I am in the process of working out our trip details and I was wondering is it better to get the euro's when I am in italy?
The current exchange rate is $1.30 but I can go to an AMEX travel office and get $1.37 as the exchange rate plus a flat $3 fee. I was wondering if I can get a better deal there or is it worth it to exchange here.
geegee827
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Re: Girls who have recently traveled to europe...
typically they tell you that you get a better deal over there - that you should exchange as little as possible here and then go to an ATM in Europe and pull the money out that way.
However, given the current situation in Europe with Greece and the EU, I think I might exchange here....who knows what's going to happen to the exchange rate in the next couple of weeks.
ELluvsMB
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Re: Girls who have recently traveled to europe...
Ohh I'd like to know the answer to this as well!!
daniellek730
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Re: Girls who have recently traveled to europe...
Me too! We are leaving... FRIDAY!!!!
PROBM
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Re: Girls who have recently traveled to europe...
credit cards give you the best rate , i trade fx the eur is at 1.282 right now even lower!!! and with greeces issues the euro is going to keep on going down
FutureMrsG
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Re: Girls who have recently traveled to europe...
Check with your bank and credit card companies each company charges a different fee for using the ATMs and charging in Europe. It might not hurt to exchange some money before you go so you have some cash on you. Usually we change our money abroad.
debzy
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Re: Girls who have recently traveled to europe...
Credit cards are the best rate, usually, but you should check with your CC company to see if they charge an additional fee. Also, let then know you're traveling so they don't put a stop on your card, thinking it was stolen.
You'll get a much better rate exchanging your money in Europe. Find a bank or exchange center - the hotels will charge a fee usually.
Just Cindy
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Re: Girls who have recently traveled to europe...
We are probably going to change some here but I was wondering what the atm's charge as a fee.
I am glad the euro is coming down!!! I think with greece and spain upon bankruptcy this is going to drive the euro even lower.
daniellek730
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Re: Girls who have recently traveled to europe...
I think that's good news for me since we are going to Spain.
Thank you for just reminding me that I have to call my CC companies!
meara
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Re: Girls who have recently traveled to europe...
also for Italy - you're best place to exchange is actually at the post office (unless your atm rate is better) DON'T exchange at the airport - they have really big fees so it's probably good to have some when you get there to have cash and options. .
we usually didn't have a hard time with ATMs but my brother was in florence and they had a hard time finding them. . don't know why. .
Just Cindy
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Re: Girls who have recently traveled to europe...
Posted by meara
also for Italy - you're best place to exchange is actually at the post office (unless your atm rate is better) DON'T exchange at the airport - they have really big fees so it's probably good to have some when you get there to have cash and options. .
we usually didn't have a hard time with ATMs but my brother was in florence and they had a hard time finding them. . don't know why. .
Thank you so much!!! Does the ATM tell you the rate??? Good to know about florence but hopefully we wont have to exchange money a lot.
coldasice217
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Re: Girls who have recently traveled to europe...
Exchange it NOW!!!!! The flipping Euro is tanking. We got a wedding check from Greece about a month ago, and DH took his sweet mother effing time to go about finding out how to cash it here, and we finally had it sent out on Saturday, just as everything really went down the toilet, and we probably lost about $200 on the transaction so far, assuming that it doesn't go lower. And this is why we don't currency speculate lol.
Just Cindy
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Re: Girls who have recently traveled to europe...
its gonna go down even more!!!
AugustBridein09
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Re: Girls who have recently traveled to europe...
I got the best rate at the airport at one of those little booths......I had it on a add on credit card type thing and then if I needed cash I could go to any HSBC and do a withdrawl.
FutureMrsG
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Re: Girls who have recently traveled to europe...
Posted by meara
also for Italy - you're best place to exchange is actually at the post office (unless your atm rate is better) DON'T exchange at the airport - they have really big fees so it's probably good to have some when you get there to have cash and options. .
we usually didn't have a hard time with ATMs but my brother was in florence and they had a hard time finding them. . don't know why. .
There are ATMs all over Florence especially near the historic center...that is so strange!
KittyGags
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Re: Girls who have recently traveled to europe...
I'd change some here first. Reason is, you need euros to get from the airport to the hotel unless you have a transfer arranged. We forgot that part and did it when we got to Venice and dealt with the awful exchange rate.
Also, they charge you a fee everytime you go, so change as much as you can at a time.
But the others are right, I'd use CCs for all your meals, etc, so you get the best rates on that stuff.
You're going to run into an issue only when using taxis, etc with not being able to solely use CCs...
Have a blast! I'm so jealous!
MLAngelo
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Re: Girls who have recently traveled to europe...
Posted by coldasice217
Exchange it NOW!!!!! The flipping Euro is tanking. We got a wedding check from Greece about a month ago, and DH took his sweet mother effing time to go about finding out how to cash it here, and we finally had it sent out on Saturday, just as everything really went down the toilet, and we probably lost about $200 on the transaction so far, assuming that it doesn't go lower. And this is why we don't currency speculate lol.
I believe... If the Euro is going down you don't want to exchange it now, unless your going from Euros to dollars. But from dollars to Euros, if its tanking, wait and get more for you money.
MirabellaNYC
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Re: Girls who have recently traveled to europe...
We went to Europe with euros already...we wanted to use cash and not credit cards.
BUT
make sure you call your credit card companies and let them know exactly how long you'll be gone, and what countries your visiting and when. This way they don't think its a suspected fraud.
Also alot of places through europe don't take amex.
