salsjag2 Posted April 14, 2011 #1 Share Posted April 14, 2011 Need advice from the experts from this amazing source of information! Thank all all so much for sharing your experiences and advice! We will be going on the Barcelona to Copenhagen voyage on the Marina. Should we exchange dollars for euros in the States or should we do it in Barcelona? I had heard that American Express gives you the best rate when you charge. Have you found better? Thanks for your help! Sally Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruin Steve Posted April 14, 2011 #2 Share Posted April 14, 2011 Need advice from the experts from this amazing source of information! Thank all all so much for sharing your experiences and advice! We will be going on the Barcelona to Copenhagen voyage on the Marina. Should we exchange dollars for euros in the States or should we do it in Barcelona? I had heard that American Express gives you the best rate when you charge. Have you found better? Thanks for your help! Sally First of all, Sally, You are in the wrong place for this question...Should have posted it on one of the more general boards...not "Roll Calls"... That said, I would always exchange some dollars for Euros before a trip, so that you have some walking around money when you arrive...in case you need it for a cab, a bus, a tip, a small purchase...I usually do this through my bank--Wells Fargo--fairly simple and decent enough rate... We have found, when in Europe, best to use a credit card or ATMs...Remember, an ATM will tack on a fee at both ends--the same regardless of the size of the transaction...So, it makes more sense the more you are exchanging... Credit cards offer good rates...but, beware, most now have a 3% "Foreign Transaction Fee"...Ones that don't include, Capitol One, Chase British Airways Visa and most American Express Cards...But, a lot of places in Europe won't take Amex...Check with your credit card company and ask if they impose a fee...Or quickly apply for one that doesn't... Good luck... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
salsjag2 Posted April 14, 2011 Author #3 Share Posted April 14, 2011 Steve, I realized that after I posted. Thanks so much for the advice and I think you have given me enough info that I don't have to go any further. I guess you will be on our cruise, so I hope to thank you in person! Thanks for your help! Sally Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruin Steve Posted April 14, 2011 #4 Share Posted April 14, 2011 I guess you will be on our cruise, so I hope to thank you in person! Sally, Actually, I won't be on your cruise...IIRC, you are on the May 26 sailing...and we opted for the August 10...similar sailing in reverse...the dates worked out better for our schedule...But, enjoy your cruise and come back here--onto the main Oceania board and tell us all about it...I am sure those of us on the August 10 sailing will be looking forward to hearing about it... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
salsjag2 Posted April 14, 2011 Author #5 Share Posted April 14, 2011 Will do and rest assured as it will be " pay back time" to say thank you all for the time and effort put into these sites. I am sorry to miss you this cruise! I know you will have a great time even without me lol! Sally Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
salsjag2 Posted April 14, 2011 Author #6 Share Posted April 14, 2011 Will do and rest assured as it will be " pay back time" to say thank you all for the time and effort put into these sites. I am sorry to miss you this cruise! I know you will have a great time even without me lol! Sally Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colorado Kat Posted April 15, 2011 #7 Share Posted April 15, 2011 I just hit an ATM as soon as I get to a country that requires a new type of currency. Sometimes called Bankomat, Cash machine, or Geld-Automat. Try to anticipate how much you will need, so can get the appropriate amount. And remember to contact your credit card companies that you will be making purchases in a new country. And who-ever gave you the ATM card. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Keith1010 Posted April 15, 2011 #8 Share Posted April 15, 2011 Need advice from the experts from this amazing source of information! Thank all all so much for sharing your experiences and advice! We will be going on the Barcelona to Copenhagen voyage on the Marina. Should we exchange dollars for euros in the States or should we do it in Barcelona? I had heard that American Express gives you the best rate when you charge. Have you found better? Thanks for your help! Sally Sally, good questions. On some American Express cards they have waived the International charges for Credit Card transactions. If you have American Express check with them to see how it works on your card. The drawback to Amex as mentioned is that it is not good everywhere. A couple of other card companies do not charge the international fee on Credit Card purchases. One is Capital One. Unless you are hopping into a cab immediately, I would just convert your money at an ATM when you arrive to Barcelona. You can do this at the airport in Barcelona and then at countless other locations in the city. Also, you may know this but if you are spending time in Copenhagen following the cruise, the currency in Denmark is not the Euro but the Danish Krone (DKK) Keith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wantocruisemore Posted April 15, 2011 #9 Share Posted April 15, 2011 We have a Capital One credit card. We're now thinking of setting up a Capital One checking account so we would have an extra debit card too. Does anyone know if they tack on extra charges when you use the debit card??