Exchange money here before trip or once there?

[Anonymous]

Would it be better to exchange currency at my local bank before going overseas or is it better to wait until there and exchange at a bank there?

Is there a difference in the exchange rate? One better than the other?

I know the airports are not the best places to exchange since they give you less for your dollar, but I'm wondering if there is the same type difference at banks here or there?

[Anonymous]

It sort of depends where you're going. You should be able to get good rates on major currencies in most cities - EUR, GBP, CAD.

Hungary - they have tons of currency exchange windows in Budapest that give the best rates for HUF. Do not change money beforehand
Italy - never ever go to a currency window, they are horrible ripoffs. Hit the ATM but best to have cash beforehand
UK - currency exchange windows in major tourist spots in London (Oxford St, Covent Garden) will give pretty good rates. Try ICE currency exchange in Waterloo station for good rates also. ICE kiosks at airports (and indeed any currency exchange) are to be avoided

Most of Asia (India, SG, HK) the local currency kiosks are the best

[Anonymous]

You will almost always get the best deal by simply using your card in a local ATM once you get there. Currency exchange kiosks will charge higher fees than your bank.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You will almost always get the best deal by simply using your card in a local ATM once you get there. Currency exchange kiosks will charge higher fees than your bank.

+1. Check with your bank on what kind if fees they charge. If you feel better having cabfare in your pocket you can a little beforehand.

[Anonymous]

Change a bit prior so when you get off of the plane you can quickly buy lunch or coffee or a taxi. Then use an arm card with chip in it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Change a bit prior so when you get off of the plane you can quickly buy lunch or coffee or a taxi. Then use an arm card with chip in it.

They usually feed you so much on the plane I can't imagine lunch at the airport would be most people's first concern, unless they were a total fatty.

[Anonymous]

Depends on where you are going, some places prefer CC over cash, even for a bottle of water or taxi.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Change a bit prior so when you get off of the plane you can quickly buy lunch or coffee or a taxi. Then use an arm card with chip in it.

They usually feed you so much on the plane I can't imagine lunch at the airport would be most people's first concern, unless they were a total fatty.

Most flights to europe are overnight flights. After I disembark from a plane and go through customs and get luggage, I usually grab a quick coffee. It's nice to have local currency for things like that and possibly a taxi ride.

[Anonymous]

Most places we travel - we just get cash at the Airport ATM once we our thru customs etc. Then when we get to our hotel/house we use our Debit card for local currency. This is Asia and Europe - don't know about other locations.

[Anonymous]

I always wait until I am there - the rates are not so usurious at the ATMs at the airport that you can't get a few pounds/euros/whatever, and then get more at a major bank ATM at our destination. Was recently in England and the airport ATM was a $1.70 exchange rate, the money I got from a Barclays in town was $1.55. No transaction fees on my credit card. So that first 100 pounds cost me an extra $15 to get, and I probably could have waited, but didn't want to chance it. I have also been on several business trips (Canada, UK) recently where I didn't even need to exchange money - literally didn't need any cash the whole time as I was able to use credit cards for everything. Countries like Italy are much more cash dependent and we found ourselves exchanging money nearly every day there.

[Anonymous]

Going somewhere where ATM's are plentiful (especially if there's a deal like BOA/Barclay's where you don't pay fees) I get just a little cash, equivalent of $150-200, in local currency ahead of time. I order it through AMEX to be picked up at a Travelex location for the best exchange rates I could find. This last trip I ended up needing to go to the ATM only one time the whole trip (a week) because everywhere we went and everything we did accepted credit cards.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Going somewhere where ATM's are plentiful (especially if there's a deal like BOA/Barclay's where you don't pay fees) I get just a little cash, equivalent of $150-200, in local currency ahead of time. I order it through AMEX to be picked up at a Travelex location for the best exchange rates I could find. This last trip I ended up needing to go to the ATM only one time the whole trip (a week) because everywhere we went and everything we did accepted credit cards.

Should note, though, that you should get a pin card if you haven't got one already, because nearly everywhere I've been in Europe uses this plus your pin instead of the mag strip readers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Going somewhere where ATM's are plentiful (especially if there's a deal like BOA/Barclay's where you don't pay fees) I get just a little cash, equivalent of $150-200, in local currency ahead of time. I order it through AMEX to be picked up at a Travelex location for the best exchange rates I could find. This last trip I ended up needing to go to the ATM only one time the whole trip (a week) because everywhere we went and everything we did accepted credit cards.

Should note, though, that you should get a pin card if you haven't got one already, because nearly everywhere I've been in Europe uses this plus your pin instead of the mag strip readers.

We have been to London and Rome in the past two years and my husband has been to Paris and Brussels for business, and we have had no problem using our CCs anywhere. We have cards with the chip, but not the pin and they work fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Going somewhere where ATM's are plentiful (especially if there's a deal like BOA/Barclay's where you don't pay fees) I get just a little cash, equivalent of $150-200, in local currency ahead of time. I order it through AMEX to be picked up at a Travelex location for the best exchange rates I could find. This last trip I ended up needing to go to the ATM only one time the whole trip (a week) because everywhere we went and everything we did accepted credit cards.

Should note, though, that you should get a pin card if you haven't got one already, because nearly everywhere I've been in Europe uses this plus your pin instead of the mag strip readers.

You need the chip, you don't need a pin (yet). Seems like most credit card companies here have already sent out chip cards - I know all of ours came over the summer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You will almost always get the best deal by simply using your card in a local ATM once you get there. Currency exchange kiosks will charge higher fees than your bank.

+1. Check with your bank on what kind if fees they charge. If you feel better having cabfare in your pocket you can a little beforehand.

+1, this is what we do and it works out very well. Much better rates than the currency exchange places.