buying euros

See RS FAQ:

https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/money/cash-tips

Resist the urge to buy foreign currency before your trip. Some
tourists feel like they just have to have euros or British pounds in
their pockets when they step off the airplane, but they pay the price
in bad stateside exchange rates. Wait until you arrive to withdraw
money. I've yet to see a European airport that didn't have plenty of
ATMs.

https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/money/cash-machine-atm-tips

Ask the credit union what it costs to use your ATM card in Italy to get Euros. Probably a 1% conversion fee and no per-use fee. (Tell them when you will be traveling so they don't block your card for suspicion of fraud.) The ATM in Italy most likely won't charge you a fee - I've never been charged one.

As repeated nearly daily -- The cheapest and most convenient way to obtain local currency is via a debit card at a bank owned ATM in any Euro using country. Even if you have to pay fees to use your debit card it will still be cheaper than any other options. If you purchases Euro in the US prior to departure expect to pay from 8 to 12 % premium. I, personally, think it is a good idea to have a hundred euro in your pocket when you land, so I would just use a currency exchange at the airport. It was cost you ten bucks but pocket change when looking at your total cost of the trip.

Airport ATM upon landing just so much easier and will be cheaper

Using your debit card at any ATM upon arrival is indeed the best way to do it.
If you just want to have some in your pocket when you land consider ordering a small amount through either AAA or Travelex.com. As others will point out it's not a particularly economical way to acquire the currency, but the extra $15 or so that it will cost to get some before you depart might be worth it simply for the convenience involved. As I recall you don't necessarily have to be a AAA member to use their service, and Travelex may have an office close to you if you'd like to do it in person.
Also, you might inquire among some of your traveling friends who may have some left over from a previous trip that they'd be will to sell to you to get you started.

Unfortunately, since your credit union doesn't offer this service, you are limited in your options. Most banks will not sell you any foreign currency unless you have an account with them. The online companies selling foreign currency don't have good rates, especially when you factor in their delivery charges. The exchange booths at the airport are not all that great either.

If you absolutely must have some before departure, check with your local AAA (if you are a member). Some locations sell currency, depending on what part of the country you are in, and we have been told here the rate is good at those locations (but no one will ever tell us what rate they paid!). Or open an account with Well Fargo, which many say has fantastic rates (once again not telling us what they actually paid), get your currency and then close the account if you don't want to keep it. Your final option is using the airport exchange booths. These will cost 10 - 15% over what you pay for Euros out of an ATM in Europe.

As others suggested, the best thing (cost wise) is to just wait until you get to Europe and use an ATM. Verify your credit union allows you to use your ATM/Debit card outside the US, some don't, and what fees they will charge so you don't get surprised. Also, don't forget to tell your credit card issuer and your credit union when and where you will be in Europe so they don't shut you down for suspected fraud when transactions start coming in from Europe.

If you bank with Wells Fargo, euro will cost you 5% (on average) over the Interbank rate at branches that sell foreign currency. That's less then $12 (for 200€) for the assurance that you will have money for the first few days for food, transportation, etc when the airport ATM says, "call your bank" (that's happened to me at least three times).

Bank of America's rate is about the same as Wells Fargo's, but at BofA you also need to be an account holder.

I've checked several times with my local AAA office about buying foreign currency. I think it might be different for every office. Once my local office was getting euro from Wells Fargo; the last time they were getting it at Travelex for 10% over. Airport exchanges in this country will probably be Travelex.

Added: I just checked with my local AAA office. Their rate for today is about what Wells Fargo or Bank of America charge for members. You don't have to be a member of AAA, but non-members pay an additional $10 per order.

I would definitely recommend that if it is your first trip to Europe, and you don't know for sure that your card will be accepted, take some euro cash. Those of us who travel regularly to Europe bring home a few euro to start the next trip.

In the past you needed more cash than today. Worst case scenario the ATM at the airport is not functioning...
there is no reason why a credit card can not get you by the first day or two until you find a working ATM.

Of course if your credit card company or bank don't know you are traveling to Italy you could be in a heap of trouble without cash.

I keep my extra euros at the end of each trip so I never purchase any in advance. I just use the ATM when I arrive.

Have you had a look at your credit union’s website? My CU does not offer foreign currency directly but they team up with ezforex.com. I just checked their rates. €100 would cost $125.73 vs $116.24 using rate listed at WS Journal online.

there is no reason why a credit card can not get you by the first day or two

In Germany, at least, if you are using places that accept credit cards you're paying much more for them; why worry about a few more dollars to have cash.

I don't recall ever seeing in Italy a price for cash and a different price for credit ???
Maybe a gas station, in the US that is typically the only place that is ever true.

I have never seen it "posted" for a price difference for cash or credit card. But I almost always get a better price for paying my hotel in cash and the same for other big expenses.

I get €uros before ending a trip to have them for the next one, but that doesn’t answer your question. If you want to buy some €uros prior to the trip, many malls have currency exchange booths. Also, you can order foreign currency from many banks even if you don’t have an account. Just call a few. AAA also offers the service. As others have stated, the exchange rate isn’t as good as you’d get from an ATM upon arrival, but you will have currency upon arrival and won’t have to look for an ATM right away. Do what you’re comfortable with.

Ask your credit union for a bank referral that will order your Euro, hopefully without a fee. I do recommend you have a small amount of Euro on hand.

Not sure where you live but if in Southern California I recommend Bretton Woods in Brentwood. They always have the best exchange rate around. I always carry some Euros with me so I don't have to find a machine in the airport. Do a google search of foreign money exchange and see what is available in your area.

The places that accept credit card simply charge more for the same thing than the equivalent place that accepts only cash.

It is nothing posted, like gas stations in the US do for example, it is just how they operate. And as mentioned by others, some small B&B or family run hotels will charge you less if you pay cash rather than use credit.

The cash places save the processing charges levied by the card networks and pass some of the savings on to you.

Wells Fargo Bank advised us before we left for Europe to change our ATM pin to 4 digits from 5. Apparently ATM machines in Europe are not set up for 5 digit pins. Just something to be aware of if you’re planning on using ATMs.

I bank at a Credit Union also and on the back of my ATM card it has the logos for
STAR and Co-Op, most of the ATM machines in Europe that I have seen have
at least one of these logos on their machines, so I just use my US ATM card in Europe.
I have never had a problem and have been all over the world.
They do charge a small fee (a couple of US dollars per transaction - but
well worth it to me.)
Happy Travels

Bank of America recommended a 4-digit PIN for ATM cards too.

The places that accept credit card simply charge more for the same
thing than the equivalent place that accepts only cash.

Well said, Mark. In essence, paying with cash, no matter how you get it, can be cheaper than using your credit card at a place that takes it.