Has anyone bought Euros from AAA

The absolute best rate that I have found for Euro purchased over here is from Wells Fargo at a branch that has Euro for exchange, usually a main branch. They generally charge about 5% over the Interbank rate. If you have to get it from a satellite branch, shipping will add to the rate. The next best rate I found locally was AAA. It was slightly higher than Wells, but more accessible.

But that was several years ago. I suggest you test it for yourself. Call AAA and see what their rate, $ per Euro is, then check online at Oanda (www.oanda.com) for the Interbank rate. Compare with the rate quoted from local banks. Use major banks with a foreign exchange office; smaller banks get them from the major banks.

Currently, Oanda shows $1.4507/€, Wells Fargo's rate is $1.5207/€, so Wells is less then 5% over.

Oddly enough I rarely recommend AAA for anything other than changing a flat tire. However, I've found purchasing currency from them always beats my bank.

Why not just pick up Euro's at an airport ATM upon arrival? Do you need to have currency before that? Typically, the exchange rate at an ATM is the best possible but you pay a transaction fee. I keep my transactions large to keep the relative fees lower and keep any money I won't be using today in my money belt. Check with your bank for daily ATM cash withdrawal limits and notify the right people at your bank you will be in Europe so they don't freeze your card.

I want to have a few Euros to start out. It will be busy enough at the airport when we arrive and I don't want to have to deal with that right away. We have been to Italy twice before on bus tours many years ago, but this is the first trip all on our own.
It's a little intimidating, but these message boards are giving me alot more confidence. Thanks all.

I agree with our desire to have a few Euro to start with. A lot of people will tell you it's no problem arriving without, but they won't be there to help you if you can't get some. What if the network connections are down. That happened to me once. Fortunately it wasn't in an airport town, and I had some cash on hand, enough for that day. But it happened. We've had people tell of ATMs being empty because the workers who fill them were on strike. If you never have used your card in Europe, you don't know it works. It is just better to pay a few dollars in advance to be safe, not sorry.

That said, if you think you might ever go back, don't convert all of you Euro back to dollars. Save some to have when you start your next trip.

And, be careful which bank you are using. Some of the major banks are now charging 2%-3% on top of the 6/10% network charge, and a possible out-of-systen fee, making cash from over here not much more than from an ATM over there.

Kathy, we too wanted the comfort level of having some Euros in our pocket on arrival. We had a cooking class the day after arrival and they wanted cash. We weren't sure that we could amass enough cash from daily ATM withdrawls to do this so we bought 300 Euro. Our daughter works for Wells Fargo so we took advantage of her employee discount of 2%. We had a 3% charge.

That being said, what's the big hit here. You pay $30-$40 in fees to get Euros in advance on a trip that will cost you $6,000-$8,000 for 2-3 weeks. In perspective, this isn't a big whoop. If Euros in your pocket before leaving will give you comfort, please don't haggle over a few dollars. Go get them.

I'm with the don't arrive with nothing group. I always have at least 100 euros in my pocket, it gets you a taxi, train or bus, and a meal or two, while you can then get money leisurely from an ATM near hotel.

My bank account allows me to use foriegn ATM without charge, and since most foriegn ATM s I have encountered didn't charge me a fee, I am fee free!! Now, I am returning to Italy after 20 yrs so I don't know if their ATMs cost there, they don' tin France/

My AAA branch doesn't keep Euros there usually, so I order them and other foreign currency through AAA-Travelex. You can access the toll free number from the AAA website or can order online either one. I've always called. They deliver them by Fed-Ex in 1 - 2 days, which ever you choose. I usually go in with fiends to get an amount that is high enough to get free next day delivery. The amount I've paid is less than my bank, and it is a lot less trouble

since if I order from the bank, I have to go in to order them, pay a fee, come back several days later when they get there, etc.

Avoid anything with the name Travelex. Or at least check it with Oanda. In my experience, Travelex was excessively high rates ( around 7-1/2 percent). If AAA is now teaming with them, I would have to withdraw my endorsement of AAA.

The AAA website says that they are now with Wells Fargo instead.

AAA has severed all ties woth Travelex very recently. They finally got smart. As of February 1, AAA has much better rates on euros and their money card is through someone else with a better rate. On a worse note many banks are alligning themselves with Travelex. US Bank now does nothing with foreign currency. They have Travelex doing it for them and the rates are much worse than they were if that is possible. Always ask if Travelex has its name on it-- you will be paying way too much. In Europe now Travelex has ATM's . Never use them unless you want nothing in your wallet.

AAA can be convenient - but now i pref my big bank. Better rates - just have to wait 2-3 days vs walk in. Most larger AAA offices have some EUROs in 100$ amounts - but there is a 7$ fee - so its more like 93$ worth of Euros - not a lot!. and they will charge you whatever the price was for the day they bought it (if that matters). But if youre running late and dont have time for the mall - run in and get 100 or 200$ worth - better than nothing if you feel you need to have some cash when you land (like I usually like to do too!)