photo42novice

I will be going to Greece in 3 weeks and I planned on exchanging some currency before I leave. I was thinking I would convert about $200.00 to Euros. Where is the best place to do this? I called my bank and they directed me to the U.S. treasury site but it is sooo difficult to find anything there! Ughhh! Does anyone have any suggestions for safe online conversion sites? Thanks in advance for all your help!
Anita

Michel_Paris

Is there a booth at your airport?

Michel_Paris

In my city there is also a company that has booths at a few malls.

Dayenu

If you need Euro, why don't you just order in your bank - tell them you need 150 Euro, they will take off the appropriate amount from your account. If they don't have Euro on-hand, they will deliver to the bank branch of your choice - close to work or home.

Reading54

Some of Bank of America branches have foreign-currency exchange service. If you are a BOA customer, call and find out which branch nearest you that has a "foreign currency exchange" service, and buy your Euro there.

This service's exchange rate won't be as good as what you can get from an ATM after you arrive in Greece. But the difference may be insignificant if you value the assurance of having some Euros with you more.

Also, if you are anywhere near Las Vegas, large casinos such as Bellagio also exchange foreign currencies. The last time I heard from a friend, when you want to change Japanese Yen back into USD, Bellagio's exchange rate was better than BOA's.

Sue878

My bank downtown (NOT in the suburbs) has an International desk which exchanges dollars to Euros (or whatever money you want).

ParisAmsterdam

The first thing I would do is change banks! They sent you to the US Treasury site? Are they too dumb to get you some euros! Run, don't walk to a bank who has a clue.

My bank in small town Ontario tell me they always have 1,000 euros on hand for people about to travel.

I like to have cash in hand when I land so I always get 100 euros or so. The fees involved are not critical to me because the amount is small.

Once in Greece I found no shortage of ATMs for cash as I needed it. Be extra careful your bank is aware you'll be using your card in Greece. You don't want them forwarding your request for cash in Greece to the State Department while you stand euroless in front of an ATM in Athens! ;^)

Notify your credit cards too...

Rob

BigRuss

Don't do it. Wastes time and money. Just hit an ATM when you arrive in Athens -- they'll be right outside customs and always give better rates than exchange offices, local banks or especially US banks. Few places are worse to buy foreign currency than at a US bank.

Look here for more info: http://www.aia.gr/UserFiles/File/tra..._J6544_out.pdf

girlonthego

I ordered pounds/euros ahead of my trip from my local bank. It took 24 hours for them to get it. (suntrust). I know Wachovia and Bank of America can also do this or do it online and have it delivered to your home. Also, AAA has small packets of money to sell on site at their stores or online as well.
You will pay a premium on the money, but I also like to take some with me. When fly out of Richmond VA and they don't have a money desk, but some people changed money before they took off at our connection in Chicago. Most major airports will have a money booth in their international terminals and I am assuming if you are from a small town, you must have a connection through a hub city. The people who changed money in chicago paid more than I did ordering it from my local bank. Go figure.
On arrival in London, some changed money there as well. There is a premium no matter where you change the money. ATMs are great and don't have the big markup. Just make sure you call your banks and notify them you are traveling overseas. Take more than one card as well so that if it eats it, you aren't standing at a machine with nothing. Best to use the ATMs outside of a bank.
Bringing some euros with you will make the first day or two easier when you are usually very tired. Enough money for cab and some meals.
I took 500 pounds with me to England and changed more money while there, but there was 4 of us that needed some cash.

Michel_Paris

I would think that your international departure airport would definitely have a booth. But access may depend on your connection.

Christina

I think Travelex has that business in the US, they should have booths at any major airport with international flights. Their rates are lousy, of course.

Underhill

girlonthego,

If you have the link for the AAA packets, could you please post it? I can never find anything on that site!

suze

To get them at home I'd check with your home bank (but sounds like you already tried that), AAA, or just the booth at your departure airport. They are never the best deal but if you want something in hand upon arrival, that works. Then use ATMs (and I also carry a few hundred in USD cash I keep tucked away for 'just in case' or the trip home).

Delaine

I usually get about 100 Euros before I leave, just so I don't have to make a mad dash for the ATM as soon as I land. I ordered them ahead of time over the phone and went to a branch of my bank (Wells Fargo)to pick them up. They even got Czech Korunas and Hungarian Forints for me when I visited those countries.

girlonthego

http://midatlantic.aaa.com/Travel/ForeignCurrency

You can sign in and order any sum of money I think over 300 dollars. The trip packs are only available at the AAA offices. They are small money usually under 100 euros or 100 pounds worth.

photo42novice

Thanks everyone for the replies and all the good advice. I do have a connecting flight in Chicago with a 4 hour layover so there would be plenty of time to get some money exchanged there! I have now added notifying my bank and credit cards of my trip to my list of things to do before i leave! Thanks all.