How can I get cash in Europe without fees?
Cash & ATMs
ATMs are the best way to access money abroad and are increasingly available. Your bank or credit card company may charge fees for withdrawals overseas and may have a limit on the amount you can withdraw daily, so be sure to consult with your bank about this.
Cash & ATMs
ATMs are the best way to access money abroad and are increasingly available. Your bank or credit card company may charge fees for withdrawals overseas and may have a limit on the amount you can withdraw daily, so be sure to consult with your bank about this.
- Open a Credit Card Without a Foreign Transaction Fee. ...
- Open a Bank Account Without a Foreign Transaction Fee. ...
- Exchange Currency Before Traveling. ...
- Avoid Foreign ATMs. ...
- Ask Your Bank About Foreign Partners.
- Betterment.
- Charles Schwab.
- Capital One.
- Alliant Credit Union.
- First Republic Bank.
- Fidelity.
- USAA.
Countries | % in ATM Fees |
---|---|
Spain | 0.70% |
Poland | 0.63% |
Republic of North Macedonia | 0.59% |
Ireland | 0.56% |
You can usually get cash from ATMs easily, but still it is worthwhile having a backup in cash of emergencies. It's often more cost-effective to exchange a small amount of euros in America for initial expenses and then withdraw euros from ATMs in Europe for a better exchange rate and lower fees.
Don't Expect to Get Too Far Without Cash
There's a lot that you can buy with a credit card in Europe, so bring at least one. But don't expect to get very far without a little cash, too—especially if you're a tourist. Transportation services, such as taxis and buses, often require local currency.
- Use an ATM in Your Bank's International Network. ...
- Use Your Debit Card to Get Cash Back at a Store. ...
- Don't Use the ATM's Conversion Offer. ...
- Use a Bank That Doesn't Charge International ATM Fees. ...
- Use a Bank That Refunds ATM Fees. ...
- Use a Credit Card Without a Foreign Transaction Fee.
You can avoid your credit card's foreign transaction fee entirely by paying for purchases in foreign countries using the local currency instead of your U.S. credit card (or American dollars, if the vendor accepts them.)
The Nomad Card is an international debit card with no opening or monthly maintenance fees, being accepted in over 180 countries. You can use the virtual or physical version, and it also allows you to make free withdrawals at MoneyPass ATMs around the world!
Who has the cheapest ATM withdrawal fee?
- Best Overall: Axos Bank.
- Best for International ATMs: Needham Bank.
- Best for Debit Card Users: LendingClub.
- Best From a Credit Union: Alliant Credit Union.
- Best for Low Fees From a Big Bank: Ally Bank.
- Best for Overdrafts: Discover® Bank.
If you're going on a long trip, do some research and consider taking out a card just for international purchases. Capital One has a particularly good reputation for no-fee international transactions on both its credit cards and its debit cards linked to a checking account.
- Revolut (available globally)
- Chime (available in the USA only)
- Wise (available globally)
- Capital One (available in the USA only)
- Starling Bank (available in the UK only)
- Bottom line about the best debit card for international travel.
Where to Get Good Rates: ATMs and Local Banks. The best place to exchange money is a local ATM or a bank. Many foreign banks are happy to exchange your dollars for local currency for a better rate than you find elsewhere, or you can go to an ATM to skip the line.
- Choose “Decline Conversion” while withdrawing cash abroad. ...
- Choose to be charged in the local currency. ...
- Use ATM Fee Saver to find fee-free ATMs or low fee ATMs when withdrawing cash abroad. ...
- Try 2-3 ATMs before withdrawing cash abroad.
Getting a travel debit card, like the Wise card, can be a good option for taking money out from ATMs in the local currency. With Wise you get some fee free withdrawals every month, with low costs after that - plus there's no foreign transaction fee, and you'll get the mid-market rate every time.
Resist the urge to buy foreign currency before your trip.
Some tourists feel like they must have euros or British pounds in their pockets when they step off the airplane, but they pay the price in bad stateside exchange rates. Wait until you arrive to withdraw money.
Best place to exchange currency: Your bank or credit union
Many banks offer currency exchange to their customers. Though there may be a small fee if you exchange less than a certain amount, your bank or credit union will almost always be the cheapest place to exchange currency.
A good rule of thumb, though, is that, on average, you should plan to carry between $50 and $100 per day in the currency of the country in which you're travelling. As with all things, research is your friend here. Understand where you're travelling and what the local customs regarding cash are.
What is the cheapest way to get euros in the US? You'll need to compare exchange rates and fees for your bank with currency exchange services such as CXI. But a travel card such as the Wise international debit card can be a cheaper option, offering low fees and fairer, margin-free exchange rates.
Do you tip in Europe?
Restaurant tips are more modest in Europe than in America. Servers are paid a living wage, and tips are considered a small bonus — to reward great service or for simplicity in rounding the total bill to a convenient number. In many countries, 5 percent is adequate and 10 percent is considered a nice tip.
When Europeans buy something with plastic, they insert their card, then type in their PIN. Despite some differences between European and US cards, there's little to worry about. US-issued Visa and Mastercard credit cards, along with familiar payment apps, typically work fine in Europe.
There are several ways for you to avoid ATM fees, with the most simple one being to only use ATMs within your bank's network. You can generally locate the nearest fee-free ATM using your bank's mobile app. Online-only accounts often offer access to larger ATM networks than brick-and-mortar banks.
Avoid "independent" ATMs, such as Travelex, Euronet, Your Cash, Cardpoint, and Cashzone.
Yes. As long as your ATM or credit card has either a Visa or PLUS logo, you can withdraw cash at ATMs that are part of the Visa or PLUS network. How do I find an ATM in the country that I'm traveling to? Visa is accepted at over 200 countries and territories around the world.
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