Dollar to Euro Exchange
 

Does anyone have advice for the best banks to exchange dollars to euro in Boston? Any suggestions would be appreciated!

None really. Wait until you are in Europe and use your ATM/debit card to get cash as you need it. That is the best option.

If you just <i>must</i> have some £ cash on you before you travel -- then just wait til you are in the Departure lounge at Logan (or whichever airport you are using) and buy $100-$150-ish worth from the Bureau de Change. But I never bother -- just use my ATM card on arrival.

Thank you but I'm looking for which bank in Boston that has the best exchange for euro rate. I thought the airport exchange rate was to high and thought it would be more feesible to exchange before mt trip.

The bank exchange rates will be pretty much the same from bank to bank. It is the extra fees that will vary. As Janis said, you will get the best rate by waiting until you are in europe and using an ATM. Changing before your trip will be costly in terms of fees, and the exchange rate will not be as good.

I occasionally get some starter cash from Travelex online:

https://www.travelex.com/currency

Compare their rate with the banks and see if it's any better. You likely have an office in Boston which will save you the FedEx charge. But, as mentioned, the ATMs on arrival are always the best rate.

Most European international airports have "major bank" ATM's where you can get Euros. If in doubt about the sponsoring bank for the ATM's at the airport where you are arriving just withdraw a small amount to tide you over until you can get to an ATM at a financial institution you recognize.

If you tell us where in Europe you are going we can suggest which bank ATM's you should consider using.

Thank you but I'm looking for which bank in Boston that has the best exchange for euro rate. I thought the airport exchange rate was to high and thought it would be more feesible to exchange before mt trip.

Thank you for the great information! Very helpful.

This is like asking "I'm looking for which store in Boston that has the best price for Oranges. I thought the Orlando airport price was too high and thought it would be more feasible to buy them before my trip to Florida."

I like to get some cash before my trip too. I have gotten to airports so late that everything was closed. I wouldn't be happy if that happened and I had no local currency on me.

In my city, Wells Fargo was the best option. And for some reason, our city travel bureau offers an online coupon that takes away the service fee for money exchanging at Wells. No idea if this is offered in other cities but it saved me $10.

oops -- meant to post >>If you just must have some € cash (not £)

"Thank you but I'm looking for which bank in Boston that has the best exchange for euro rate. I thought the airport exchange rate was to high and thought it would be more feesible to exchange before mt trip."

You can buy all the € you want before your trip -- but you will be spending extra to get it and then you'll be carrying all that cash with you.

Most people predominantly use credit cards and get what cash they need from European cash machines. Any other source will cost more.

What people are telling you is that they will all be the same and don't exchange much IF ANY and use your ATM card when you get to the airport destination--or even use the exchange counter at the Boston airport. And yes, the exchange rate will NOT be very good. Get a little if you want and bite the bullet.

Do US banks sell Euros?

Like everyone has mentioned just wait until you arrive in Europe and use your ATM card. Better yet many countries (Norway in particular) are pretty much cashless. You can use your Visa or Mastercard card pretty much everywhere for anything for any amount and the exchange rate through your credit card purchase will be much better.

nanabee--Yes, US banks sell euros.

We usually buy around $100 of foreign currency before a trip. When we went to Denmark, we did not, so we hit the ATM in the airport. Tired, etc we used a Euronet machine and they charged us the equivalent of Danish but gave us Icelandic, so it was pretty much worthless. We didn't realize it was the wrong currency until later that night at a restaurant when we tried to pay and they said we had the wrong currency. So I know this is definitely not the norm, but things like this can and do happen, and so I really wish we had gotten money before we left home. When we go to Germany next week, we don't have time (in the middle of a move) to get currency, but I will make sure to at least hit a bank atm so we have at least some recourse if anything goes wrong.

nanabee, some banks routinely carry Euros, others simply order them when they need them.

MmePerdu, it sounds like you have done ok using Traveles, but they are renowned for having ATMs in airports that charge high fees.

mms, ...> We didn't realize it was the wrong currency until later that night at a restaurant when we tried to pay and they said we had the wrong currency. >

Wow that would be a shock!

We do as mms does--we buy $100-200 worth of whatever currency in advance for peace of mind and convenience.

< but you will be spending extra to get it and then you'll be carrying all that cash with you.>

You might spend a few bucks more. Not enough to be this stirred up about, imo. And $100 is hardly a lot of cash to be carrying. Of course we use credit cards, mostly, but a little cash is handy.

(Btw--and this seems not to apply to the OP--sometimes people travel to places without ATMs. On birding trips, we do.)

With euros being relatively inexpensive for USD ($1.18 today), I am thinking of getting cash now for a trip later this Fall. Although, we don't usually carry a lot of cash, so maybe it's not worth the effort?

"And $100 is hardly a lot of cash to be carrying."

Of course it isn't. But nowhere does the OP say s/he is talking about $100. S/he could be intending to buy a lot of currency - which is a very VERY bad idea.. I specifically mentioned getting a small amount ahead is different (I recommended at the airport for mere convenience, but ordering from the bank is OK too. Which bank essentially makes no difference)

Other than a little 'seed money', do NOT buy a lot of currency <u>anywhere</u> - use your ATM card.

AAA has tip paks that you can buy.

nanabee--The crazy thing is, the cash we received was a mix of some Danish and the rest Icelandic. We were tired etc so didn't even notice. I still cannot believe that the atm company was so negligent!

I think Joy has left the building. She has to land somewhere which will have an ATM, even if she is going off on a birding or such expedition.
I like to have about $100 in local currency as a just in case and don't sweat about the low (probably) exchange rate.
I might surmise Joy is a first time traveler.
ATMs and Credit cards are the way to go.

I order it online from my regular bank (BoA) and pick it up at the nearest branch.

if you try AAA, call the office first to make sure they have them in stock.

Wait until you are in Europe.

I do what suze does, easy peasy. I feel like a broken record, but we like having some cash on hand when we land.

If you are not prepared to accept the answers, then don't ask the question. It is simple, the cost to obtain Euro in the US at a US bank will from about 8% if you are lucky to perhaps 12%. To find the cheapest Boston bank, call and ask for the sell rate for Euro.

Gretchen I'm not a fist time traveler but appreciate your kind words.

Thank you everyone for all of this information. I went to AAA this morning and exchnanged dollar to euro there. Also we will use our ATM too as we have always done traveling in Europe. But I like to have euros on hand before I leave the US.

(My last trip to Europe i exchanaged money at the American Express store but they closed and I wanted help with a new location. AAA was a great resource, thank you again.).