Tod, this is what we had in the communist russia. I feel your pain!

tod--bummer.

Mrs. Fly is Korean, and I can remember how difficult it was for her family to travel, exchange money, etc. back in the 70s and 80s when things were really tight in the ROK.

Thanks - Every now & then a rumour goes around that the Minister of Finance is going to scrap exchange control but it never gets beyond just "talk".
A person can take out quite a substantial sum but it's the rigmaroll of all the paperwork every time you travel, partially due to having to obtain visas as well.
Naturally I always keep what I don't spend so have plenty of Euros/dollars/pounds/ to start off my next trip but that doesn't count when I set off again. Only currency that is purchased and written into my passport together with an endorsed airticket counts. And it HAS to be not LESS than the amount required by the country you are visiting, eg: France stipulates we arrive with no less that R700 (about $85) per day.
We all wish we could just do as we pleased with our own money!

We need Euros to pay our limo driver from the airport so we got some Euros at our local bank. The exchange rate was worse than Italy maybe $5 more per $100 than at an ATM. Once in Italy we used the ATM's exclusively.
Ciao

I had no idea, tod, and thanks for the insight (maybe the rest of us should stop whining)

For my first trip abroad--England is, technically, I purchased $100 worth of pound sterling from the BofA in Berkeley (that's where their international currency office is).

It was lucky that I did because when we got to our hotel, we couldn't check in so, we decided to pick up of London Travelcards at the Tube station--luckily a few blocks away. When we got there, we couldn't see any machine that will take the voucher we had. (Yes, we were very naive then, and thought that the Tube worked along similar lines as our local train system, BART.) When we told the station attendant that we had bought the Travelcards through BritRail, she told us we needed to go to Victoria to get them validated, and that the only way we could get there was to pay cash for the fare.

I likewise found it handy to have a small amount of cash handy for sandwiches when my Mom and I got stuck at Gatwick, waiting for our flight to Bologna. Theoretically, we didn't really need any pound sterling--we were merely passing through...

But once we got a chance to "hit the ATM," we would use the local currency. Also, we made it a point of not using the ATMs at the airports or other transit points--too much risk.

I think the euros will be greatly appreciated...

Lil

BTW...London Underground takes credit cards for fares so you don't need cash for the tube.,.likewise the Paris Metro

whats the risk of using an atm at an airport or transportation stations?

atm's require dual authentication....first, you must have the card, second...you must have the pin.

what's the paranoia here?

Risk at ATM machine. Bandits, pickpockets, beggars and muggers. Also PIN scanners. Airports harbor many 'opportunist' operators. Train stations also and usually without a police presence!

One would think an airport is one of the safest places to use an ATM, there are always lots of people around and most of them are out of the way and don't for the most part harbor as many of the homeless types that one fears when using an ATM in other places.

While there are isolated areas where I might fear using an ATM at night, you can't be paranoid about it and not take advantage of 21st century technology on the odd chance that something might happen.

I would also think it is safer to use an ATM in the arrivals hall of a major airport, than an ATM in or near a popular tourist site.
I do recommend using the ATM when possible outside a bank when it is open.
You can also pay for the train ticket from the airport to downtown with a credit card, not only in London and Paris as XYZ mentioned, but also in Munich, Vienna, Rome, and I'm sure, other cities.

This subject comes up a LOT and my answer always causes a "stir". We usually take lots of euros from United States, ordering them from our bank...and TRULY don't pay all that much over the normal rate. We've figured it out so believe me, and the convenience it great.
Having said this...we then use our ATM overseas "when the euros run out", and that works out fine.
Also, we charge all hotels...on the 0% exchange credit card....just paying the manditory 1% that mastercard charges.

Everyone does exchanging their own way, and that's the way it should be......To each his own.! (it's fun to see the reaction on this general subject)

It is a good idea to buy a modest amount of foreign currency before you go. Yes, it will pobably cost 5 or ten bucks extra for $100-$200 worth of foreign currency to have in your pocket when the plane lands, but consider this:

When the plane lands, you will be tired and jetlagged. You will have to find the ATM and it will not be exactly like the one at home. If there is a glitch in your card or PIN or anything else, you are broke at the airport.

