Where to Purchase Euros in U.S. Prior to Trip?
 

Any recommendations on best exchange rate? We want to buy some Euros to bring with us prior to departure; we will use a credit card and ATM while there. AAA quoted their package deal of $113 for 78 Euros (don't think so!) and an AMEX store quoted a $4 surcharge with an exchange rate of 1.28 (as of 11/04).

Well, Honestly your don't really have to get any € ahead of time since there are ATM machines at your aeeival airport.

But many people do like to have some "walking around money" prior to their trip. If you want to get some € just wait until you get to your departure airport and use the Bureaux de Change there. You aren't going to get a good exchange rate anywhere in te States so just do the convenient thing - you will have plenty of time since you have to check in 2 or 3 hours ahead.

There are ATMs at all airports, you don't need to bring any ahead with you. I have never brought any money with me, always get my money at the airport in the luggage area or right outside.

Check with your local bank. Bank of America does not charge a fee to certain customers and for the small amount you'll be buying the rate is not that bad for the peace of mind.

I never purchase Euros in the States. If you really want the warm/fuzzy feeling, get a few at the departure gate at the airport. Otherwise, use the ATMs in Europe. ((b))

I talked to BofA recently and was told they charge 7%, I must not be a certain type of person. =P~

You're a certain special with us. ((a)) ((b))

Hi S,

You won't need more than $100 worth of euros. Buy them at your departure airport. It will be about $4 more than at an ATM in Europe.

((I))

Trust me..

In the year 2005, it is not necessary to make a big deal out of obtaining euro (not the proper plural) before arriving wherever. There are ATM machines everywhere in the airport...you will have to wait for your baggage anyway so much for the argument you don't want to have an extra wait when you could be on the way...at the airport if you need something they will take credit cards for the most part yada yada yada.

Now if you absolutely positively must, and I understand some people might get a little bit paranoic when doing something for the first time, then change $20 to $50 at the departure airport...yes you will be throwing away something like $4 or $5 for no reason at all, but everything I guess has its price.

xyz123, I'm with you, but some feel more secure buying some Euro before they depart. If they want to pay the extra fees -- it's their money. ((b))

Jody: &quot;<i>Bank of America does not charge a fee to certain customers</i>

No &quot;fee&quot; as such, but a fee is built into the very bad exchange rate. If you must get some &euro; , you are just as well off (or possibly better off) getting it at the airport.

Actually, I say get some euros. Like the other posters I was successful in getting euros at the arrival airport ATMs for two trips to Europe. But the third must have been the charm -- upon arrival at CDG (very early in the morning) all of the ATMs in my terminal were out of cash (because everyone else on my flight was waiting until they got to Europe for their euros?). Like I said, it was early and the banks weren't open to restock any time soon. In the end we had to go to another terminal to get taxi fare. Not the end of the world, but not what I wanted to do in my jet-lagged state. That said, it will be worth it to me to have euros for taxi fare in hand before I depart.

Most if not all of the official taxi's at CDG take credit cards, and I'm sure would be more than happy to stop by an ATM while on the way to your destination, especially if the meter is running.

I haven't found it to be a problem.

Most people who frequently travel to Europe have a few Euro left over so they'll have some pocket change for their next trip.

Everybody has a different travel philosophy. If one feels the need, get some. ((b))

I like to have some euro before I get there. Just suppose the ATM machines in the airport are out of order or out of cash. I know this doesn't happen very often, but it only has to happen once, and I figure that if it is going to happen, it will certainly be on the day that I arrive! I would rather be safe than sorry. And you can't always use a credit card at the airport. In Sept, when I arrived in Venice and wanted to purchase the 72-hour vaporetto pass, which also covered the bus to Piazzale Roma, they only accept cash, NO credit cards. What would I have done if I hadn't had some euro and the machines were down?

That said, I actually got the best exchange rate locally through a private exchange company (look in your local phone book). Better than the bank or American Express. Sure I paid a little more than when I used the ATM in Italy, but for a couple hundred euro, it's really not much money in the grand scheme of things!

