Best Place To Get Euros

[RBKL]

18 minutes ago, chipmaster said:

The thread brings back fond memories of my adventure planning for a large family group 11.  We ended up securing two vans and adding four more people for a total of 15 in multiple ports.  As organizer I got to handle payment, and yes some companies require/prefer cash to CC.    To bad they ain't like china going w/o cash or CC, LOL.

 

I'd figured out how much the tours were, sucked it up and did it all by exchanging many thousands of dollars to thousand and thousands of euros, what a stack, felt like a drug dealer.  

 

Time in port is valuable you really want to run around trying to stop and withdraw your and your family friends and others to the limit.  You are on vacation you spend thousands for your ship, thousands more for your airplane and then thousands more for your tours, yup run around from ATM to ATM to save a few euros.  yeah it costs a lot, but you know what you'd save more by not going at all!

 

On to reality, convenience is worth the cost, we got our euros, I think it was like 6 or 7K at BoA.  I wasn't going to waste my valuable port time ATM, using ship, or local exchanges.     Balanced with a few ATM stops to top off spending money, but all tour money was reserved and converted before leaving the USA.   Carried about 2/3 in a body wallet, I looked fat, and the other 1/3 carried by my wife.   Went into the safe once at hotel and on the ship.

 

Thank you very much. That’s the plan.

[lenquixote66]

Just now, clo said:

Where do you use Euros?

I do not now but years ago I did .

[donaldsc]

We have a currency exchange business here in Las Vegas.  You get a fair exchange rate and they buy back most currencies.  Check to see if you have one in your home town.

 

DON

[clo]

1 minute ago, donaldsc said:

We have a currency exchange business here in Las Vegas.  You get a fair exchange rate and they buy back most currencies.  Check to see if you have one in your home town.

 

DON

That's good to know.  I just wonder if people who want to 'get rid of' their Euros means that they don't intend to go back.

[navybankerteacher]

9 minutes ago, clo said:

That's good to know.  I just wonder if people who want to 'get rid of' their Euros means that they don't intend to go back.

I always seem to have about 100 Euro and 100 GBP in the pewter beer mug on the top book shelf.  I never want to run out when over there, I certainly don’t want to waste them at some overpriced shop just to use them up, I like to think I will be going back over fairly soon (I always have been), and it’s good to not need to find an ATM first thing when getting there.

 

 

[clo]

2 minutes ago, navybankerteacher said:

in the pewter beer mug on the top book shelf.

And your address is???? )

But totally yes.  

[Shmoo here]

On 11/10/2019 at 9:34 AM, lovemylab said:

Personally, I wouldn't want to be running to an ATM at every port stop to be taking out Euros.  Not only is it time consuming, but if the ATM is down or your card stops working you could find yourself in a mess.   

Well, it wouldn't be necessary to do it in EVERY port stop.  

 

As to "what if the ATM is down" - it's not like there's only one ATM.

 

We typically buy a "tip pack" at AAA before we leave.  That gives us a little cash to have on hand as soon as we're there.  And then use ATMs to get additional cash.  Actually pretty easy.

 

 

 

 

[SRF]

6 hours ago, clo said:

Bob has been with them for over 50 years and it's been a great experience.  Any time we've called them the last thing they say is "what else can I help you with?"

 

Newbies. 😄

 

My Dad will have been with them 70 years next year.  And I will have been with them (on my own account) for 40.  I have been covered by them for almost 50. 😄

 

I keep telling them that my Dad and I should be in their commercials.  We have already BEEN customers for life. 😄

 

[SRF]

5 hours ago, chipmaster said:

Time in port is valuable you really want to run around trying to stop and withdraw your and your family friends and others to the limit.  You are on vacation you spend thousands for your ship, thousands more for your airplane and then thousands more for your tours, yup run around from ATM to ATM to save a few euros.  yeah it costs a lot, but you know what you'd save more by not going at all!