You still have to get to your hotel. Do you want to spend time wheeling your bags through the airport to find an ATM. Is that time worth $10 saved at home?

In my opinion, spending a few bucks for currency peace of mind on arrival is a good deal. I have never had a problem getting the cash at my local bank if I give them advance notice.

Oh, one more thing: ALWAYS insist that the foreign currency come as SMALL BILLS ONLY. Otherwise, you may end up with just a 100 euro note that no one wants to break.

modglila, ATMs are everywhere as mentioned above. Type ATM locator in Google for a list of sites. You'll be able to find the ATM closest to your lodging.

I hear that argument all the time..you know you're wiped out after a long trans Atlantic flight and what if the ATM's don't work yada yada yada and that's fine.

But in most international airports, you're going to have to wait for your luggage anyway and in most cases the ATM's are in the customs hall so while waiting for luggage, off to the ATM. Also if by some chance the ATM is down, there's always the international exchange booths which give you better rates, although not nearly as good as ATM's, then you get in the US anyway.

And of course, in many cases, you don't need local cash anyway as public transportation and many taxis take credit cards in this day and age.

I find it more of a pain to have to make these arrangements in advance then to simply deal with it upon arrival. Besides which, I can go 3 or 4 days on a single €20/person withdrawal as...breakfast is usually included and I use credit cards for everything, no matter how small, wherever they are taken.

A few years ago, I was at the airport of "Bandar Seri Begawan" the capital of Brunei. I wanted to check in, and didn't have any Singapore$ left. Suddenly they wanted money from me, a "departure tax".

"You take credit cards? - "No"
"Foreign cash?" - "No"
"Checks?" - "No"
"But there is an ATM in the Building".
Went to the ATM to get cash... Sign said "Out of order"...
Ask the information, "Where can I change money". "Not here!". "Is there another ATM at the airport?. "We only have this one".
Back to check-in. I'm not giving up THAT easy. Standing in line, waiting. The guys at the counter seemed pretty helpless. Lucky for them and thanks to a fellow Swiss traveller who help me out, (Thanks!!!) I boarded the plane.

Could this happen in Europe? No way!
No need to worry!

I have to agree with AJPeabody. While I have not travelled as extensively as some posters may have here, I find that I am extremely jetlagged, and the arrivals are always either ungodly early or ungodly late, so that NO ONE is around to help you, or if there are, they don't speak a word of English.

A case in point was when my Mom and I finally got to Bologna. We've literally been "on the road" for 24 hours, and I had counted on being able to hop on the bus that will take us to the P. Maggiore. I had printed instructions, and some euros. When we got to the airport, the place was deserted, except for the customs people and a bunch of Italians coming back from a business trip in London. When we went outside, no taxis in the taxi stand. Then, the airline personnel came out, waited 10 min. and went back in to call a taxi. They then left. So, I went back inside to try to figure out how to call a taxi, but could not find a pay phone that took cash. Tried dialing "411"--no dice. Finally, went back outside, and luckily for us, the taxi came back, and some Bolognese were nice enough to let us grab the taxi. The driver, incidentally, did not speak any English, and my phrasebook Italian was not good enough to ask him if he took credit card, so I ended up paying him in cash. Luckily for us, this cabbie was honest and the price quoted was roughly what the guidebooks said it should be, maybe a few euros more. He also took us directly to the hotel. He was very pleasantly surprised when we tipped him. (I know, he probably added the tip into the fare he quoted us.)

I would still carry a bit of cash, just for emergencies and unexpected contingencies. As they say, money is always good.

Lil

Thanks P_M for the bank/ATM tip. I'm leavig soon for another trip, so will check it out.
While in Prague this January with my Bank of America ATM card, found several ATM's that would not take my card, so had to wander a bit, but eventually found one. I think I will take a card from another account on my next trip, good idea many have mentioned.