Euros ahead of time?

No. No. and No. The answer is still the same.

Assuming that you are flying or going to Dublin, get your EUR at the airport when you arrive, as everyone advises. If you are flying or going to Belfast, we're talking GBP, British Pounds, but the advice is the same. And if you go on to the UK, you will need to have/get GBP there as well. To most of Europe? EUR. Thank goodness for ATMs around the world! Republic of Ireland EUR will work in most of Europe. Northern Ireland GBP will work in the UK.

Thank you! I just want to get the most for my dollar. Slainte.

Well, it depends on your comfort level. I want enough to get me from the airport in to town and for food the first day when I am jet lagged and not functioning at 100%. I also travel solo some of the time and don't like feeling anxious or vulnerable when I am alone. I feel much better with some local currency in my pocket. I like to start with 100 to 200 of whatever the currency is where I am going. My local bank will get it for me and I don't care if it is not the best exchange rate. The few dollars difference does not hold a candle to the amount I am spending on airfare, hotels, Rick's tours, etc. Spending that extra money to alleviate any anxiety I might have is completely worth it to me.

I do use ATMs to get local currency for the rest of my stay.

The hardest task will be to figure out what will make YOU feel most comfortable!

Thank you Pam. This is exactly the reply I was looking for. it is our first trip to Europe and I thought I might want to have some local currency in my wallet after 12 hours in the air, probably feeling a bit disoriented.

My experience with my first trip to Europe in the recent era of travel, lol, landed us with a few hours to kill in the Amsterdam airport after the long Seattle to Amsterdam flight (and of course leaving early AM out of Lewiston ID). I actually walked around looking at ATMS and could only find the TravelEx ones which I was sure gave a poorer exchange rate than the bank ones. Now, I am SURE there were bank ones around, but in my not-exactly-top-notch mental state I did not see any. I had Euro, I was just looking to see what I could see because everyone said to change at the airport and I was trying to figure it out for next time.

If you are flying in to Dublin it is much smaller, but really, I liked having money to take a taxi in to town (there were 5 of us) and getting settled in our hotel, then looking for ATMs the next day.

I don't know where you bank, but our local chain bank was a Sterling, now Umpqua. I have not gotten Euro since they changed to Umpqua altho it was very reasonable with Sterling. If it is Umpqua, they have a lot of charges associated with foreign ATM withdrawal so get the details before you go. I won't use that debit card overseas again. I'll use my local credit union.

I will chime in to say I do exactly as Pam does-take enough local currency to get me started on my adventure. I am a big "what if-er"!

As you noted in your query, question has been asked and answered many times. And the RS website even has a "travel tips" topic under Money:
https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/money/cash-tips

Where Rick recommends:
"Don’t buy foreign currency in advance. Some tourists just have to have euros or pounds in their pockets when they step off the airplane, but smart travelers don’t bother and know better than to get lousy stateside exchange rates. Wait until you arrive at your destination; I’ve never been to an airport in Europe that didn’t have plenty of ATMs."

If you thing you need "insurance" bring several hundred dollars in USD currency. Convenient thing is that the USD is the worlds reserve currency (for now) and easy to exchange (at a retail cost) into local currency. If you can't figure out how to use the ATM, go to the exchange kiosk and pay the going rate to get you in to town.

Again. Rick's words:

"Bring along some US dollars. While you won’t use it for day-to-day purchases, American cash in your money belt comes in handy for emergencies, such as when banks go on strike or your ATM card stops working. I carry several hundred US dollars as a backup (in denominations of easy-to-exchange 20s). I’ve been in Greece and Ireland when every bank went on strike, shutting down without warning. But hard cash is hard cash. People always know roughly what a dollar is worth. If local banks don’t have exchange services, you can always find exchange desks at major train stations or airports."

I am a solo traveler in my 60s and DO NOT pay the ridiculous fees to get euros beforehand. Relax, the ATMs work just like the ones where you live!

Thank you everyone for taking the time to reply to my question. Lots of food for thought.

Pam we have an Umpqua bank right around the corner from where I work and I am impressed with the customer service. I find lately that local banks are better in almost every way.

It sounds like I should check with my bank regarding using my debit/credit card internationally. I don't seem to ever need to use my Alaska Airlines Visa signature card at the ATM as I always have my local bank debit/visa card with me.

You don't want to use a credit card at an ATM as that is a cash advance with interest rates associated with that on your card. You want to use your bank/credit union/money market debit card to get cash when you travel.

Check carefully on what the bank says they will charge you to use an international ATM.

Some people get some euros before they leave, to take care of the first day.
Others don't.
Since you'll get mixed opinions here, you get to decide this one.

Susan my experience is that you want to call the 800 number for card services on the back of your card for good information on using the card overseas. The local people at the bank ( as nice as they might be) often know nothing about the nuances of travel.

Great information everyone. THANK YOU!!

You have mined a topic that seems to always elicit lots of attention, but doesn't seem to get fully explored - at least in this venue. In the interest of satisfying some questions of both theoretical and practical value, would you mind sharing your actual experience? It would be very interesting for readers to find out: 1) exactly how long it really takes your bank to come up with the euros and 2) how much they charge you for this service, i.e. what's the cost in USD for a 100 euros delivered right here in the US, versus the current theoretical exchange rate? Thanks for helping to educate. And enjoy your time in Ireland, we had a fantastic visit there last May.

In 45 years of traveling abroad I've never purchased currency before hand. Instead I take $100. In Ireland when I arrive at Dublin airport and depending on the lines at the two ATM's that are in the arrival area I either use the ATM to withdraw Euros on my debit card OR I walk over to the Bureau of Exchange, hand them the $40 and off I go. No stress. No mess. Get to my accommodation, unpack and out to explore with my first stop being a Bank of Ireland ATM or before ATM's an actual bank branch. I have also learned to keep some local currency to use on make next visit. Thus when I return to London later this year I'll have some Pound notes to top up my Oyster Card. Have a fantastic visit to Ireland. Such a lovely country. Relax. Explore. Enjoy.

Edgar, and pretty much everyone else is "spot-on." Normally you will find the currency exchange rates a little better compared to buying Euros in the U.S. prior to your departure. ATM's are reasonably located. Enjoy!

I will share what I find out re: ordering euros beforehand. Thank you everyone!

We are headed to Ireland in October and contrary to all that is posted, I did purchase some Euros already. The rate was 1.042 and I couldn't pass it up.

We got some Euros to take with us to start the GAS tour last year. We have AAA and there was no charge.. We were lucky at the time we ordered them it only took 48 hours to get them. We were happy to have them when we landed in Frankfurt and tired. We were even happier when the train tracks were out and we were delayed for hours. For us the peace of mind was nice.
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As an update, my local bank debit card charge will be a flat $1 per ATM withdrawal internationally. Another regional bank where I live exchanges any dollar amount into foreign currency for a flat charge of $10. You do have to have an open account with them. So I am electing to wait until we arrive at the Dublin airport and find an ATM. Slainte to everyone!

PS - 1.042 and 48 hours - that is a great rate and turn around time for dollars to euros! I would not have passed that up either.