buying Euros at a bank or at the airport

Gayle, I'd suggest asking your Bank for €50-100 or so, which will cover travel expenses until you get settled at your first stop in Europe. After that use ATM's to easily obtain Euros at the most favourable inter-bank rate. DO NOT use the airport currency exchange booths, as they provide terrible rates! Note that funds accessed from ATM's must usually be in a chequing account with a four-number PIN. DON'T forget to notify your Bank prior to travel, so they don't "freeze" your card when they detect transaction activity in Europe. I'd suggest packing along a "backup" card on a different account if possible, in case of any problems with your primary card (I've had that happen). You may find it helpful to have a look at this short video (the pertinant part starts at the 50-second mark): www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8--q-K3olA Happy travels!

Cannot speak for Canada but in the US generally your bank will give a better exchange rate than the money changing booths at the airport. I do like having a hundred Euro in my pocket when I land so I will pay the extra fee in the US for that convenience. After that it is a debit card at a bank owned ATMs - always the cheapest and most convenient way to obtain local currency.

I just checked, and today Wells Fargo, which is the least expensive place I've found to buy Euro over here, is selling them for $139.40 US per hundred Euro (4.95% over the Interbank rate of $132.82). That's what you'd pay at a Wells Fargo International Teller. Travelex wants $147.34 US (10.9% over) for the same amount. I'm not sure a Travelex exchange counter would be as low; last month in Phoenix airport, they were selling Euro for about 14% over.

Thank you for your advice - I did re-watch the RS youtube and found it helpful. Bon Voyage (I leave tomorrow and the Vancouver airport strike has been averted- Yeah!)

Per the Oanda website moments ago, one € equals $1.39476 CDN.

If you are going to buy euro at the airport anyway, then why not use the bank owned ATM there instead and pay the interbank rate directly? Have yet to see a major airoprt/train station/bus station lacking a bank-owned ATM that will get you your new foreign money for less than 1% over the daily interbank exchange rate, no fees, and no fees from your bank if yopu have the right bank.

Larry, many airports of the world have only Travex-type ATMs. The UK, especially, has quite a few.

And many airports have real ATMs. If not inside, certainly immediately available directly outside. Actually, I have not heard of this anywhere other than LHR-5 where Travelex got a legal monopoly on money. But my point is - why is the answer to just give away hard-earned money to the rich banks without a care in the world?
As long as some responders out here feel it necessary to offer that piece of advice, I have decided that it is necessary to question it here when I see it. It's just wrong.

I have not heard of this anywhere other than LHR-5 where Travelex got a legal monopoly on money. Toronto Pearson Terminal 1, Sydney Airport, Hong Kong Airport.

Adding to Michael, in the last six months alone: Christchurch, Hobart, Manchester, Edinburgh, Accra, Gaborone. Turnhouse does have bank ATMs in a little alcove up on the departures level. Regardless of what the noodlers say, grabbing a quick initial fifty or hundred bucks from what's handy doesn't break the bank. You eat what's on your plate, Tabasco sauce or not. Not once in my life have I ordered currency ahead of time. It's just too much oh an unnecessary pain in the tail.

Many thanks to the kind folks who took the time to respond. I'm leaving in a few hours and have managed to pick up some Euros and pounds at the bank but I'm trying to limit it. Best to all. Gayle

I would use an airport ATM only if I needed cash to get into the city where the bank ATMs are located. The exchange rate (or commission) can be terrible. At LHR in the past few years I have seen only unlabeled ATMs. There used to be Barclay ATMs (so labeled) in the arrivals area. Since I travel to London once or twice a year, I retain some cash from each trip so I always have enough local money to get to a bank. Since I have an Oyster, I may keep enough credit on that so I can get into London via the Underground without spending money. The exchange booths (Travelex) at SFO or another departure airport might be a better place to buy European cash. Then it wouldn't be necessary to find cash at the arrival airport when you are dealing with jetlag, exhaustion, luggage, etc.