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Keith1010 Posted April 15, 2011 #10 Share Posted April 15, 2011 We have a Capital One credit card. We're now thinking of setting up a Capital One checking account so we would have an extra debit card too. Does anyone know if they tack on extra charges when you use the debit card??? They don't charge anything extra, but the ATM provider might charge something. I believe Capital One might cover one or two of the extras per month. It's worth a call back to them to confirm that. Keith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
staygulf Posted April 24, 2011 #11 Share Posted April 24, 2011 I have a friend who is a magician. If you give him a £10 note he folds it up, says name a currency, you name say euros, he unfolds it and it is a 10 euro note. Whatever currency you name is the currency of the unfolded note. I've no idea how he does it, but that is the best way of turning dollars into euros ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeande607 Posted July 7, 2011 #12 Share Posted July 7, 2011 AAA will exchange money with no extra charge if you are a member. If not get a member to do it for you. The price of the Euro changes daily and that is set.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Keith1010 Posted July 7, 2011 #13 Share Posted July 7, 2011 AAA will exchange money with no extra charge if you are a member. If not get a member to do it for you. The price of the Euro changes daily and that is set.... True they won't charge you a transaction fee but the exchange rate is not as good as the one you would get from an ATM in Europe. Keith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruisintwinsmom Posted July 8, 2011 #14 Share Posted July 8, 2011 AAA will exchange money with no extra charge if you are a member. If not get a member to do it for you. The price of the Euro changes daily and that is set.... I found that AAA had the worst exchange rate and they charged $12 service fee if the exchange was for less than $1000. The best exchange rates I got were at ATM's and using my Capital One credit card (which had the best rate of all). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruisin'tex Posted July 11, 2011 #15 Share Posted July 11, 2011 Need advice from the experts from this amazing source of information! Thank all all so much for sharing your experiences and advice! We will be going on the Barcelona to Copenhagen voyage on the Marina. Should we exchange dollars for euros in the States or should we do it in Barcelona? I had heard that American Express gives you the best rate when you charge. Have you found better? Thanks for your help! Sally In Europe, we've always gotten better exchange rates at American Express offices. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Gail & Marty sailing away Posted July 24, 2011 #16 Share Posted July 24, 2011 Captal one card ATM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aggie83 Posted July 30, 2011 #17 Share Posted July 30, 2011 Forget AAA - way too expensive, as is Bank of America. Both of them tack on fees that are too high and their exchange rate is awful. There will be an ATM at the airport. You will get a much better exchange rate at the ATM. Get the max out of the machine. Bring some US cash and as a last resort you can use a foreign exchange place at the airport. This is a very expensive option, so I would only use if I couldn't find an ATM (which is highly unlikely). Check with your bank, they might have arrangements with foreign banks which will eliminate the additional fees. I know Bank of American has arrangements with some European banks. Don't bother bringing your AmEx card to Europe - it is not widely accepted in Europe. Go with MasterCard or VISA. Make sure you have a 4 digit PIN for your credit card. Call your bank to get it set up. You will want to have local currency because it is not uncommon for places to not accept credit cards. Europe is not like the US where everyone pays for everything with a credit card. I second the recommendation of the Capital One credit card. No foreign transaction fee, and you will get a good exchange rate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Gail & Marty sailing away Posted August 10, 2011 #18 Share Posted August 10, 2011 Capatal one card and a atm machine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wayfairers Posted September 8, 2011 #19 Share Posted September 8, 2011 I'm another fan of the ATM to get cash (our internet bank reimburses our ATM fees up to a max $$) and using the Capital One credit card as much as possible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Gail & Marty sailing away Posted September 8, 2011 #20 Share Posted September 8, 2011 Atm are easy to us all over the place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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