How much foreign currency to bring?

[Firemaker]

We are going on a Western Med. cruise and we were wondering how much currency (Euros) would you take along for tips, taxis, trains, buses, last minute excursions, meals off the ship, etc., etc,.? We understand we will have access to ATM machines and we will have credit cards, but some foreign currency at the beginning of the trip should be available, right?

Thanks

[cliffd64]

You should be able to get Euros at the pursars desk...

[njhorseman]

You should be able to get Euros at the pursars desk...

 

 

That isn't a good idea...the exchange rate used on the ship typically is not very good.

 

You're usually much better off getting euros from an ATM in Europe. I usually buy a modest amount ($100 worth or so) at home to take with me and then buy any additional euros I might need on shore.

[islandgirlejfan]

I would check around and see who is giving the best rates. If you are a customer of Bank of America or I believe Wachovia, you can order the amount you want to purchase. American Express and Travelex are two other possiblities. They tend to be a little more expensive though. Bank of America used to sell foreign currency to anyone, but now just their customers. Travelex actually gave us a really good rate for New Zealand Dollars. We generally figure out what we are going to do and get the estimated currency we will need for our trip.

 

I always check http://www.xe.com to keep a check on the currency I'm going to purchase a few weeks ahead of time. It really helped me a few years ago when the Euro started heading upwards.

[garycarla]

If you do not take any, you will probably be okay. In a dozen overseas trips, we have never gotten funds in advance. Only time we might run into a problem is when getting cab from airport to hotel, but we solved that by hitting the ATM in the airport. If we opt to spend more during the trip, there are always ATMs available that give out money in the local currency.

[Joshua1]

I have just come back from Greek Islands/Turkey/Crete cruise and stay in Corfu for one week. I have not been to Europe for a while on holiday even though I live in UK. The prices have shot up, especially in the hotels drinks etc. It has always been a bit more pricey than the UK. When you use the ATM's you have to make sure that you are not charged by your banks for using them. A lot of English banks charge for this service, I dont know about the US though.

 

To go from our hotel in Kemono Bay around 15 miles was around 20-25 Euros. Hope this helps

[mapsmom]

Being the obsessive person I am, I over-researched this. Here are my findings, as of August:

 

HSBC - no charge for exchange - they send them directly to your house by UPS. Bank of America charges $7.50, and their exchange rate was worse.

 

ATM in airport has not such a good exchange rate. Again, the HSBC in Malta (to the left of the exit from St. John's Co-cathedral) had a great rate, either at the window (if you have dollars in hand) or at the ATM.

 

Also, the casino will charge dollars to your onboard account, no fee, and you can take these to exchange as well.

For a family of five, we spent about $1500 for meals (pre-cruise in Barcelona and a couple of lunches), souvenirs, water to bring on board, admissions (vatican with reservations was 22 E each, Uffizi and Galleria della Academia 10.50 E each, Colosseum 12 E, Sagrada Familia 9 E (group rate).

You will need more if you hire a car and driver, like Romeinlimo.

[nlt46]

Our bank told us that we would be paying twice to get Euros here in the US. We just changed US money into Euros at the bank in the Barcelona airport. The rate was fair. We did have a problem with our ATM working at the airport and everywhere else the first day. We emailed one of the Veeps at our bank and asked her to work her magic. Our card worked the 2nd day and continued to work through out our trip. I would not travel without US cash and the email address of someone at our bank to make ATM's work when they don't work at first. I can get by without Euros until I get on foreign land. When we landed in London, they had a bank for the pound too. Paris airport, train stations... both had banks for exchange too.

 

Nancy

[Firemaker]

Such great information!

I called my credit union and they don't charge anything for foreign currency!

So, we will get a little money before hand and rely on ATM's while we are there!

[BarbRN]

Being the obsessive person I am, I over-researched this. Here are my findings, as of August:

 

HSBC - no charge for exchange - they send them directly to your house by UPS. Bank of America charges $7.50, and their exchange rate was worse.

 

ATM in airport has not such a good exchange rate. Again, the HSBC in Malta (to the left of the exit from St. John's Co-cathedral) had a great rate, either at the window (if you have dollars in hand) or at the ATM.

