Hellllllppp with euros.......!!
 

Hey all, I am leaving on tuesday and I dont have an active bank account right now. I need to try to get some euros at the best rate possible. what are my options???

So that means no ATM card & no credit card.

Well you are going to have to travel with large quantities of hard cash and change them - for really terrible rates - at money changers in Euroland

realllllly bad plannng IMHO . . . . . .

no atm no credit card is right. i didnt get my ticket until like last week. i wasnt planning on going until july. now i dont have time to open a new account. is their any bank here or anything that can give me a kind of good rate? or maybe someone elses card i can use and then give them the money i dont know

Tuesday? That is 5 days from now? My credit union has ATM card making machine and issues an ATM card on the day I open an account -- activated within 24 hours.

You need to deposit cash or something that does not have long deposit hold time.

Forget about large banks. They take forever.

You can get 'credit cards' at travel agents & post offices in the UK where you deposit funds which are credited to the card & then available to use abroad - like a gift voucher card. I have not used one myself as there is a fee charged for using it & the scheme only started in the last year.

Hi

I would contact your bank and make a request for a card on an urgent basis. If nothing else a Visa card and put your cash on that. I get my euros from my bank but I save them up over time - the bank doesn't have thousands in one hit. So I don't like your chances. There is Thomas Cook but they'll skin you alive! If you do carry large sums wear a concealed moneybelt around your waist. There is also Western Union but I think they slug you 10%. Failing all that bring your currency (assuming it's USD or pounds)) and hope you can exchange it at their bank. X the fingers, good luck.

If you end up having to use banks or change bureaus to exchange money keep the following in mind:

you'll probably see signs saying "low" or "no commission" (the fee charged for changing)..that usually means a poorer exchange rate.

If you see any sort of advert for "best rate" that often means a higher commission.

Not the best set of options minus any sort of ATM or credit card but not the end of the world, either.

I know most people don't use these any more - but in your case - ever thought about traveler's Cheques?

total baloney IMHO.

Don't know about banks where you are, but here you can open an account on the spot and receive your ATM card right then. Just deposit a said amount of cash (or checks that should clear overnight... no more float guys) to open the account. Today is Thursday, you have even tomorrow... and be set to depart on Tuesday. Just be sure you have sufficient funds in the account.

Verify with the financial institution, ATM fees (can be a flat fee, a fee + a % of what is withdrawn... these will vary) when withdrawing from overseas ATMs, daily max you can withdraw (which may be less than the particular machine you are using).

Suggest you withdraw sufficient funds to hold you for a few days/a week, so you're not dipping into the account and incurring fees daily.

Be careful with opening an account on the spot with cash. Regardless of how much and in what form the funds are, today's anti-terror and anti-money laundering requirements require a 3-5 day hold on those funds before you can access them.

Nosy question - how did you pay for the plane ticket? (this might lead somewhere)

My "curt" answer was because The_Lover has been to Europe before - and for extended periods. He is not a newbie or novice at European travel, nor w/ foreign exchange. So he must know there is really no place he can get a good rate for € w/o a bank acct . . . . .

Anybody want to flash the Troll Alert sign on this one?

Oh for heaven's sake. If it's really true you don't have a bank account, you deserve whatever befalls you.

You can go to a bank and get a travel debit card on the spot for cash (the 2007 version of travelers checks without the hassle of exchange or trying to find shops that will take them). My friend got an American Express one and used it all over Italy with no issues as long as the place took Amex. You can also get Visa and masterCard branded ones.

Get to Europe and then rob a bank!

How can anyone without a credit card or a bank account be going to europe? (Even if your idenity is stolen you can get replacements in a day or 2 from any bank.)

Where are you keeping your money - under your mattress?

And if you have no money - how could you be going to europe? Or how did you buy a ticket.

If you're dealing with large amounts of cash only - and have no bank accouts at all - it;s not somethig I would advetise - since the IRS will be extremely interested. (And you do know there are limits to the amount of cash you can take in and out of many counries?) If it's too much they'll assume you're laundering illegal money - and I wouldn;t want to explain that to any authorities.

