USA cash in europe

Not hard at all. Simply head to a bank or an exchange bureau. http://youtu.be/Ur7NgbJ1G30

And pay too much.,, wouldn't recommend it as a way of carrying cash, just use your ATM card.

Exchanging is not problem but be prepared for 5 to 10% premium on the exchange.

I disagree with Michael's response. While an exchange bureau will take your dollars, banks here won't exchange money for people who do not have an account with them. If you are traveling outside large cities that attract a lot of tourists, you may not find exchange bureaus.

You would certainly have no problems finding somewhere to change U.S. dollars in Britain. Most Post offices, travel agents and many branches of shops like Marks & Spencer and W.H. Smith all have foreign exchange bureaux. U.S. dollars, and euro are the most common currencies exchanged but many others are also available. The main exchange business of the places listed above is to provide British travellers with foreign currency, but they also "buy back" from people returning from their trip. My only warning is that the rate you get may not be that good for you. Returning tourists are not too concerned about the exchange rate, and just want to exchange money they cannot use for money they can. You may also find that there are restrictions on how much US money you can exchange, because of money laundering regulations. The warning about large denomination bills also applies.

I carry an emergency supply of US currency. If pressed, I can change it into local currency. If not, it comes home with me and I save the double transaction costs of turning it into local currency and back. The money I spend comes from ATMs. They are everywhere you are likely to need one. ATMs give you local currency and charge a fair rate for the transaction (provided your bank doesn't charge excessively).

Agree with bob re uk. To reiterate don't forget the post-office and shop around. Uk is fine. Note to get euros I need my passport in the uk (I'm a uk citizen) - don't think you could walk into a post- office in uk and change dollars into euros easily (I'm sure it's legal, but without a uk passport and uk residence it may cause a panic! - not sure about this).
S

Waldo, Go to Wells Fargo before you leave and buy currency. OK rates and easy once you're there.

I have never seen an advertised exchange rate at an Exchange bureau that was close to the ATM. Exchange bureaus will always be at least 5% over an ATM rate. And sometimes much more. A debit card at an ATM, without question, will always give the best exchange rate - within 1% of the interbank rate.

I exchange dollars once in a while at my local bank/Sparkasse where I don't have an account. It costs me 5 euro. My own personal bank at the Post does not change money. Some banks do and some don't and the fees for doing so for those without accounts will also differ. I do get a better exchange rate than the Money Exchanges charge, so yes, if you feel the need to change some money, I would try a bank first, just be aware that not all of them in every country in Europe will do so. Waldo forgot to tell us where in Europe he is going, thus the responses are not going to be very accurate. Iceland might be very different than Switzerland or Croatia.