Comments on: Should you buy euros before your trip to Europe?

By: Danielle Orr

Danielle Orr — Mon, 26 Aug 2024 05:24:49 +0000

I have the master card American Airlines. It doesn’t charge a fee just the difference in Euros and dollars. It does charge a fee for getting euro from an ATM

By: Paul Heymont

Paul Heymont — Tue, 30 Apr 2024 14:01:48 +0000

Not to look like I’m a shill for the company, but Charles Schwab offers accounts that are no fee, no minimum and which refund any ATM fees that are charged by the ATM operator. It comes in the form of a checking account with a brokerage account attached (I keep a couple of hundred in the brokerage).

Before I travel, I transfer funds from my US bank to the Schwab account and use its debit card in overseas ATMs. That way, bank exchange rate, no conversion fee, and no ATM fees.

By: Benita

Benita — Fri, 29 Sep 2023 19:15:32 +0000

Heading straight to the nearest ATM at the airport to get Euros is a HUGE rip-off! I’ve done this before and the exchange rate along with the fees charged are far more than what you would pay exchanging ahead of time in the US.
I suggest you modify your advice.

By: Dennis Olson

Dennis Olson — Sat, 06 Aug 2022 16:19:38 +0000

It depends. I have landed in Venice on a Sunday a few years ago only to find the ATM had no more funds. Had to use Cash Ex which cost me a 25% premium. I was in Bruges a few years ago and could not find an ATM so had to pay a 20% premium to the telegram store. I have been to Europe over 20 times and find it best to have at least 100 euros preferably in smaller bills. Also when using an ATM get an odd number of euros, ie 135 not 100 or 150. Due to Covid its been a couple of years, but I think the Euro will recover quickly. Also if you expect to go again, keep a few handy at home.

By: Joanna JS

Joanna JS — Wed, 13 Jul 2022 15:22:32 +0000

I traveled to Egypt and attempted to use my ATM card when I got there. Due to a glitch, I was not only unable to withdraw from my account but my card became locked. I attempted to get this issue fixed by my bank but all I was told was that I would have to use it in an ATM (THEIR ATM! In the US!) in order to correct the problem. I was, in fact, stranded in the foreign country without access to cash. Luckily I had friends with me and they lent me cash as needed (it was needed, for some things) and I used a card for everything else. Lesson learned: I will always bring at least some local currency when I depart, just in case.

By: Sandra Wright

Sandra Wright — Thu, 07 Jul 2022 01:52:53 +0000

Today’s exchange rate dollars to euros is $1.02 to one euro. I hotfooted over to my Truist branch when they told me they have nothing more than a one-time $10 fee. I asked about the exchange rate and and was told, “Oh, we use today’s!” Made me very happy until they informed me that “today’s” was $1.08. Not in real life, of course. In real life, it’s $1.02 -not so at their banks. So they’ve added their 5-6% right on top. Plus the $10 fee! Thanks, but no thanks. I’ve been pleased with the rate I’ve found at the Rome Fiumincino airport and have been lucky to find ATMs in the city offering the posted daily rate plus a flat fee of 2-5 euros for a 200 euro withdrawal. (That’s 1-2%.) My advice, if you’re traveling to Italy: get your euros at the airport ATM, and then as needed in the city. The only caveat is to decline the dynamic exchange (which means they get to play with the rate).

By: KOSTAS KARAYIANNIS

KOSTAS KARAYIANNIS — Thu, 22 Jul 2021 14:39:10 +0000

THIS INFO IS INCORRECT, IF YOU USE YOUR DEBIT CARD AT AN ATM IN EUROPE, EVEN IF ITS YOUR BANKS ATM, THE CHARGE YOU A FEE, AND 3% OF WHAT YOU PULL PLUS THE EXCHANGE RATE, SO ITS BEST TO GET YOUR EUROS AT AN EXHANGE PLACE BEFORE HAND AT THE BEST RATE YOU FIND, TRUST ME ON THIS, I WENT TO GREECE THIS SUMMER AND CHASE KILLED ME WITH THE FEES AND THE 3% EVERY TIME I USED MY DEBIT CARD!

By: Janice Oppenheimer

Janice Oppenheimer — Tue, 18 Feb 2020 22:04:24 +0000

Agreed. I hate to rely on cards and other people’s ATMs.

By: Janice Oppenheimer

Janice Oppenheimer — Tue, 18 Feb 2020 22:01:46 +0000

I just went to my two American banks today. For 1000 American dollars they will give me 870 euros and 860, respectively. The credit card that I have can be used with no fee and just today’s exchange rate(or the rate on the day I use it). They verified for me that USING AN ATM OVERSEAS IS AMONG THE WORST MONEY EXCHANGES YOU CAN MAKE. That’s because they will incur fees for the convenience of using an ATM, which is also a safety measure for the traveler (?) because he/she doesn’t have to run around with a ton of cash.
I am always perplexed by articles such as this one that says going to an American bank to trade is the worst thing you can do. As far as I know the two worst things are using the kiosk at the airport, using a money trader at an office on the street and using the ATMs. If I’m wrong tell me about it.

By: Craig Nelson

Craig Nelson — Wed, 29 Jan 2020 15:35:07 +0000

Hi Jennifer,
I love these tips! Thanks for sharing. That’s interesting to hear that some European markets are taking credit cards now. I think that might still be pretty rare depending on the city.