I admit it; I'm "currency challenged."
 

How do I do the money thing before I leave the States, so I have a small amount for tips in the airport, taxi, etc at the Dublin airport. Where is the best place to go for money exchange, or do I just hit an ATM right off the bat? Are the airports on either side of the ocean a good place to do this? It seems like 20 years ago I may have gone to an American Express travel office in the States to get some British pounds; is this still a good place to go?

Thank you.

There may be better ways to do this, but what I typically do is change about $60 at the departure airport (Philly/Newark/Atlanta, whichever). Once at the destination, I pay as much as I can with credit cards and use my ATM debit card if cash flow is needed. I never walk around with more than the equivalent to a $100 in cash, and always leave a back-up credit card at the hotel safe. It never ceases to amaze me how ubiquitous, accessible, and convenient ATM machines are.

We usually get our foreign money from Oanda.
If there is a great exchange rate, we will get more money here, otherwise, ATMs and Credit Cards get us by in other countries..

I have gotten so comfortable with ATMs being at airports that I wait until I get to my destination. If by some remote chance the ATM is down I still have some US currencuy to exchange. European currency is less common in the US so you'll pay more for it here instead of in Europe (supply and demand)

Swan, As much as we use ATMs wherever we go, I have experienced times in the past (both in the U.S. and abroad) where the ATMs are down, experiencing technical difficulties or sometimes (as once in England), major crashes.

Thus, for my own comfort, I always carry at least $100 (usually more) in local currency, and I still find my local American Express gives me the best rate.

Hi Swan,

I do it Maira's way. Change enough money at the departure airport to cover cab fare (or whatever) upon arrival.

You will have enough to do w/o waiting on line at an ATM. Once you have found your hotel, you will be able to go to an ATM for more money.

While many people are worry warts, and that is certainly their perogative, I don't find any need to do anythig until I arrive at which time I either hit the ATM or if the ATM's are down or there are long queues, I exchange 50 USD at the exchange booth for local currency and take the big hit on currency exchange. You always do far far better using an ATM than exchanging cash. You do better on the European side than the North American side but as some say on small amounts such as $50 or $100 it doesn't make too much difference.

Just for the record, I have never had any problem with ATM's, I withdraw $20 at a time as I use my credit cards whenever and wherever they are accepted and certainly in the UK they are accepted almost everywhere (except at pubs...even London Underground takes cc's as does Paris Metro).