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Should I get Euros cash before I leave home?

We are flying Seattle to Frankfurt with a 2hr layover then on to Milan. Should I use ATM at airport to get Euro cash or get Euro cash from my bank at home?

Posted by
5687 posts

Use an ATM in Europe for sure. Bring some USD to change in an emergency at the airport in case your ATM card or the ATM itself doesn't work and you desperately need cash.

Posted by
5835 posts

I agree with RS' FAQ tips cash:
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.

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

And most credit and ATM/debit cards require foreign travel notification. Call your bank/credit union.

Posted by
2712 posts

If you want to pull Euro from an ATM in Frankfurt Airport during your layover, make sure you notify your bank that you will be in Germany for that day, along with the days in Italy. Otherwise they could block your card.

Posted by
6386 posts

Airport ATM will get you the best rate. I always get some pounds or euros when coming back from a trip, so I will have some on hand the next time I go back. You could always exchange some currency before going on your trip if it will make you feel better to have some upon arrival. Remember to tell your stateside bank you’ll be using your CC and ATM overseas. For most banks it’s a quick call, or setting an online travel notification.

Posted by
104 posts

If you have time, post a message on your neighborhood blog offering to buy euro. I Have done this, as people inevitably come home with some unspent euro that sits in a drawer. I buy it from them at the current exchange rate. They avoid the exchange fee as do I, so most find that a good thing.

Posted by
19052 posts

Rick talks about a "bad exchange rate", which could be true if you try to use Travelex at the airport, but there are better places. Wells Fargo has banks in Washington and only charges 5% (average) for currency exchange (for WF customers only). That's only about $10 for $200 worth of euro. Most people will pay $2 to $8 to get the same amount from an ATM once they get to Europe' so you are not really losing that much. It's nice insurance. (Now, in my case, I've made 11 trips to Europe in the last 18 years, so it's an ongoing thing for me. I always have a few hundred euro left over from my last trip when I arrive in Europe.) I would no sooner fly to Europe without a few euro in my wallet than I would take all of the US currency out of my wallet before flying to NYC.

And, if you happen to see an ATM while you are in Frankfurt, get some euro. But if not, don't worry about it.

Posted by
355 posts

On our first trip to Italy, the ATM in Amsterdam didn't work. We had no Euros. Short time to catch the next flight. Ran.....

I understand all the various opinions here, but considering you might be spending thousands of $$ on this trip, what is a $5 or $10 fee to buy a few Euros before you leave?

Now, we always save 100-200 Euros for our next trip. The peace of mind is huge - who knows what might go wrong - as it has. Once there, we only use bank lobby ATM's during open hours.

Have a great trip!

Posted by
16 posts

I went to my local Wells Fargo and bought 100 euros for $122.78. The exchange rate that day per google was 1.16 so a few extra dollars for the peace of mind I'll have upon landing is worth it to me since I might have to catch a taxi in a hurry if the plane is delayed. Wells Fargo posts their foreign currency exchange rates on their website https://www.wellsfargo.com/foreign-exchange/currency-rates/ There are no other fees if you have an account there.

Posted by
1220 posts

It’s comforting to have a few euro in your pocket when you arrive, and by a few, I mean 50 or 100. But it’s no big deal, ATMs (Bancomats) are everywhere in Italy. Always use a bank ATM, preferably one on the wall of a bank. There are othe cash dispensing machines that are not associated with banks, and for those, the exchange rate may be a bit ordinary.

Some Bancomats may allow you to have the withdsrawal conducted in USD. Always decline this, whether at an ATM or if making a credit card purchase. The exchange rate then may be REALLY ordinary. It’s called Dynamic Currency Conversion, aka Let’s make some extra money on the transaction.

Posted by
258 posts

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Posted by
65 posts

I just spent 3 weeks in Italy in April. Arrived in Rome with NO Euros. Used ATM in baggage claim while waiting for my bags. Easy. Used ATM's all over Italy the rest of the trip with zero problems.

Just make sure you notify your bank before you go.

Rick

Posted by
3218 posts

I've never had any problems with getting Euros from ATM's. But for my own peace of mind, I always buy a few hundred Euros before leaving home. One less thing to worry about.

Posted by
59 posts

After two bad experiences this year, I have decided that I am not doing the "use the ATM at the airport when you land" thing anymore. At KEF in Iceland, a hysterical person was blocking an entire row of ATMs because she said one ate her card. I finally pushed past her and the crowd that had formed and used the ATM successfully but it wasn't a pleasance experience. At FCO in Rome, my husband encountered several lines and ATMs that were not dispensing money. Both times, my traveling companions, who had exchanged ~$200 at their banks at home in spite of my advice not too (you'll get an unfavorable exchange rate, it's so easy just to get $ when you land, etc., etc.) waited patiently. Never again, for me, whatever fees I have to pay to make the exchange at home are worth it to get my vacation off to a smoother start.