 

Also, the casino will charge dollars to your onboard account, no fee, and you can take these to exchange as well.

For a family of five, we spent about $1500 for meals (pre-cruise in Barcelona and a couple of lunches), souvenirs, water to bring on board, admissions (vatican with reservations was 22 E each, Uffizi and Galleria della Academia 10.50 E each, Colosseum 12 E, Sagrada Familia 9 E (group rate).

You will need more if you hire a car and driver, like Romeinlimo.

 

What is HSBC?

[Giantfan13]

If anyone banks at Chase, they will get you any type of foreign currency, NO CHARGE and when you return, just bring them back the paper money and you get US Dollars back, all at the current exchange rate, no commissions, no fees.

[mapsmom]

Hong Kong Shanghai Bank Corp. - It's a commercial bank - lots of branches abroad and here.

 

It's good that Chase does that too. Capital One charges $10 and their rate was quite a bit higher.

 

You don't pay twice to exchange, only once.

[rich40245]

I took €200 for the last cruise. When I got home I had to convert the left over back to US$. The only reason I got € ahead of time was the cruise was from NYC to Barcelona, and the first port was the Azores Islands. I was not too sure about an ATM there. Turns out it would have been no problem. There were two different bank machines, as well as a full service bank right in the passenger port building itself. For land based trips in Europe, I've never taken any at all ahead of time. I always just use the ATM in the airport. I do take two different ATM cards with me, and a backup supply of US$ just in case.

 

Check with your bank: I use Bank of America, and they have several 'partner' banks (or something like that) where no fee is charged by either the bank in Europe or BoA. Free ATM. :D

 

Rich

[islandgirlejfan]

Our bank told us that we would be paying twice to get Euros here in the US. We just changed US money into Euros at the bank in the Barcelona airport. The rate was fair. We did have a problem with our ATM working at the airport and everywhere else the first day. We emailed one of the Veeps at our bank and asked her to work her magic. Our card worked the 2nd day and continued to work through out our trip. I would not travel without US cash and the email address of someone at our bank to make ATM's work when they don't work at first. I can get by without Euros until I get on foreign land. When we landed in London, they had a bank for the pound too. Paris airport, train stations... both had banks for exchange too.

 

Nancy

 

After having my card scammed here in the USA and used in the UK over the Christmas holidays, I personally wouldn't use any of my cards to withdrawl money unless it was an emergency. Since that incident, I call my bank to let them know where I am going to be, even when I am in the states for my credit card. The credit union is a lot more aware than my old bank...they have called me twice about charges I have made.

 

I have never paid twice to get my Euros or any other currency we have used. I have always purchased currency before I go. As I lived overseas, it's much easier to get currency changed there then it is here in the US, but the rates at the airport and train stations there are not as good as going to a bank. We always did that as a last resort.

 

If anyone banks at Chase, they will get you any type of foreign currency, NO CHARGE and when you return, just bring them back the paper money and you get US Dollars back, all at the current exchange rate, no commissions, no fees.

 

Travelex does the same thing....you just have to hold on to the receipt...you get it back at the exchange rate you purchased at.

[mapsmom]

Also, I opened a separate checking account without overdraft and put $1000 in it, just for the trip. I figured that anyone who stole it at least could not get into my primary account, where I would run the risk of bouncing checks, not to mention the overdraft issue. When I got back, I just went to the bank and closed the account.

[hamrag]

You should be able to get Euros at the pursars desk...

 

Did no one read this post! Yes, you may save a few quid (or bucks) by looking for the best rate but, for me at least, simplicity is the key here. Living in the UK we just carry Euros with us, and keep any left over for future trips, but for our Northern American cousins the pursars desk is the place to go.

[njhorseman]

Did no one read this post! Yes, you may save a few quid (or bucks) by looking for the best rate but, for me at least, simplicity is the key here. Living in the UK we just carry Euros with us, and keep any left over for future trips, but for our Northern American cousins the pursars desk is the place to go.

 

 

I sure as heck read it, and I replied that it is not a good idea, given the typically unfavorable exchange rate you'll get at the purser's desk.

[Giantfan13]

And, I believe, they charge an additional $10 per transaction *that is for each different currency)