At many banks, people who aren’t account holders at that bank can use the currency exchange service for a small fee. Be sure to call around in advance to check. In the U.S., major branches of Bank of America, Wachovia, Wells Fargo and Chase, among others, offer currency exchange services. You can get euros at some major banks and online. His actions have stuck with me and I always try to have at least 100 euros on me when I arrive in Italy, just in case. I remember my dad being sure that we had some British pounds to take with us, just in case there was a problem as soon as we arrived, or for some reason we weren’t able to change money when we first got there. My first trip to Europe was when I was 10 years old and my parents decided to take advantage of a “new” low-cost airline, People Express, and go to London. If you have tips you would like to share, please leave them in the comments below. Note that I’m not covering all the options, just the ones I use most often. So…based on my numerous trips to Italy, here’s my advice for getting euros and spending money in Italy. What is the best way to get money when I’m traveling in Italy and should I use credit cards? In the 10 years, I have been running Dream of Italy, I have certainly noticed that certain questions come up far more often than others and one of the more popular questions is. Where you must have cash, do your homework, shop around and try and get a rate as close to the market rate as possible.As the editor and publisher of a subscription travel newsletter on Italy, you can imagine that anyone and everyone asks me about travel to Italy. Ideally use a no foreign transaction fee card to pay for purchases abroad as much as possible, so you don't have to exchange the cash in the first place or handle a foreign currency throughout your trip. Bottom lineĮxchanging cash before traveling can be a bit of a minefield with bad rates and high fees commonplace. Just be absolutely sure you are aware of the fees and limits of this option before blindly withdrawing cash as you may be stung with multiple fees if you aren't certain of what you can do for free. If you have an account with an international bank like HSBC or Santander, your account may be eligible for free ATM withdrawals in foreign currency at your bank's branded ATM anywhere in the world. Be prepared and know whether your bank has a network of partner institutions where you can save on costly ATM fees. If you do, don't just wander to the ATM on the next corner. No matter how well you plan ahead, it's easy to find yourself in a cash crunch. (Photo courtesy of andresr/Getty Images) 4. Ideally, try and find somewhere in a town or city at your destination rather than at an airport as they are likely to provide even better rates. In general though, note that it is likely you will receive a better rate at your destination for your dollars even at an expensive but convenient airport kiosk. If you see a hole-in-the-wall exchange place with a queue down the road, they may have great rates too. A low-rent corner shop that advertises money exchange may be able to do a great rate for you. If you do want to exchange cash before you leave, shop around for locations in towns and cities that are less convenient, but where there is more competition. dollars are also likely to give you an awful rate in exchange for this convenience. airports that can dispense pounds, euro and U.S. Those kiosks you see in high-profile locations in airport terminals pay huge rents and to make money they either charge you a significantly lower rate than the market rate or charge a sizable "transaction fee" - or both. While exchanging currency at the airport is convenient, it comes with an extra cost. Here are four currency exchange tips to help you get the best deal on those dollars, yen, rand or whatever you're putting in your wallet. Whether you find yourself in a hole-in-the-wall restaurant with no credit card payment terminal or you're hoping to tip the service staff at your hotel, you're going to need some cash. While you can make sure you have a card that does not charge foreign transaction fees, know that your card can't cover everything. Whether you're making your way to Morocco or escaping everything in Thailand, successful globe-trotting requires a smart approach to avoiding extra fees when you make purchases.
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