 

Hmm, for the OP, they will be saving $500 - $600.  Not a few dollars.

 

And ATMs are VERY common in Europe.  Most every block will have 2 or 3.  It will not take much time at all to hit an ATM in each port.  Or at the airport when you arrive.  Or you hotel if you arrive the night before, and again in the morning before you leave.

 

But those of you who what to spend more, go for it.

[dogs4fun]

We never cash is our euros - we simply save them for our next trip. We use ATMs in europe to obtain local currency - these offer us the best rate of exchange & ATMs have been widely available in the many cities we have visited. 

Edited November 13, 2019 by dogs4fun

[whogo]

Has anyone who bought foreign currency from AAA done the math? Different AAA clubs have different products. My AAA club uses Travelex and their exchange rates are horrible, a 13% markup last time I checked.

 

I have not found anyone to beat Wells Fargo for foreign currency in the USA. They charge about 5.5%, no other fees if you buy from a branch that has foreign currency on hand. Rates may vary depending on your status with Wells Fargo (the teller did not seem to know, was just going by what her computer told her to dispense).

 

My advice, RBKL, is to shop around for foreign currency.

[cruisemom42]

11 hours ago, chipmaster said:

The thread brings back fond memories of my adventure planning for a large family group 11.  We ended up securing two vans and adding four more people for a total of 15 in multiple ports.  As organizer I got to handle payment, and yes some companies require/prefer cash to CC.    To bad they ain't like china going w/o cash or CC, LOL.

 

I'd figured out how much the tours were, sucked it up and did it all by exchanging many thousands of dollars to thousand and thousands of euros, what a stack, felt like a drug dealer.  

 

Time in port is valuable you really want to run around trying to stop and withdraw your and your family friends and others to the limit.  You are on vacation you spend thousands for your ship, thousands more for your airplane and then thousands more for your tours, yup run around from ATM to ATM to save a few euros.  yeah it costs a lot, but you know what you'd save more by not going at all!

 

On to reality, convenience is worth the cost, we got our euros, I think it was like 6 or 7K at BoA.  I wasn't going to waste my valuable port time ATM, using ship, or local exchanges.     Balanced with a few ATM stops to top off spending money, but all tour money was reserved and converted before leaving the USA.   Carried about 2/3 in a body wallet, I looked fat, and the other 1/3 carried by my wife.   Went into the safe once at hotel and on the ship.

 

 

I remember your posts on the European ports of call boards re: this. I was horrified that you were going to have so much cash on you in transit but it appears to have worked out for you.

 

That said, I still would not agree with your approach. Obtaining the money in country would not really have been difficult, finding and using an ATM in just about any area where cruise ships/tours stop is going to take less time than a bathroom break, and you will save quite a bit on the exchange rate with that big of a tab....

 

Of course, this was all a few years ago. I notice more private tour operators are moving toward accepting payment by credit card, which does help those in this kind of situation.

[SRF]

35 minutes ago, cruisemom42 said:

Of course, this was all a few years ago. I notice more private tour operators are moving toward accepting payment by credit card, which does help those in this kind of situation.

 

With hardware/apps like Square and others, there is NO reason for them to not accept cards.

 

Especially in Europe, where people use a card for a pack of gum.

[Bizmark'sMom]

21 hours ago, CruisingNole said:

If you are a frequent traveler, you really should open a free high yield checking account through Charles Schwabb. No bank-charged ATM fees, no foreign transaction fees, nothing, no matter where you are in the world. I always get euros through ATMs while travelling in Europe, as needed. During my last trip to Germany and France, I visited about a half dozen ATMs over the course of 10 days. No fees, you just pay whatever the exchange rate is that day. Just like America, there's at least one ATM within a stone's throw of civilization.

 

Exchanging currency in America and travelling overseas with it is really unnecessary. Not to mention the risk associated with carrying large amounts of cash on you. But alas, some people (many of them post on this forum) like to make life harder than it needs to be. 

