Money Exchange
 

Staying at Bunratty Shannon Shamrock, Monday 5/18. Anyplace nearby to exchange money?

Are you sure you want to "exchange" money? If you need to get €, just use an ATM card.

There's an ATM machine at the Shannon airport, and one at the Bunratty Mills, across the street from the Castle. ((b))

Don't have ATM card, just MC & American Expressand Travel Checks. Any banks nearby? Coming from USA. Thanks

Ask your bank to issue you an ATM card linked to your checking account. That is the consensus best way to get € or any other currency while travelling to a foreign land.

Don't know if a bank can issue a card before you leave though. There will be a currency exchange in the Shannon airport.

If you go into the bank you have your checking account at there's no reasons they can;t give you a debit card on the spot.

this will be much easier and less expensive than travelers checks. (Often only banks will exchange them - for a fee and/or very bad rate - and there have now been some reports that they will do this only for their own customers - and not strangers.)

OK - Do you already have travelers checks, or are you planning to buy travelers checks? If you haven't bought them yet - DON'T. Go to your bank instead and get an ATM card. It will make your trip much easier, and cheaper too.

You really can't use TCs anywhere - you have to go into a bank or post office to exchange them for cash. And you will have to pay high fees to exchange them.

If you've already bought them - are they in US$ (or whatever your home currency is) or in € ? If they are in $ - then take them to your bank, deposit them in your checking account and get an ATM card.

If they are in € - you are sort of stuck since you will lose on the exchange whatever you do . . . . .

Sidepockets, please take everyone's advice and get an ATM card. Exchanging cash or TC's is a thing of the past, and you will pay ridiculous fees if you insist on doing that.

Thanks everyone, I will check with bank on Monday.

Here is another alternative if you don't want to hit the country broke. Go to www.travelex.com/usa/. These are the same people that run the Bureau Dchange in the airports and other places. Use a ATM car or debit card and order $500.00 or more and they will Fedex the Euro to your home. As I write this $1000.00 US will get you 706 Euro delivered to your front door free. If you use a credit card you will be charged a cash advance fee by you CC company so use an ATM or debit card. I have used this service in the past and they are completely reliable. Have fun

The above exchange rate should read 726.40 euro for $1000.00

And if you do that, you will have paid $1.416430595 for €1 on a day when the interbank rate was $1.2823151365 which means you should have received €779,84 so you just threw away €78...a real dumb thing to do....

Sorry my math was off...you only lose €73,84 in the first case...I had not seen the second post but that means you have only thrown away €53,44! Not exactly the brightest way to do things!

Back in the days when traveler's checks were more popular, I remember paying a fee PER CHECK to have them redeemed in the local currency. This, combined with the poor exchange rate, meant that at least 15% of the traveler's check value evaporated before my eyes!
First thing Monday, go to your bank and get an ATM card or debit/check card. Its the best invention for travellers since the jet plane.

Dear XYZ123 As I stated It is only an alternative. I used this service back in late late 90's when ATM machines were very scarce and most would not take a U.S. Bank card. I like most travelers now use my atm. Having said that perhaps you can tell me where I can get the exact interbank rate without paying a comission.

Thanks again. I called 5th/3rd Bank at CVG airport and they give 70.5 euro for 100us, so I will get exchange there to have some euro in hand when I arrive on Tuesday. Appreciate all the help. Also checking company ATM card to see if I can use.