Swiss Francs & Euros ordered before departure?
 

Last Sept we ordered some Euros from our local bank in the US so we would have them on us when we landed in Rome for a taxi to our hotel. This year we are starting in Zurich and then driving to France. Is it advisable to do the same? Order both some swiss fracns & Euros before we go...or does the Zurich airport have ATM machines available? Thank you so much.

Yes ATMs and regular money exchange - even to get Euros i'd change dollars to euros there - to get a few although third-country exchanges usually mean changing dollars first to francs then to euros and you lose a bit on every transaction

that said i've found Swiss money exchanges usually don't charge that much commission

you'll be dollars ahead by waiting till Switzerland to get both IMO

Thanks Bob, that makes things a bit easier. I'm getting thru the list of "things to do" before the trip. Appreciate the help.

Put any angst to rest - you will have absolutely no problem changing money at Zurich airport - there are ample ATMs and i always bring some U.S. cash for Switzerland as i find that, unlike many countries, they change currency at quite good rates - in case you can't find the ATMs you will always find the currency exchange in the airport.

Credit Cards may be an effective better bottom line now than ATMS - ATMs for cash but any purchase i now use credit card.

Most credit cards charge flat 3% of total as fee

Many ATMS - no fees from European ATMS i know of but fees are charged by your local bank - charge the same 3% of total money changed at ATM plus a $3-5 transaction fee.

check with both your card and ATM issuing banks and ask exactly about charges abroad as some are different

Indeed a few cards i guess have no fee and some ATMs, especially with credit unions, seem to have no ATM fees.

And tell each credit card and ATM bank - call them and tell them what countries you are going to so they don't block off the transaction as a security measure.

ATMs hooked to checking accounts or debit cards seem to always work - those just to savings accounts may not

You need a 4-digit PIN number to use ATMS

Make sure the magnetic strip on your card is in good condition - i've had cards with worn strips that worked well here but did not in some obviously more sensitive ATMs abroad.

But ATMs provide the very best exchange rate as do credit cards.

And the Swiss francs you have left over just change at any bank or train station into Euros before leaving Suisse.

I've found that Swiss train stations all seem to change money at about bank rates - i carry a few $20, etc. so that if i run out of Swiss francs (CHF) the last day there i can just change a few bucks to get by and not have to use the ATM again with the fees.

The train stations seem to pay great rates and no transaction fees so changing a little is OK, unlike many countries that have minimum transaction fees.

Have fun - and if you have euros left over after France you can just send them to me!

Fantastic information! Thank you for taking the time to respond. Now what do you think of Zurich in October for 2 days, then drive to Murten & Montreaux for a night each. Then drive the south side of Lake Geneva to Lyon France? Any suggestions? Must sees? It's our first time on Switzerland...of course chocolate & fondue!

i think that's a swell driving tour - Evian-les-Bains is on that route - swell spa town on the lake and famous for Evian mineral water.

then Thion-les-Bains is another spa town and here you'll pass the huge ZigZig cig rolling paper plant also on the lake

Not familiar with Murten

alternatively you could take roads from Zurich via Berne (one of Europe's most underrated towns IMO) and then via Spiez and Zweissimen to duplicate the scenic route of the Golden Pass train line that ends in Montreau - perhaps a much more scenic route.

others can comment better perhaps on driving as i've always hopped trains in Switzerland

Just an anecdote about getting currency at Zurich airport in June. BTW, Zurich airport is super.

We arrived in Zurich after three days in London and were transferring to Lucerne by an already paid for coach. I wanted a small amount of Swiss francs for incidentals so went to the ATM for 50 francs. It was, of course, spewed out as one banknote. Hardly an appropriate amount for a tip.

I took the note across the concourse to a bank (Credit Suisse?) to ask if they would exchange it for something smaller. The clerk, a delightful young lady, said with a smile, "This is Switzerland, we don't have banknotes any smaller. They just get larger". She exchanged the 50 francs for some coins and smaller notes after teasing me a while longer.

Even the Swiss have a sense of humor.

Thank you again. Ah, I will remember the 50 franc story just in case!