Where do you exchange dollars for euros? I used to have currency Fed Ex'd from Thomas Cook but can no longer find a site for currency exchange. I would like to have some euros before arriving in Italy. Thank you for any help you can give me.

I don't. I use ATM machines when I arrive for local currency and charge as much as possible.

Type "currency AND exchange" in the text box at the top of this page to pull up literally hundreds of threads on this topic.

Any American Ecpress office will issue you some euros. there are ATMs in the airport(Malpensa) that I used. I would not exchange at any currency exchange places in the airport.

You could request some through your local bank or get some at the airport (NYC, Philadelphia, LA, etc.), but you'll pay for the convenience.

We have been arriving at our foreign destination without any local money and then just visit any ATM upon arrival. There is only a fee (sometimes) for using the ATM, but you don't pay for exchanging currency as you get it at the current rate.

It only works if you're not headed to someplace like Nepal, for instance.

We take out the cash and then use our credit card whenever possible. It works out great and no hassle, really. We've done this in several countries, including Italy.

Hi Oisa,

I buy about $100 in Euro at the airport before I leave (bad exchange rate but it's only a dollar or so)so that I don't have to worry about ATMs upon arrival.

I then use a debit card at the ATMs. (best exchange rate).

ATMs are in every airport but my husband gets nervous going without any local cash so he usually buys it at a local bank. Depending on where you live, you may have to request it ahead of time...

You don't say where you live, but there are currency web sites that will deliver, if you really want that. They are cheaper than some banks (mine, at least). Thomas COoks was bought out by Travelex, that's all. You can order delivery from their web site www.travelex.com

Chase also has currency deliver services, but I don't know if you need to have an acct with them. YOu can buy a small amount from AAA travel (maybe $100 worth) that they call a "tip packet", which could be all you want, but they charge even more than Travelex in commission the last time I checked.

Thanks everyone for the very helpful info. I'll follow your advice and get $100 worth of euros at my local bank and then use the ATM in Italy.

DOn't. Get a 100 euro from your bank before you get there if you like some comfort level. We had no problems using ATMs along the way and getting out a much as possible (480 euro in some instances) so we didn't have to hit it again!

Depending on the kind of account you have with your bank..there may be no extra charge.Just their lousy exchsnge rate which for a few hundred dollars may amount to 2 or 3 dollars. I can take $1000.00 a day from my accounts from an ATM...If only I had that much money to spend.
I do like the convenience of having 1 or 2 hundred dollars in hand and not hunting or waiting for an available ATM

I have an account with Ruesch International, a large international exchange company with offices in many large U.S. cities. I get a great rate from them and always buy a few hundred euros before I leave on a trip.

I am one of those who does not like to rely on an ATM machine at the airport when I arrive - half the time, at CDG, for example, the ATM is either not working or there's a huge line for it. I'm not in any shape after an all-night flight to worry about whether I have any local currency or not. I just want to get in the taxi line and get going!