weekend in Barcelona.

There may be another explanation. But given Heathrow concessionaires' ability to make money out of anything (they have to, given what BAA charge them), commercial doziness wouoldn't be that explanation

At currency exchange kiosks you can exchange any listed currency without having to exchange it twice, so no need to do $ to BP to EU. Just a straight $ to EU.

You may be right but are you sure that they do not go thru the pound first and just don't note it and thus give a lower rate?

anyway same result. I may be wrong - basing it on experiences at banks where most used to seem to do that in Britain (have used ATMs so long now so that was quite a while ago)

You guys are too much.

I didn't want my suspicions confirmed, but thanks for doing so.

&quot;<i>At currency exchange kiosks you can exchange any listed currency without having to exchange it twice, so no need to do $ to BP to EU. Just a straight $ to EU. </i>&quot;

True - but there would still be a double exchange going on. It might not be obvious to the customer - but the buy/sell rates would include a double mark up.

Also, I've never used one, but haven't I seen currency exchange machines now at airports, where you can actually choose between currencies? I'm assuming the cost of doing so is astronomical, but I'm pretty sure I've seen such machines.

never really thought about getting euros at an ATM.

but come to think of it in Argentina and Uruguay all the ATM's gave a choice of dollars or pesos so not too far a stretch to have machines with a few currencies.

&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;
They can't load ATM macines with a whole plethora of different currencies n the chance someone may want some.
&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;

the euro is not just 'any' currency. it is the dominant currency for the eu of which the uk is a member. a huge percentage of heathrow passengers are flying to eurozone countries. i also do not fully understand why something so obvious and basic (and nyt, it is obvious and basic) does not exist. i suspect that flanner's about right with his assessment of why. but when you step back and look at the bigger picture, it shows just how backward our banking/economic system is in europe.

strangely many assume in other threads that the eu is a single economic unit with all countries working in perfect unison (almost the exact words from a post on another thread). this kind of banking nonsense shows that this is not the case. even in eurozone countries, payments are not fluid across national boarders which causes a big drain on our competitiveness. sepa will sort this out for euro payments but it won't be for a few more years.

Gee, with that kind of reasoning, then most world airports should also have US dollars in their ATMS. The various anti Americans may not want to admit it, but the dollar IS the standard for much of the world's economy -- and that makes just as much sense as having euros in the UK ones. After all the UK or Poland or Argentina or whatever are all part of &quot;the world&quot;, just as the UK is part of the EU even though they use a different currency.

&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;
Gee, with that kind of reasoning, then most world airports should also have US dollars in their ATMS.
&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;

no this is wrong. i only commented on a specific case (euros being made available at heathrow cash points).

it's really quite simple...there is a need that is not met. if i say that there is a need for x in one case, does this mean by my 'reasoning' is that there is a need for x in every situation. your arguments are illogical.

i also talked about the concept of greater efficiency in european trade/economy. this is a problem in europe which is trying to be a more unified economy that brings down barriers to trade.

that is my 'reasoning' and it's completely different from having USD in most ATMs around the world. maybe you can make a case for USD available in some airport atms around the world but this is a completely separate question that has nothing to do with my post.

walkinaround,

I agree, and please don't be put off by NeoPatrick. He trolls this forum looking for something to argue about and I have never known him to concede an argument. The best revenge is to take a nice long trip to a wonderful destination, which I am about to do.

Happy Trails to You

very funny, happytrails. And thanks for YOUR usual valuable contribution to the thread.

But here is one of MANY arguments I will concede. You are right, walkinaround. I was way off base to suggest that the dollars should be available in &quot;most airports of the world&quot;. But I should have said it is just as logical that US dollars be available in airport ATMs in places like Paris and London as it is for euros to be available in the ones in London. Is that better?

I agree with <b>NeoPatrick</b>.

If we follow some of the reasoning on this thread then every airport that has non-stop flights to US should have US$ in the ATM machines.

Isn't it just less expensive for everybody involved, banks, ATM operators and travelers to just dispense the local country's currency?

It's just as easy to walk up to ATM at your final destination, and I bet a great deal cheaper.

btw, I never understood the need to have local currency before getting to the country.

I have been to war torn countries, very poor countries, etc, and never had problems securing local currency upon landing. On occasion I had to use a currency exchange kiosk but if that was the case then I just changed the minimum that I needed before getting to the hotel in the cities. It was still cheaper than exchanging money in US or in any third country. And even if it wasn't, how much do you think I lost when I only exchanged $50-100? Couple of $....at worst.

Trust me folks, ATMs are everywhere these days.