Where and when should I change my money from US to Euros? or should I just tap mac when I get there
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23621 posts
The cheapest, simplest, and most convenient way to obtain local currency is via a debit card at a local ATM.
Posted by
Oak Park, Illinois
4535 posts
Use the ATM just like you would at home. Some people feel more comfy bringing a 100E with them. If you are one of those, just exhcange at your bank before you leave (never use a curreny exchange if you can help it). Remember to notify your bank of your trip. They will often raise your daily withdrawl limit for your trip. European banks do not charge fees. Check with your bank on their withdrawl and foreign transaction fees. You can minimize fees by withdrawing large amounts just a few times (versus small amounts often). BTW - Is "tap mac" slang for using an ATM??
Posted by
Bloomington, IL, USA
9371 posts
Yes, Douglas, it is. We had this exact question, with the same turn of phrase, a few months ago. It's apparently a common phrase in the more eastern parts of the US. I had never heard it before the other question.
Posted by
New Paltz, NY
9110 posts
It's a Philly thing: http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=tap%20mac
Posted by
Bloomington, IL, USA
9371 posts
Yes, the other person who used the phrase was also from PA.
Posted by
OP
Holland, pa, usa
7 posts
Yes I'm from Philly.
Posted by
Oak Park, Illinois
4535 posts
Good to know. I just wanted to be sure she wasn't going to knock someone on the head and take their money LOL!
Posted by
Charlotte, NC, USA
78 posts
this is really a PA/NY/NJ thing...back in the day, the ATMs were called "MAC (money access center) machines." i grew up in NJ and when i went to college in NC, i asked my friend (from Boston) where the MAC machine was on campus she had no idea what i was talking about. i was totally confused. :)
Posted by
Lakeville, MN
68 posts
Our last few trips we have exchanged money at Wells Fargo. If you add up the fees from ATM's the fees at Wells Fargo are about even, and you have cash which is easy and appreciated. Make sure to use a money belt too.
Posted by
Lakewood, Colorado
19272 posts
"last few trips?" You shouldn't need to get cash from Wells Fargo more than once. Rick says, "assume you will return". Make sure you finish your current trip with enough left over to start the next one.
Posted by
Texan in CA
4415 posts
"You shouldn't need to get cash from Wells Fargo more than once. Rick says, "assume you will return". Make sure you finish your current trip with enough left over to start the next one." Definitely, AND bring home some toilette coins...don't expect to waltz into the airport/train station toilettes after arrival and 'go' for free ;-) Saves you from frantically buying something, anything, to break a €20 and hopefully scrounge up €0.50-1.00... Yeah, the 'mac tapping' made ME look at the thread's posting date, too! 'Mac' is probably getting pretty ticked-off by now...
Posted by
Louisville, KY, USA
6 posts
I use ATMS but I also take enough cash to barely scrape-by (like just enough to eat and get to your departure airport) in case something extremely unusual/unlikely happens. I use Wells Fargo currency exchange online: They typically have decent rates on common currencies (euros) but check them against your local bank. They can also get just about any currency (I've gotten Egyptian pounds, australian dollars, icelandic krona, and israeli shekels) but their rates on rare curriencies isn't so great. For example, the bank-to-bank rate on israeli shekels is currently 3.67/$, but they are quoting 3.09/$ https://www.wellsfargo.com/foreignexchange/