Need to exchange beaucoup Euros. . . .

Here's what I did when I was in the same situation going to Venice last year. After explaining the situation to my credit union's representative before I left home, I requested and received a significant increase to my foreign ATM daily withdrawal limit. They were very specific as to the date when I could start withdrawing the increased amount and when the last day would be. After that last day, the daily limit reverted back to my usual amount. Our Venetian landlord was very understanding and I paid him half at the beginning of our stay and the remainder on check out. It worked out very well for us.

there are other instruments that can be used such as international bank drafts or international money orders. Not all banks can do this or have someone who knows what they are, but worth a shot. Of course if he wants currency, you're pretty much stuck with paying someone to buy euro.

Or something simpler as I do it: Take enough cash in US $ and change it in the country where you need cash. The exchange course is usually quite better there than if you buy foreign currency here. Money change booths usually don't have good change course, change it in a reputable bank.

Per Stan's comment, I too have just done it via bank wire directly into their overseas account. Worked great. Even with the wire fee it was cheaper than exchanging cash at a bank upon arrival since you'll be getting that day's international exchange rate.
In my case I wired the deposit when formalizing the booking, then usually paid the balance in cash upon arrival. In some cases when the balance was due before I departed on the trip I wired that as well. Saved a lot of money and heartache for both me and the renter.

I had similar situations. In those cases I called my bank to increase the withdrawal limit and used my ATM card. Even then I still had to split the withdrawal over two days but it was much cheaper than changing dollars or using a wire transfer. Also better than traveling with that much cash.

DJ

See if he'll accept a wire transfer to his account, which is the way most transactions are done in France these days. If not, then he's just not declaring the income, which really isn't your problem except that France is cracking down on unregistered rentals.

I have gone to Europe for 13 of the last 14 years for about a month. I have stayed in all kinds of places from hotels (seldom) to B&Bs have never rented an apartment tho. Whenever I have been asked for payment before I arrive, I offer a credit card. If that is not acceptable, I look elsewhere. When I have been asked for full payment upon arrival, I tell the landlord that I will need to make the payment over two or three day if I am staying for more than just a couple of days. I explain the ATM limits I have. I have never had a problem with that option and if I did, I would again look elsewhere. I would suggest you contact the financial institution that issued your Debit Card (of ATM card and I hope you do not use a credit card in ATMs) and see what they can do about raising your limit for a short period of time as someone else has already suggested. And, if it were me paying a couple of thousand Euros cash to a landlord, I would demand a receipt. Happy Travels.

Thank you all, this is wonderful advice. Rick Steves forum comes through again!

I'm going to ask the owner if I can split payments, tell him I don't want to travel with a lot of cash. Then I'll see what I can do to get a higher limit. I have 2 bank accounts, so I have even more flexibility, that was something I did for overseas travel--- in the odd chance that one of my ATM/banks didn't work I felt that I would have a backup (admittedly I did this during 2008 when it felt like the U.S. banks were imploding one right after the other. In fact it didn't just feel that way-- they WERE imploding one right after the other).

As for wire transfer, the problem with that is I would pay him in advance, sight unseen. I'm not comfortable with that. I gave the owner a small paypal deposit, paypal has a bigger fee than I would have thought but guess they have to pay the credit card fees.

As for taxes, whatever, that's not my problem, as was said on the forum.

The advice on changing dollars at a bank is marginal at best. Most banks, I would say all but there is probably one somewhere, will not change dollars to Euro in the same manner that your local bank will not change Euro to dollars. I would jack up my debit card limit and hit it hard for a couple of days.

I leave in a couple of days. I arranged with my landlady in Sicily to make several payments throughout my stay, so that I can withdraw the cash required from my ATM.

She was quite fine with that. I am not the first Canadian/ American winter long stay guest that she has rented to... and not the first to be reluctant to carry a lot of cash on me, whilst traveling to get there. ;-)

@Frank: I go to Europe at least once, sometimes twice a year in last 20 years. Not once it happened that bank would not change my dollars into Euro or any other local currency. Even in small towns. No problem whatsoever. But you are right that to change foreign currency into dollars in the USA is difficult, only few banks in big cities would do it.

I think the idea of increasing your withdrawal limit will work, especially since you have 2 banks. And I can't imagine the proprietor would have a problem with taking his/her money in stages.

As far as paypal fees, I know in the US you can select "friends and family" to send money without fees. I don't know if that works converting to euros, though.

We've had the same situation with either rentals or hotels where we pay cash to get a discount. We have two bank accounts with ATM cards, of which one has our "vacation funds" as a primary source, and the 2nd as a backup.

• The maximum withdrawal per ATM per card seems to be 250 euros.
  
• Also know your banks maximum in USD. If your banks max is $600, that's about 550 euros. The max might be per card or per account- check with your bank. Our Capital One ATM limit is $600/day/card
• Two people with 2 ATM cards can withdraw 1000 euros at one ATM (4 transactions). (I prefer ATMs inside banks during business hours for large withdrawals like this). If you need more, just head to the next ATM and do the same thing. (assuming you haven't maxed out your USD daily limit.)

Hope this helps.

We found in Venice that ATM's would happily spit out 500 euro at a single transaction. Bdid it many times.