OK- I am going to go against the flow here and say it is not that big a deal not to have the bank account, tho I agree that I am not sure HOW anyone can travel without a credit card.

This is what I would do - take a large amount of cash & buy some traveller's checks as a back up.

Bring a large amount of cash on the plane, secured in a neck pouch or some such similar on your body. When you arrive at the airport in Europe, go to an exchange booth. If I were you, I would watch the rates even if you have to go though security more than once, and get the best rate you can. Lines should be nominal. Rates are usually better closer to the street (vs. the gates).

For changing money in Europe, ask around to find out if money changers or banks will be better, sometimes the hotel desk will give you a very competitive rate. If using TT's, since they have long been considered antiquated, you may find only banks will accept. I got stuck when the ATM's wouldn't accept my particular card, and had to go with my back-up T-checks- thank goodness I had them!
I don't know what it's like in Europe now, but I just returned from Mexico, and lines for the banks for those who do not have an account (tourists) were 45 min- 3 hours long. If you encounter that ask locals when the quietest day or time is. You'll be ok. Hope this helps.

well to answer some questions i gave my mom the cash and used her credit card online to buy my ticket. but i dont see how i can use a womens credit card abroad. i am only 22 with bad credit. and i just moved home from new jersey so i closed my bank account. everyone doesnt need to snap on me lol. this was last minute just seekin some advice. but i like tthe prepaid credit car idea or w.e i think walmart does that. maybe my best shot. any other advicce keep um comin. thanks for the people being nice. we all make mistakes, i dont need to be lectured :(

If you have US cash, just carry it, buy a money belt and use it, and exchange currency once you arrive.

Maybe, with bad credit at only 22 years of age, you ought to listen to the content of the lectures you attend. I'd be willing to bet you've tuned out of more than one lecture.

On what authority do I speak? 5+ years of budget counseling in my retirement years, people who thought a time payment plan only meant one had to sign the plan, not to pay on it. People with $15K income and two plasma TVs (can't go with entertainment, you know). People who make bad decisions and blame other people (or bad luck) for their circumstances.

Take cash and exchange it. It doesn't get much easier than that, nor do I see many options since you have no home bank to work with. Go to the exchange booth at your arrival airport. What do you have in mind instead?

i can open an account at bank of america and get a same day temporary ATM for 30 days

put they mentioned a 5$ fee and a 5$ over seas fee, so like 10$ per transaction, unless i got to a specific bank there and its free. hmmm. i still think with the feees and even if i do 3 transactions ill save 50 euros at least

Nope - just (just !) $5 per withdrawal - not $10. It is their normal outrageous out-of-system fee.

You could pick just about ANY bank and have lower fees. However - BofA has partner banks in some European countries - and you wouldn't pay any fees if you use those banks.

Get a VISA prepaid card and use it like an ATM. I used it 2 years ago since I didn't have an ATM, but I also used my credit card. The rates per transaction are NOT good, but considering the bind you are in this is your best bet. I just opened an acct. at my credit union specifically for travel and will use the ATM card when we go to Italy in June. Good luck!

My daughter worked in a cafe at Albert dock Liverpool & a few times meals were paid for in dollars - I was also in London & I have heard Americans asked if they were paying in dollars. Tourist sites give you receipts that show the US$ price of entry as well as Euro & £. You could get away with bringing $ - it's like buying a stamp with a $100 bill - you might not be popular but you can do it.

Maybe your Italian girlfriend can help you out. You can exchange your dollars for Euros with her at a good rate. That way, she's all set to visit you next time.

In multiple trips to London and other parts of the UK I have never, ever seen a tourist site receipt (or any other sort of receipt) with the cost listed in US dollars. That makes absolutely no sense - are they going to reprint them to adjust for the exchange rate every day?

<You could get away with bringing $ - it's like buying a stamp with a $100 bill - you might not be popular but you can do it.>

Of course you can do it. Just be prepared to bend over when you exchange them for euros.