This, 100%.  

No finding banks that will exchange $100 US. No finding places that will cash travellers checks. No worrying about carrying that much cash safely. (I NEVER have that much cash on me!)  Charles Schwab has a really great product for travelers.

[clo]

7 hours ago, SRF said:

 

I keep telling them that my Dad and I should be in their commercials.

LOL.  I tell them the same.  We were in DC a few years ago and went to Annapolis where Bob's father had been stationed at one point.  USAA had/has a real office there so we just HAD to go in and sing their praises.  Our daughters are their insureds also.

[clo]

1 hour ago, cruisemom42 said:

Obtaining the money in country would not really have been difficult,

Not related to Euros but we're going to be in Buenos Aires at the end of a cruise and will be spending a few days. I read here and have continued to verify that, due to their fluctuating economy, getting money at ATMs can be limited to something like US$65/day.  Which ought to be fine.  But 'they' are recommending carrying a couple of 'crisp, new 100s or 50s' and using a cambio.  We put everything possible on CC but I've tucked away a couple of the aforementioned.

[Toofarfromthesea]

On 11/11/2019 at 7:35 AM, Drock20J said:

When I had to buy Euro's, I went to chase and "ordered" the cash, whatever was left over, we could sell back to the back.

 

I've done the same at Wells Fargo.

Although personally I would never even consider a tour that required a cash payment.  Being able to accept credit cards shows at least a modicum of financial stability, and I wouldn't trust my one and only tour experience at that port on a company that can't meet that very meager qualification.  Or one that CAN meet that requirement but nonetheless chooses to inconvenience their customers, and even put them at risk by having to carry such large sums.

[Toofarfromthesea]

23 hours ago, CruisingNole said:

If you are a frequent traveler, you really should open a free high yield checking account through Charles Schwabb. No bank-charged ATM fees, no foreign transaction fees, nothing, no matter where you are in the world. I always get euros through ATMs while travelling in Europe, as needed. During my last trip to Germany and France, I visited about a half dozen ATMs over the course of 10 days. No fees, you just pay whatever the exchange rate is that day. Just like America, there's at least one ATM within a stone's throw of civilization.

 

Exchanging currency in America and travelling overseas with it is really unnecessary. Not to mention the risk associated with carrying large amounts of cash on you. But alas, some people (many of them post on this forum) like to make life harder than it needs to be. 

 

No fees is great, but it isn't the whole story, as there are lots of places that charge no fees, but will massively screw you on the exchange rate spread.

[CruisingNole]

11 minutes ago, Toofarfromthesea said:

 

No fees is great, but it isn't the whole story, as there are lots of places that charge no fees, but will massively screw you on the exchange rate spread.

 

I guess...maybe if you're trying to withdraw at a casino or somewhere that would screw you the same as in the USA? 

 

In all of my European travels I have only encountered one place that charged anything more than the usual daily exchange rate. It was an ATM inside one of the tents at Oktoberfest. I actually didn't even use said ATM as I was really just curious how much of a rip off it was. Because of course, ATMs in situations like this will screw you, no different than USA.

[CruisingNole]

2 hours ago, SRF said:

 

Especially in Europe, where people use a card for a pack of gum.

 

Not all of Europe. In Germany, for example, cash remains king. I imagine the same applies elsewhere in some parts of Europe as well. It is very common for restaurants and bars (even those frequented by tourists) to accept cash only. Why? I'm not 100% sure. Maybe they don't want to pay the transaction fees or maybe they don't want to deal with charge backs. Perhaps a combo of both. Either way, without euros, you're going to find yourself out of luck in a lot of situations. 

[FlyerTalker]

1 hour ago, clo said:

Not related to Euros but we're going to be in Buenos Aires at the end of a cruise and will be spending a few days. I read here and have continued to verify that, due to their fluctuating economy, getting money at ATMs can be limited to something like US$65/day.  Which ought to be fine.  But 'they' are recommending carrying a couple of 'crisp, new 100s or 50s' and using a cambio.  We put everything possible on CC but I've tucked away a couple of the aforementioned.