Posted by
1626 posts

We've routinely brought home Euros so we have for the start of our next trip.

For this trip, we actually arrived in the UK on the Queen Mary 2 on Friday (we have Euros, just no GBP) I just made the assumption that cabs in England would take credit cards and or there would be an ATM in the cruise terminal. (Taxis in Southampton do NOT take credit cards and there is not an ATM at the cruise terminal). Just added a bit more stress to get a cab as we #1) needed to stop at an ATM on the way to the hotel #2) needed a cab that could take our dog #3) and LOTS of luggage (since we are moving to Italy). On hind site, had we either exchanged about $50-100 back home, would have been a bit smoother.

But worst case, just ask the taxi to stop at a cash machine before your destination (called cash point in England, which added to the confusion when I asked for an ATM)

Posted by
945 posts

At most airports, you should be able to use the ATM to get cash, however, as some of the other posters have mentioned, there have been times when an ATM is not readily available or there is a really long line. Now when I travel, I carry a small amount of Euros (50 to 100) in case I run into any issues.

Sandy

Posted by
225 posts

I subscribe to "wait". I do bring back about 50-100 E for my next trip, but taxi drivers have no problem stopping at an ATM for you. In fact, they know where they are and which ones are safer. Here's my caviat: I have NEVER had a problem with a debit card when I traveled, unfortunately, my son recently went to Asia to study for a month and Capital One froze his debit card. Even though it was my account, they refused to speak with me since the card was in his name. After two days and countless hours with Capital One, I went to my Wells Fargo branch. Luckily, my son had ignored my instruction to leave his regular debit card at school and so, had it with him. I was able to transfer all the money from Capital One to his Wells Fargo account. It cost me more in transaction fees, but he had money. It was a horrible experience knowing my son was on the other side of the world without any cash. Capital One was horrendous. So here's my suggestion... take two debit cards - if one is frozen or "eaten" you still have access to cash.

I will be doing this on my upcoming trip to Italy. Two debit cards from two different bank accounts (neither have foreign transaction fees) and two credit cards from two different banks.

Posted by
996 posts

I vote to have some starter Euros with you before you travel. I am always exhausted after the overnight flights, and I have run into ATM difficulties where I was glad I'd brought currency with me. You don't have to break the bank and take all the Euros you might need for the vacation. Just take enough for cabs and coffee!

I hope you enjoy your holiday!

Posted by
5 posts

You could use your credit card in most places but you should have some cash as well.

Posted by
303 posts

Add me to the list of travelers who had problems getting cash from an ATM in Europe! We had notified our bank about our travel plans, but the info didn't get to the Fraud desk, so our funds were frozen as they wouldn't recognize us as legit users in Italy! Fortunately we always take about 200 euros with us just in case. By the time we got this straightened out, our 200 euros was long gone, and our credit card had way more transactions on it than we had planned. We don't do business with 2 banks, so 1 debit card was all we had! Ya just never know, and you are miles away from home!

Posted by
67 posts

Thank you All for your tips and suggestions. I found a friend who came back with a few Euros so will figure an agreeable exchange and I will be set for at least our first day in Italy
I am so thrilled with this RS travel forum. You all answer my questions quickly, thanks so much.

Posted by
768 posts

Before you begin using your Credit Card at ATMs in Europe, contact your card issuer to check if there are transaction fees (or what ever other clever moniker fees may be called). We carry a card from a bank on the west coast (near you in Seattle) that does not charge transaction fees and the exchange rate is, well, what ever the exchange rate is at the moment of the transaction. No additional fees. We typically use ATMs at banks in what ever country/city we're in while traveling.

Posted by
355 posts

Sounds like you are good to go! Glad you found a friend with some leftover Euros. Have a wonderful trip.

Posted by
258 posts

And on a related note, my credit card (Visa Capital One Business) just informed me that they know about my travel plans already! Here's an email I got (I'm traveling in about a month):


"Travel Tip: You no longer have to tell us when and where you’re traveling.
Re: Your card ending in XXXX
Thanks for using your Capital One® card to book your upcoming trip. We want to let you know that because of the added security that comes with your chip card, you don’t need to call us before you take a trip."


However, it came with the following warning:
"Security Alerts*
Make sure your contact information for alerts is up to date so we can reach you if there are any issues with your card."