Airport currency exchanges

[M_Six]

I know they're a ripoff, but Holy Shit. Getting foreign currency ahead of time is a royal pain out our way, so we decided to grab $100 worth at the airport just to avoid the hassle. But ouch. Brit Pound rate is north of 1.60 at the airport. Credit card charges 1.37 or thereabouts.

[M_Six]

On the other hand, we checked bags and were thru the TSA Pre line in 15 minutes. At O'Hare, no less.

[EALm4]

What about next time trying to get some currency at your local bank? Mine gives me market value with no processing fee. Typically get it next day too

[kscarrol]

What EALm4 said... or simply stop at the first ATM you see in your destination airport.

[M_Six]

Our bank takes several days and charges a fee, but still, it would have been cheaper for sure. We couldn't find an ATM last time we arrived at Heathrow in the middle of the night, but we didn't need cash that time either. No big deal, just bored waiting for our flight and decided to whine in OT.

[jtodd_fl]

Originally Posted by M_Six

Our bank takes several days and charges a fee, but still, it would have been cheaper for sure. We couldn't find an ATM last time we arrived at Heathrow in the middle of the night, but we didn't need cash that time either. No big deal, just bored waiting for our flight and decided to whine in OT.

What better place! Hopefully your luggage trolley doesn't have a bad diff, HPFP, rod bearings or, heaven forbid, wheels that are 1.5 PSI low! Then you could really get going in here!

[David70]

I always use an ATM and my bank allows for worldwide free use. Contact them before I go so they realize it it me. Then I normally spend all I can on no transaction fees credit cards so I don't have to deal with it. I was surprised while in Argentina that ATM after ATM wouldn't go through then found out the amount of money it would let me have was pretty low and that was the problem. Lowered the amount I wanted and no problem, even if I used it a couple of times a day.

Using airport exchanges you are using the most expensive option and then complaining about how much it costs.

[jpnh]

People should be aware that credit card systems in EU are somewhat different than here in the US

They have been using the chips embedded into CC's for many years in combination with a PIN (not your atm pin)

Things can be messy when you try to use your card from US in EU

Amex can help you assign a PIN to your chip but they royally farked it up for me last time I was in EU

Unless you want to get stuck in one of the central travel hubs in EU with no cash, no ability to GET cash and a very urgent, powerful and IMMEDIATE need to use the toilet in a place where the public facilities require cash, I strongly suggest you plan ahead and bring local currency with you.

[EALm4]

Originally Posted by kscarrol

What EALm4 said... or simply stop at the first ATM you see in your destination airport.

I must be doing something wrong then. I tried multiple ATMs in Munich and none would take my card (even has a chip). It'd read it and spit it back out. But like 90% of the places I visited though took CC so I actually ended up with a lot of left over cash.

[Dang3r]

As an airline employee I have no fees to pay at exchange. Lucky me

[Naz24]

Hit your bank before you go away next time. (i'd call ahead so they can order the bills if they dont have in stock) and get currency. They'll give you the REAL Exchange rate without totally effing you

[David70]

Originally Posted by EALm4

I must be doing something wrong then. I tried multiple ATMs in Munich and none would take my card (even has a chip). It'd read it and spit it back out. But like 90% of the places I visited though took CC so I actually ended up with a lot of left over cash.

Did you call your bank before you went and tell them you would be there? I have had problems with both credit cards and ATM cards when suddenly making purchases out of the country.

[EALm4]

Originally Posted by David70

Did you call your bank before you went and tell them you would be there? I have had problems with both credit cards and ATM cards when suddenly making purchases out of the country.

Yeah. Can it be any ATM though? I feel like I tried a bunch and no dice.

[BayMoWe335]

Originally Posted by Dang3r

As an airline employee I have no fees to pay at exchange. Lucky me

Wow...who cares.

My bank does it free for me too.

[shadow191]

ATMs will take use bank cards without the chip for the most part. But for actual merchants, restaurants, and such, you will need the chip. Keep in mind that most US based chip/pin cards are still different than European ones and require signature. So if you try to use them at automated kiosks for train tickets or gas stations, it won't work for the most part.

Only true chip/pin card is the Barclays I think. Even this past June, I was in Iceland and their gas stations are automated. My Chase card which is chip/signature didn't work, it wouldn't allow me to enter a PIN. My Barclays card did work.

For cash, I've always just gone to the ATM at destination airport. Even in smaller airports, there's usually an ATM somewhere. If I'm not sure, I'll Google ahead of time. Just about any ATM should work, I've never had issues with them in any country.

Originally Posted by jpnh

People should be aware that credit card systems in EU are somewhat different than here in the US

They have been using the chips embedded into CC's for many years in combination with a PIN (not your atm pin)

Things can be messy when you try to use your card from US in EU

Amex can help you assign a PIN to your chip but they royally farked it up for me last time I was in EU

Unless you want to get stuck in one of the central travel hubs in EU with no cash, no ability to GET cash and a very urgent, powerful and IMMEDIATE need to use the toilet in a place where the public facilities require cash, I strongly suggest you plan ahead and bring local currency with you.

[kprocivic]

most banks do currency exchange for free. they just charge the fee in the conversion rate so you don't see it.

[BMW F22]

Originally Posted by kprocivic

most banks do currency exchange for free. they just charge the fee in the conversion rate so you don't see it.

This. If they don't give you a lower rate they will charge a small fee plus shipping.

Depends on the country, bringing dollars and exchange there brings better value (like Vietnam).

[kscarrol]

Originally Posted by EALm4

Yeah. Can it be any ATM though? I feel like I tried a bunch and no dice.

In my experience the vast majority worked with no issues. Let the bank know of our travel plans and had no issues. My last trip was to the UK and that was 2014, maybe things have changed... All of the major banks seemed to be tied into the same ATM networks you see here in the states.

[shadow191]

A lot of banks and card issuers now don't require you to notify them. AMEX doesn't require it and neither does Chase. I actually sent Chase a travel notification because there is a link on their site and got a message basically saying "thanks for letting us know, but you don't need to". Citi and Barclays still ask, but I've forgotten once and it was still fine. May depend on the country though - the times I forgot were Canada and Western Europe. If you went somewhere sketchier, they may block you.

[Dang3r]

Originally Posted by BayMoWe335

Wow...who cares.

My bank does it free for me too.

Aha, and surely around the globe, no?

[BayMoWe335]

Originally Posted by Dang3r

Aha, and surely around the globe, no?

And all the places I want to go take credit cards, so who cares?

[R3dliner]

Went to Europe recently, I made a big mistake exchanging at the airport. Literally got raped.
What I've noticed is if I go to a atm machine in a foregin country, my bank actually give me a more favorable rate with no exchange fees.