 

In Argentina, the dollar is king.  Take with you a bunch of ones, fives, tens and twenties.  If in a store, ask for the price in cash dollars, not on a credit card.  You will find that the price will often be better than if you pay in pesos, and better than using a CC.  There are currency restrictions on the locals, so they want greenbacks.  Take lots of small denominations so you can pay in exact dollar amounts.  And the good news....any dollars you have left can go right back into your bank account with no transaction fees!!

 

Now this won't work in all stores and shops, but it has worked well for me in the past.

 

Another tip - beware of those who call out "Cambio" in public areas, such as Florida Street.  Though they might offer a better rate than an official exchange, many of them are actually fronts for passing counterfeit pesos along with real ones.

[clo]

2 minutes ago, FlyerTalker said:

In Argentina, the dollar is king. 

Fantastic info!!!!!!!!!  Thanks a milliion.  Would you be willing to post this on the South America board?   Probably not appropriate for me to.?

 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/47-south-america/

[Toofarfromthesea]

4 hours ago, CruisingNole said:

 

I guess...maybe if you're trying to withdraw at a casino or somewhere that would screw you the same as in the USA? 

 

In all of my European travels I have only encountered one place that charged anything more than the usual daily exchange rate. It was an ATM inside one of the tents at Oktoberfest. I actually didn't even use said ATM as I was really just curious how much of a rip off it was. Because of course, ATMs in situations like this will screw you, no different than USA.

 

In Eastern Europe I encountered lots of exchange places, mostly with a Western Union logo that charged no fees but had unconscionable spreads that were "disclosed" in a very deceptive way.  And once ran into the same thing traveling with a friend who got taken by one of these in Bordeaux.

[chipmaster]

7 hours ago, cruisemom42 said:

 

I remember your posts on the European ports of call boards re: this. I was horrified that you were going to have so much cash on you in transit but it appears to have worked out for you.

 

That said, I still would not agree with your approach. Obtaining the money in country would not really have been difficult, finding and using an ATM in just about any area where cruise ships/tours stop is going to take less time than a bathroom break, and you will save quite a bit on the exchange rate with that big of a tab....

 

Of course, this was all a few years ago. I notice more private tour operators are moving toward accepting payment by credit card, which does help those in this kind of situation.

 

You do realize that I was needing in excess of 1K  or more per tour,  I do have a daily limit even though I have plenty of money in my account.       An alternative would be to have 3 different bank accounts and then doing the limits on each in every port.  FWIW we had a wonderful experience with RIL in two vans in three ports, they were waiting for us at each port and to be honest I'm not sure I'd have really had time to do a 3x stop, I guess I could have done it around the Vatican,  Trevi, etc. etc.,  Same on the busy naples day, I can remember all the ATMs around Pompei as well as Amalfi coast stops, I'm sure there were some.  I guess for me saving a couple % wasn't that important for me.   I fully appreciate for some time is money and for some money is time.   This much I know, when I'm in the ground it won't matter how much money I have, but I do know when I don't have any more time all the money won't buy more time.

 

As you noted we can wish and say more tour companies accept CC or whatever, but if the one you are using wants cash, that is a "choice"   Good luck telling them accept a CC or I go somewhere else, maybe next tour they change, but for you, you are SOL. 

Edited November 13, 2019 by chipmaster

[chipmaster]

7 hours ago, SRF said:

 

With hardware/apps like Square and others, there is NO reason for them to not accept cards.

 

Especially in Europe, where people use a card for a pack of gum.

 

I travel a lot to China, and they are really ahead of the game.  You are SOL if you don't have WeChat Pay or AliPay and need a square of toilet paper, literally SOL.

 

https://www.wsj.com/articles/chinas-mobile-payment-boom-changes-how-people-shop-borrow-even-panhandle-1515000570