Exchanging currency

[longview]

Hi.  I have a trip to Ireland coming up.  I'll need some euros for incidentals and am wondering if anyone can recommend the best way or place to do this.  I'm pretty frugal, which is how I managed to save for this, and the few I know that have gone to Europe have warned me about various service charges when you make an exchange.

[Dori]

Banks will probably have some Euros to exchange, but they might charge you a transaction fee.  There are ATM's in airports too.  You might check with your bank to see if there is an extra fee for that.  Credit card companies too.

[freedumb2003b]

Hi.  I have a trip to Ireland coming up.  I'll need some euros for incidentals and am wondering if anyone can recommend the best way or place to do this.  I'm pretty frugal, which is how I managed to save for this, and the few I know that have gone to Europe have warned me about various service charges when you make an exchange.

Get a prepaid VISA or MasterCard.

The airport moneychangers will KILL you!

[JohnnyReb]

Open an account at a "Barclays" bank. Explain to them why you're opening the account and in general where you're going. You can write checks in any currency you desire and they will handle the exchange rates when the checks come in or the transaction is wired to them.

You should have a general idea of what the current exchange rates are so that you don't overspend/overdraw because your mind is stuck on the dollar and not the currency you are writing  the checks in.

[seahorse513]

Because England doesn't accept Euros, I have just used the Atm. I always use the Debit card at stores, and all the tourist traps. That way you are not stuck with Euros, or international at the end of the trip. Just make sure you notify your bank, that you will be out of the country, and the dates. Use fanny packs, avoid backpacks, and purses, especially on trains and buses. My stepdad used to wear jackets in insider pockets or light weight vests, with lots of pockets with velcro. Make sure you write down the numbers of each cr/dt card with the lost /stolen 1-800 numbers.  Those passport pouches are really handy, keep that with the numbers at the hotel, or residence where you are staying, and just keep your license and dt card with you..
Just some advice..

[Dori]

Because England doesn't accept Euros, I have just used the Atm. I always use the Debit card at stores, and all the tourist traps. That way you are not stuck with Euros, or international at the end of the trip. Just make sure you notify your bank, that you will be out of the country, and the dates. Use fanny packs, avoid backpacks, and purses, especially on trains and buses. My stepdad used to wear jackets in insider pockets or light weight vests, with lots of pockets with velcro. Make sure you write down the numbers of each cr/dt card with the lost /stolen 1-800 numbers.  Those passport pouches are really handy, keep that with the numbers at the hotel, or residence where you are staying, and just keep your license and dt card with you..
Just some advice..

My MIL traveled to Europe all the time.  She wore a Velcro contraption around her midriff under her blouse for money and ID.

Oh and another thing, be sure you find out about how your medical insurance works while your in another country. 

[debk]

I went several times in 2003-2005. I went to Ireland in 2004.

I had a Visa credit card, a Visa debit card and some US cash. I took about $200 in cash, so I had money for airports here. I got about $100 in Euros at the airport in Dublin, and after that I used my Visas. If you have a Visa that has on a major bank, BofA, Citi, or Chase, they should all work over there. You can get cash out of the ATM's or go to any bank and get cash. Donot get Euros here, you pay too much extra money for them. Towards the end of your trip, try to plan exactly how many you need, use the leftovers at the Duty Free shop at airport if you have any. I think I've probably got $50 in Euros...still.  

If you use traveler's cheques, the banks will charge you a significant amount to cash them and the merchants, particularly in small towns don't like them. It costs the merchant's money to use your credit card - just like here, only more - and they will usually give you a bit of a break if you give them cash. More often than not, I would just get cash from an ATM, it was easier to keep track of how much I was spending.

The other benefit to using cash from an ATM or bank, you know exactly what the exchange rate is when you get the money. I found out the hard way, using my credit card on my first trip...the merchant may "hold" onto the credit card charges for a couple of days, because they can get a break on the more sent in at one time. The exchange rate can vary every day. My first trip, I left late in the afternoon after the first bombings in Iraq, going to Italy. The exchange rate was all over the place those 10 days. When the credit card bill came in, M almost killed me over how much money I spent! It was several hundred dollars MORE than what I had receipts for.

