I will be traveling in Switerland for 4-5 days this summer (Interlaken and Geneva). Hotel stays are booked. I am trying to determine how much money in Swiss Franks I will need to obtain before traveling for meals and entertainment. Does anyone have any recommendations?
Posted by
Seattle, WA
17440 posts
Do not obtain the money before traveling. Use ATM's there for the best rate (you will find ATM's even in the airport). Start with 100 to 200 CHF; you can withdraw more if you need it.
Posted by
OP
Las Vegas, NV, United States
3 posts
Doesn't the ATM charge a percentage of what you take out each time? I have never used an ATM internationally before...and am hesitant to do this.
Posted by
Chicago/Rural WI
811 posts
It depends on your bank, as fees vary. Generally if there is a charge it's between 3-5% (and some banks tack on other fees, too).
On the other hand, there are some financial institutions that don't charge additional fees. An example is Capital One (where I have an account with an ATM card that I use in Europe).
Best thing to do is call your bank and find out what they charge. Another piece of advice is to bring an ATM and/or debit card from more than one bank account. I've been in a situation before where my Capital One ATM card would not work anywhere in the country that I tried (Czech Republic) but my debit card from Chase worked just fine. Downside was I was dinged with fees.
Edited to Add: By the way, even if your bank charges fees, Lola's advice is still spot on about using ATMs. For more information, please reference THIS article written by Rick Steves and published on CNN.com.
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23626 posts
Even after paying ATMs fee it will be less than the fees paid to obtain cash in the US before you go. ATM usage is the cheapest and most convenient way to obtain cash.
Posted by
US Pacific Northwest
10344 posts
This explains why you may want to do what the rest of us do and use ATM's in Europe.
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32353 posts
Ashley,
One point to mention for using ATM's in Europe, is that normally your funds must be in a chequing account with a four-number PIN. I've found that it's a good idea to have a "backup card" as well, in case there are any problems with your primary card (which happened to me for the first time last year).
Posted by
Danville, VT
12040 posts
I'll answer another part of your question. Food in Switzerland is extremely expensive. A decent meal at sit down restaurant with a drink for one person can easily approach $60-70. Other options, like take-away, groceries and fast food will be cheaper, but still well above the European norm.
Posted by
Knoxville, TN, USA
7209 posts
I wonder why some people are so hesitant about using ATMs in foreign countries, not just Ashley. The ATMs in Switzerland operate in the same manner of the ATMs in the USA. Put your card in, enter your pin (secretively), choose the amount of money, and you're on your way.