Best place to get $

Same answer you will find a thousand times on the forum:

Use your ATM card. Go to a bank operated ATM inside a bank or at a bank. Ask for what you need. Just don't ask for more than your bank allows to withdraw at a time. Alway decline if offered to be charged in your home currency, this will result in you getting a bad exchange rate.

Edit: By ATM card I mean whatever card your bank has given you to get money from an ATM. That might be called a debit card (which usually also lets you use it for purchases) or one that is limited to only ATM withdrawals (becoming more rare). Definitely NOT your credit card!

I think Mark means to suggest using your Debit Card. An ATM card and a Debit Card are not the same, although the terms are frequently used interchangeably on this forum. Your Debit Card is the one tied to your bank account. The "confusion" stems from the fact that both are used at an ATM.

Mark says it right. To get the local currency (Euros in Germany), same as the locals, find a bank-owned ATM and put in the same card as you use to get money at home. Make sure you have told your bank first you will be using the card in Germany, so they don't block it. And if the machine "offers" to charge you in your currency, the answer is NO. Charge the exact amount you get out, in the same currency (€).

It was your question that confused me "Best place to get $"; why would you want to get '$' in Germany, and which sort (Aussie, Singapore, Canadian, Mexican Peso, . . .)? You would have to go to an exchange office for that, and pay a lot to exchange your € into $. No currency in Europe uses '$' as its symbol.

Ditto, a bank ATM. My ATM and debit card are the same card.

Ditto, a bank ATM. My ATM and debit card are the same card.

Mine too.

So my banking is via a credit union, does this pose a problem with ATMs in Europe?

I agree with those above, definitely use your Debit Card and take out the maximum you are allowed to withdraw to minimize fees depending on how many days you have left. Use an ATM associated with a bank or inside a bank to minimize fees.

In regards to, aneffie53, before you go check with your credit union regarding international usage and fees. Credit unions, especially local ones, can have very high fees. It might be better for you to try and get a credit card with zero international transaction fees or look into opening an account with a bigger bank that has lower fees if yours are high.

Credit unions, especially local ones, can have very high fees.

Gee, the reason I use my local credit union ATM card when in Europe is precisely because it has no fees other than a 0.9% foreign transaction fee, largely for using the MasterCard network. General rule, the bigger the bank, the higher the fees.

I'll have to check with them I guess. Thanks!

Check with your credit union. I have a small local one and the fee for international transactions is 1% which is way less than some of the banks.

I think it depends on the credit union. My bank reimburses for ATM fees because they don't have physical locations, even including international ATMs. Additionally my credit card doesn't have any international transaction fees.

I had a couple of friends in Europe who used their small local credit unions and their fees were outrageous. I think it does depend on the credit union though, so I think it's always safe to check and compare your options.

my credit card doesn't have any international transaction fees

But if you use your credit card to get cash at an ATM, there is a fee for a cash advance, plus you accrue interest immediately.

I verified the ATM fees in advance with my credit union. One percent of the withdrawal in USD plus $1, and that is what I got charged.