avoiding exchange fees

The bank will charge you fees, too. Many banks don't keep euros on hand and have to order them for you. This can take time and there are fees involved, somtimes hefty ones. This topic has been discussed many times in recent weeks on this board. Consensus of opinion seems to be that the preferred way is to take a small amount of euros with you, then use ATMs to obtain cash while you are gone.

BoF has a 7$ fee or so - and rates were better than the local Mall or online exhange like TravelEx. I try to take probably only 200-300euro upfront and then use ATMs at big banks over there. So depending on the fees/rates you may get 10-15$ more or less when you exchange here at home. Not a big dealfor small amounts... check you banks website and compare to travelex.com

Gezim, there is a difference between the exchange rates of foreign currency and foreign cash. Foreign currency is if banks exchange money digitally between two different bank accounts (one can be a credit card e.g., the other your checking account). The exchange rate for that is the one you e.g. find on XE.com. Right now it's around $1.46 per €1.00. Foreign cash is if you walk up your bank and buy €uro cash from them. In addition to a handling charge they use a much different rate of exchange, probably around $1.60 per €1.00... Ask your bank what you'd have to pay for €1,000 cash. Then (on the same day) check with xe.com for their exchange rate and add that 1% or so credit card handling fee. Bank of America customers can withdraw €uro cash in Germany, France, England and other countries free of service charge with their debit cards at ATMs of Deutsche Bank, BNP, Barclays respectively...

Here is another suggestion.

You can actually use your debit cards here for purchases as well (check with your bank to be sure that your Visa debit card is useable in Europe - typically anymore they are) . Depending upon your bank fees this might be a good option. Then you will not have to worry about the cash situation overall. Withdrawl cash as needed.

xchg fees are close to impossible to avoid just minimize them by using european bank atms and a numeric pin is used in europe. charging also normally includes fees, ck with all your cards and banks to see what is best for you. it is alittle work in advance but the fees can add up.

Andreas is correct in that BofA has banking relationships with Deutchebank in Germany and Barclays in England but it's only in their home countries. In Germany and England, there is no ATM fee. However, it you went to a Deutchebank ATM in another country, you would pay a fee. Also, BofA has no banking relationship with any bank in Italy or Switzerland. You will pay a fee in those countries. I'm a BofA customer and I think I got all of this off of their website before our recent trip to Italy and Switzerland.