Just came from may bank to get euros for my trip. The exchange rate today at Compass Bank is 1.435...... I about fainted. Is there a better place to get my dollars exchanged before I leave the states? Heard I shouldn't do it at the airport..
Help.....

Don't do it at home. Do a search and you'll find that almost all the travelers hear use an ATM once they reach their destination.

Your best rate of exchange is at ATM machines once you are at your destination city. I can see getting a couple hundred euros in the US for incidentals on arrival, but you shouldn't need more than that.

Unless you are planning to spend a lot of euros on the plane (?), I can't imagine what you need those euros for. There were surely be ATMs at the airport (more than one unless you're flying into Kjociivcjk).
You best rate of exchange will be using an ATM on arrival.

If you NEED euros in advance for "peace of mind" then go ahead and get a few and pay the outrageous fees and don't worry about it. But I suspect they won't be that high even at an exchange booth at the airport.

We had no problems finding an ATM at the airport. In fact, when we had to connect thru Frankfurt to get to Naples, we saw a Deutsche Bank ATM and got some cash. (the best part is that because we used our BOFA ATM card, we didn't get charged that service fee). So definitely get it at the ATM machines. Unless you're going to a small airport. I don't remember seeing an ATM machine at the Naples Airport though (but then again I didn't look for one).

And there's ATM machines almost everywhere.

Yes, I've used an ATM at the Naples airport.

Hi bb,

>The exchange rate today at Compass Bank is 1.435...... I about fainted.<

I would guess so. ATMs will give you a rate of about 1.29.

Thanks all......... But I thought I read on one of these posts that you shouldn't use the airport ATMs because they were higher in exchange rates... Or were they just saying to not use other forms of exchange at the airport? Just want to make sure.......
The bank also charges 10 dollars just to get the euros for you.....

The ATM operator does not set the exchange rate...the shared teller network which clears the transaction (usually Cirrus which is really Mastercard or plus which is really visa) does so it doesn't make any difference where the ATM is that you use...cash exchange places at airports generally give poorer rates than in town exchange places but better rates than hotels but the best is without question using the ATM hoping yuo're smart enough to use the debit/ATM card of a bank which doesn't charge for withdrawing from foreign ATM's.

Use an ATM at your destination airport.

The airport rates being referred to were likely for an "exchange window" type service. Even that I doubt has worse rates than your bank (but that's only a guess on my part).

I heard the U.S. airlines charge 5 Dollars or Five Euros for drinks in economy. So pay in Dollars!!!!!

There is a growing trend in Europe for the commercial, rather than the bank type ATMs. These are like the ones you'll see in the states like at a 7-11 where there is an additional charge for using them. But use a bank ATM for the best rates and there will also be no fee at all from the European bank that owns it -- they aren't allowed to charge. A non-bank ATM, however, can charge whatever they want.
Most ATMs you see in airports will have a bank name on them, but there are now some that do not. These are the ones to generally avoid.

LOL, on my last trip on USAir, the drinks were $5 or 5 Euro's... gee...which one to use?

...I wonder if one's wine is still free on AirFrance?