Getting Euros In Europe

Even with all of the efforts to get a larger amount to withdraw over there, you still seem to be limited. I have a large ATM limit here in the U.S. but it just doesn't seem to be available in Europe. About 220Euro-250-Euro was all I could get. Actually, it was all I needed on most trips to the ATM but there were times when we wanted more cash for rooms and a cooking class. As suggested above, take two different ATM cards. You are correct on the 3% or so fees charged by banks for buying Euros in advance.

Any ideas?

Actually, no. You've already discussed ATM's, credit cards, and bringing some from here--that's the 3 options 98% of us use.

You could have two ATM cards drawing on different checking accounts, that should double the amount you can get out of ATM's over there and should be enough for the tolls, gas, and small hotels that don't take credit cards.

There are two types of limits -- what the card issuer places on you and the limit placed by the ATM for a single withdrawn. It is easy to get around the ATM limit by making a second withdraw or going to a different ATM. The card issuer limit is a bigger problem. Ask to increase you limit. Second, it is a good practice anyway, is to carry a second debit card tied to a different account. That way you have a backup should the first card failure for some reason. And if you need a lot of cash, use both cards.

The idea of having more than one ATM card is a good one. You never know when you might encounter problems with ATMs.

Can you get a checking account with Bank of America? That would be the best, because Bank of America customers can withdraw Euros for free (no ATM fees whatsoever) at any BNP/Paribas ATM in France. They seem to have ATMs all over France.

Jim,
I just returned from France and Spain, I leased a car and drove all over. I had no problem using a credit card at toll roads or at gas stations. So I wouldn't worry about carrying enough cash to cover those charges if that's a concern.

I took two ATM cards (diff checking accounts)- told both banks I was in Europe and had my maximum amounts raised (just in case it was lower than the banks over there once exchange rate was factored in.) The first day, I hit 2 machines to get the maximum each and after that, I alternated which bank I drew from every day (although I could have kept withdrawing from both every day, I did not need to do so.) If you are spending more than 600 euros a day, you are on a bigger budget than I was (with 6 people!) I only ran out of money once- in Venice- because the first machine was out of Euros. Oh, I also think I could have used my husband's ATM cards, too- diff #'s- that would have taken it to 1200 Euros a day.

Oh, I put my rental car on my Visa. That's the only spending where I didn't use cash.

On our last trip, my husband and I would withdraw euros from the same German Deutsche Bank (Bank of America)ATM machine using our own individual cards. We withdrew euros from the same account within minutes of each other. We each have our own maximum daily withdrawal amount. We also have another set of ATM cards for other banks.

another less common option is the use of a credit card that allows cash advance withdrawals at an ATM (you have a PIN just like a Debit card) Depending on the fee structure of the specific card, most cash advances are not subject to the same fees as a purchase, with the caveat that the interest starts immediately. With an online account you can then transfer funds from your bank to your card the same day as the transaction, avoiding interest. Multiple ATM cards are preferred anyway, but this offers another option.