Well, JLM was posting at the same time I was writing, so you see, it CAN happen, the machines just might be out of cash!

If for some reason the ATM's are not functioning, the exchange booths at every airport are open 24/7 yuo saunter over to the exchange booth, swallow your whatever and make an exchange. The rate will of course be nowhere as good as the ATM but will certainly be better than anything you can get in the US....so I would say you would only be throwing away $3 instead of $5.....but as pointed out the RER takes credit cards if that's your way into Paris from CDG as do the taxis and the car services....again this is the 21st century and 21st century works for the betterment of all of us.

I buy currency from my own bank, Bank of America when I feel the need to have cash ahead of time. I have also gone with none and withdrawn from an ATM upon arrival. I once purchased a small amount from Thomas Cooke Exchange Bureau as a gift for someone (worst deal).

You might as well buy from AAA or AMEX like you mentioned. Most any place you buy in the U.S. will have fees &amp;/or bad exchange rate, just the cost of doing business.

xyz123 nailed it.

Have some USD in your pocket to exchange as a last resort if none of the other methods works, and relax.

Historically, the only foreign currency I needed upon arrival was enough to pay for the train or bus to the hotel.
The arrival cities I most often use (Frankfurt, Munich, Vienna, Paris, Rome) all have airport trains which accept credit cards.
Therefore, I don't find it necessary to arrive with any foreign currency.

Bank of America can usually grt you Euros.

I got some AAA euro travelers checks at the AAA office at a good rate. Don't order them from AMEX, they charge too may fees!

I think most people bring some home and save them for their next trip, so find a friend who has returned and borrow a few from him; replace them when you return, and keep you own stash, too.

Don`t bother. I went to europe recently, and had a short stop at the frankfurt airport, before flying on. I saw an ATM while walking from one gate to another, and I had Euros in about 2 minutes. The only time I have ever had trouble with an ATM was at the Auckland airport, so the change booth right next to the ATM gave me N.Z. money for no fee, as they were calling to try to get the ATM fixed. That was 3 or 4 years ago though.

Agree with the majority: don't bother.
Use low/no fee ATMs for cash and CC's.
However, do not pay your CC bills with converted USDs as you'll get screwed on the curency conversion - always insist bills be stated in local currency on the receipts.
M

For what it's worth, my local Bank of America refused to exchange for Euro and Pounds in the middle of September. I was told they had just changed their policy and would only exchange for those with an account there. Oddly, this was after I had called their national info number and was assured they would exchange.

I went to a local coin shop/jewelry store in my town. I waited until the euro had dropped a bit and the coin shop charges 3%or 4% over the going rate for that day. If you want some euros...call around.

I'm a firm believer in getting local currency before I leave, just to avoid finding an ATM when I get there. I have very bad luck with them being down! However, I work for a bank, so am able to get the bank rate, not the &quot;customer&quot; rate for exchange (because of course, we don't charge a fee!).

One note of caution...don't buy them too far in advance just because you happen to be going to the Int'l teller for something then put them in your safety deposit box in the basement of your bank in New Orleans so they'll stay safe! :) I now have some very very nasty Euros! (They'll exchange them for me in a couple of weeks when that dept reopens!)

Anne

If you want to purchase some Euros before you go you can do so at Wells Fargo Foreign Exchange. The website is www.foreignexchangeservices.com. Today you can get 90 Euros for about $112 plus $8.00 shipping. They FedEx the currency to you.

ATM, ATM, ATM, or $50 worth at the airport prior to departure if you are not comfortable waiting to get to the ATM. ((a)) ((b))

I have to correct something I stated in my last post. I'm not sure Frankfurt's airport train accepted a credit card. But I think the fare was less than E5.

Hey Budman,
Why does no one listen?
M

I guess because it's their money. ((a)) ((b))

I just checked and I was charged $119.86 for 100 Euro on 10/25/05 from BofA ..that doesn't add up to 7% to me! You do have to be an Advantage or whatever they call it member.