[longview]

Thanks for the suggestions!

I was a bit worried about getting mugged.  My boots (this is a riding vacation) have a money pocket inside and I only keep a few bucks in my pocket at any time.  I figured on carrying my driver's license, a debit card, regular insurance card and I bought a travel policy.  I might stash those in my boot pocket, too, instead of the "bum bag" we've been instructed to bring.  I figure the straps on a fanny pack could get cut easy, but not so much my leg off to get the boot!

[franksolich]

Ireland's on the euro now?

I'll bet they still take British pounds, though.

The Irish love British pounds.

I was only ever in Ireland once, but because I think their contempt for the noble and valiant British is misplaced, I played a, uh, certain trick while there.

For example, after dining, and the bill came to two-pounds-something, acting as if I misunderstood, I extended the waiter two five-pound notes, one Irish, one British.  (At the time, they were exactly equal in value, the Irish piggybacking on the British.)

The waiter needed only one, and he always took the British five-pound note, never the Irish one.

It happened every single time; in stores, bed-and-breakfasts, pubs.

They always took the British note rather than their own Irish note.

[CG6468]

Deb's recommendations are good. I'd add that you have to make sure that any credit card you'll use for anothing over there will be honored by the card company.

[debk]

Ireland's on the euro now?

I'll bet they still take British pounds, though.

The Irish love British pounds.

I was only ever in Ireland once, but because I think their contempt for the noble and valiant British is misplaced, I played a, uh, certain trick while there.

For example, after dining, and the bill came to two-pounds-something, acting as if I misunderstood, I extended the waiter two five-pound notes, one Irish, one British.  (At the time, they were exactly equal in value, the Irish piggybacking on the British.)

The waiter needed only one, and he always took the British five-pound note, never the Irish one.

It happened every single time; in stores, bed-and-breakfasts, pubs.

They always took the British note rather than their own Irish note.

Northern Ireland is on the pound sterling. ... at least it was when I was there.

The rest of Ireland went to the Euro, I think the same time everyone else did.

I had run out of Euros in Venice and I wanted 2 little fish out of Murano glass, in a little shop. The shopkeeper told me he would give me a better deal if I had cash paper US dollars than if I used a CC.. I got a good deal...but I didn't get any change back. 

[njpines]

I still have some Federal Republic of Germany marks (coins and paper) as souvenirs from when I was over there in 1980 as an exchange student. The exchange rate then was 4 marks to a dollar.

[Eupher]

I still have some Federal Republic of Germany marks (coins and paper) as souvenirs from when I was over there in 1980 as an exchange student. The exchange rate then was 4 marks to a dollar.

I was in Germany from 1979 till 1994, and I NEVER saw the exchange rate that high. It climbed to about 3.20 per the dollar in the 1984-1985 timeframe, but the days of DM4 to the dollar were long past in 1980.

According to this report, the rate slid from a high of DM 1.83 to DM 1.76 to the dollar in 1980. (Page 30)

http://research.stlouisfed.org/publications/review/81/04/Foreign_Apr1981.pdf

[njpines]

I was in Germany from 1979 till 1994, and I NEVER saw the exchange rate that high. It climbed to about 3.20 per the dollar in the 1984-1985 timeframe, but the days of DM4 to the dollar were long past in 1980.

According to this report, the rate slid from a high of DM 1.83 to DM 1.76 to the dollar in 1980. (Page 30)

http://research.stlouisfed.org/publications/review/81/04/Foreign_Apr1981.pdf

Sorry Euph, I could have sworn that was what I was told.  Oh well, the ole memory is slipping badly! 

[Condition1]

Hi.  I have a trip to Ireland coming up.  I'll need some euros for incidentals and am wondering if anyone can recommend the best way or place to do this.  I'm pretty frugal, which is how I managed to save for this, and the few I know that have gone to Europe have warned me about various service charges when you make an exchange.

Use a credit card for most of your purchases.  You'll get the exact exchange rate with no exchange fees.  For cash just go to an ATM and do a cash withdrawal.  You'll get the proper exchange rate and only be charged a regular ATM fee.  Avoid the money changers that charge a percentage fee.