should I buy some swiss franks here in the US before my trip to switzerland

Do you have a debit card? If so, simply use the ATM machines in Switzerland to get your cash. They always offer the best rates. Be sure to let your bank know about your travel plans so your cards don't get blocked. If you prefer to use all cash, simply use the currency exchange desks at the airport, and train station after you arrive. You might be hard pressed to find a bank that has CHF on hand with such short notice.

They're actually francs instead of franks. It's always handy to have some in your pocket, but not totally necessary. Just use the ATMs to get your foreign currencies.

franks...francs... I thought you were considering taking some hot dogs with you :))(my answer is no)

Thanks so much for your feedback. I had a little panic as I found out today that my credit card would probably not work as it does not have a chip. they will send me a new one but will it arrive in time. I leave next tuesday.
Travelex has a card that works as a credit card that you fund up front which I may look into if my new card doesn't arrive. thanks again

Relax about the chip credit card. The only place in all of Western Europe that would not work with my non-chip card was the Paris Metro automated ticket machines. Every other place (even ATMS) was fine.

Yes, don't worry about the chip card. I got one for my trip to France last Spring, but that was only for gas stations and ticket machines at train stations and the Metro. And while normally I would say don't take foreign currency but just use an ATM card, in my short stay in Geneva I didn't see a single ATM machine, whereas in French cities they're on every street corner. Oh, and don't even think about getting a Travelex card. They're an absurd rip-off.

We were in several places in Switzerland in July and had no problem finding ATM machines. We were able to use our magnetic strip ATM cards in the machines. We used our chip card for gas stations, etc. as Robert mentioned.

In nine trips to Europe in the ATM era, I have never had trouble getting cash at an ATM with a mag strip card. In almost every case, you should be able to get your first cash at an ATM at the airport. However, it's not the chance of not being able to, it's the consequences if you can't. What will you do if your card in rejected on a technicality, or if the ATM stockers are on strike and there are no Euro in them, or if .... Imagine being in a foreign country where you cannot speak the language, having no money for a taxi to your hotel or for food, and having to make a long distance call to the United States to correct the situation. It really makes sense to have a few days spending money, just for emergency. Main branches of Wells Fargo, which should be in San Diego, sell Euro at an average of 5% over the Interbank rate. That's only a few % more than what it costs from an ATM. Twelve years ago, I brought back a couple of hundred Euro, and now everytime I go over I have money when I get there and, when I come back, I bring some Euro with me for the next trip.

I prefer to buy some currency before I leave the US. I'm in Paris now and am going to London on Saturday, and I bought 100 pounds at 5/3 Bank in the US before my trip so I wouldn't have to worry about finding an ATM right away. If you decide to buy francs at home, it's worth shopping around a bit to find a decent exchange rate. Try AAA and some banks, but beware of any business that only sells foreign currency through Travelex. Travelex's rates are ridiculous.

As Lee does, I always try to bring home a hundred or 2 euros from France for the next trip. But if I don't, I don't pick up any Euros here. I just use the first bank ATM I see when I arrive. And like he also said, I've never had trouble getting cash at an ATM in France in 20+ years. And it's only gotten easier over the years. And from another comment, it looks like Geneva is an anomaly in Switzerland, since in Geneva I saw loads of change bureaus, which I always avoid, but no ATMs.

Seriously....Geneva, one of the banking capitals of the world, has no ATM machines:) I've got a bridge I can sell ya;)

Hey thanks everyone......... You have set mind at rest......... thanks also for the tip on travelex. Who knows whats a rip off and what isn't these days. I appreciate the help
Jay

Be sure you notify your bank of your departure, return date and the countries you plan to visit. Then confirm a day or two later. My advice is to use your debit card.

"Seriously....Geneva, one of the banking capitals of the world, has no ATM machines:) I've got a bridge I can sell ya;)" Michael, have you ever been to Geneva? I have, and could not find a single ATM. I didn't spend my entire day looking for one, but did keep an eye out and never saw one. And the lack of ATMs was confirmed by the presence of so many exchange bureaus. Those don't exist anymore in most European cities because there are ATMs everywhere. so no one needs them. But apparently not in Geneva center.

"...And the lack of ATMs was confirmed by the presence of so many exchange bureaus. Those don't exist anymore in most European cities because there are ATMs everywhere. so no one needs them..." That's an even crazier statement:) In central London, Paris, Amsterdam (or any other tourist mecca) there are exchange bureaus on every block despite there being lots of ATMs.

When I was in Geneva last year I had no problems finding ATMs. Both at the supermarkets and at the banks...

My experience matches Michale's. The relationship between ATMs and exchange bureaus is zero. ATMs primarily serve the local's banking needs just as they do in the US. Funny, how many Americans thinks that everything in Europe is centered around serving them.

35 years ago I used to see Exchange Bureaus all over central Paris and London. Now I see very few, albeit there are some. Why use an exchange bureau, with their poor exchange rates and fees, if you have an ATM card? And I assume most tourists now have ATM cards. And while I don't deny there are some ATMs in central Geneva, maybe even many, I just never found them. Whereas in Paris you can't drop a croissant without it falling in front of a bank ATM.

Give it up Robert, not all tourists are from North America and Western Europe. There are lots of other visitors from South America, Africa, Asia, and Eastern Europe where electronic banking isn't as popular and cash is king. How is an Indian tourist supposed to spend their Rupees in London without exchange bureaus?

I'm sure you're right Michael (although the part about Geneva I hopefully won't have the opportunity to recheck, as I hope never to get stuck there). Being American, where it's practically illegal to not have any ATM card, I forget that the rest of the world doesn't necessarily have our sophisticated electronic banking system (although it's sometimes too sophisticated). When I do see an exchange bureau in a place like Paris, I think: "How can these places still exist?" Now I know.

and regarding no exchanges in European cities, have you ever walked down Oxford Street in London and wondered what all those little tiny shops with lots of illuminated numbers in the window are? Yup... that's right. And in Euston Station where I'm typing from there are a couple more...

Nigel, your post reminds me of why I stopped using exchange bureaus in the 1970's. Back then, to get foreign currency you needed to go to a bank and hope they'd do an exchange, have an Amex card or Amex Travelers Checks and go to an Amex shop, or go to an exchange bureau. In London, in 1979, I used an exchange bureau because it was a weekend so I really had no option. I exchanged my US dollars for pounds, and as I walked away and counted them, I figured there had been a gross error or I had been swindled, because I had so few pounds and I knew what the bank rate was. So I walked back and looked at the terms on the window, and realized that there was both a horrible exchange rate and a high off-the-top fee. But I guess there's still a market for those services, since they still exist. And recently I looked into Travelex in the US, and realized they certainly do still exist.