Buying Euros at JFK

Have you checked with the Federal Reserve Bank in Seattle? I will be leaving there for Europe and had the same thought.

Purchasing Euros before you leave is really expensive - high fees and so-so exchange rates. We have had no problems using the bank ATMs at the airports to get Euros. They usually have the best exchange rates and most had no extra fee or only small fees (our credit union doesn't charge us anything either). Just make sure it is a regular bank institution and not a machine for a money exchange bureau as they add fees and the exchange rates are not as good.

Just to clarify.... We get the Euros at our first stop in Europe. The exchange bureaus at the American airports are not usually very good.

Julianne, when you get off the plane in Paris, walk to the nearest ATM, which will probably be about 50 feet away. Take out as much as you feel you'd like and be on your way. You are paying a premium if you do your transaction stateside. Have a few US dollars in your money belt if you feel you need some cash with you. You could always change those dollars at one of the change kiosks(also everywhere) but what is the point? Taking your dollars at an ATM is just one part of travel. Have fun, don't let this issue concern you. Have the dollars accessible in your Checking account, have a 4 digit(numbers,not letters) PIN number. Have fun!

Agreed that it will be more expensive to buy your euros here, but whether or not to do so depends upon your personal travel style. I've read on the Graffiti Wall about people not being able to get money from ATMs because they arrived on a bank holiday or during a strike by the employees that maintain the ATMs. Hence, every ATM they came across was empty. For myself, I prefer to just have the euros in hand ahead of time. I can then easily buy metro tickets and other small purchases. Yes, I don't like paying the exhorbant fees here in the States, but for me, it's worth the peace of mind. And you can't purchase currency from a Federal Reserve Bank. They are not a retail organization.

I have always exchanged the minimum amount of money at my home airport(US $ to Euros,Pounds etc.)I needed to cover incidentals immediately, i.e. shuttle/taxi, phone card, coffee, etc.
Then when I arrive, I withdraw money from the airport atm. That being said, I did experience empty atms at Heathrow on one of my trips. A Londoner told me this happens quite a lot after a couple of planes disembark at the same time. Also, after coming from so far, say on a flight of 10-13 hours or more, I can only manage to stay coherent for about two hours. The sooner I get the money out, the better. Also, assume you will be going back. Don't exchange your leftover Euros, use them when you return.

I get money from ATMs exclusively when I am in Europe and have done it with no problem in London, Paris, Florence and Venice. I do however have equivalent of $50 - $100 in Euros on me when I arrive -- for a cab, shuttle bus, metro or whatever -- so I can hit the ground running. Don't want to be at mercy of bank holidays, trying to find an ATM in a strange place when I'm weary from a long plane flight. Of course sometimes you can use a credit card. But I try to minimize inconvenience and hassle whenever I can.
And I agree, if you have Euros left over from your trip, hold on to them and use them next time.

I need to have a fairly substancial amount of euros,about 400 euros to be exact, to pay for my room in Prague. How hard is it to get that much thru an atm in prague?

Julianne - yes, you can buy Euros at JFK. No, you will not get a good exchange rate. You will also probably not get a good exchange rate from your bank. But if you don't want to worry about it then order away.

get them from your bank before... BofA has a deal with no fees if you get a certain amount, but even with the small 7$ fee - it was a little better than the big-mall chain exchanges!

"I need to have a fairly substancial amount of euros,about 400 euros to be exact, to pay for my room in Prague. How hard is it to get that much thru an atm in prague?"

It might be a problem to get that much in one day. Some ATM's put a lower limit than that on withdrawls even if your bank doesn't and will allow only 1 withdrawl per day.