Should I get euros at bank or airport?
The best place to exchange foreign currency in the U.S. is at your local bank or credit union before you leave for your trip.
Currency exchange shops and kiosks in airports are not the best places to exchange money. For the best rates, try a local bank or a bank ATM to make your currency exchanges.
Before your trip, it's best to do a currency exchange at your bank or credit union, which likely offers better rates and fewer and/or lower fees. Your bank or credit union may buy back leftover foreign currency in exchange for dollars when you return.
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.
What is the cheapest way to get euros in the US? The cheapest way to buy euros in the US is usually online. You'll have a couple of options, depending on what suits your needs: Choose a specialist provider which has multi-currency accounts to support international spending - like Wise or Revolut.
With time at your disposal, you'll be able to see exactly what the fee and rate is, and how many euros you'll get for your dollars. It's possible of course that you might get a better deal when you land in Europe. It may well be the case that fees are lower and exchange rates better.
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.
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.
Head to your bank or credit union before you leave to avoid paying ATM transaction costs. You may even receive a better exchange rate. Credit unions and banks will exchange your dollars into a foreign currency before and after your trip when you have a checking or savings account with them.
- Bank of America. "Foreign Currency Exchange."
- Bank of America. “Placing A Foreign Currency Order FAQs,” See “How can I exchange foreign currency for U.S. dollars?”
- Chase. "No Foreign Transaction Fee Credit Cards."
- Bank of America. ...
- Capital One. ...
- Chase. ...
- Wise. ...
- Consumer Financial Protection Board.
How many euros should I bring for one week?
How Much Spending Money for One Week in Europe? This is so entirely dependent on your own travel preferences that it's tough to estimate but we recommend putting aside roughly €700 to €1700 for spending money for one week in Europe.
What is the best place to exchange foreign currency? The best place to exchange foreign currency in the U.S. is at your local bank or credit union before you leave for your trip.
European travelers should always have some cash on hand; getting it from an ATM abroad is usually the easiest, most advantageous way. If you need cash from an ATM, it's usually better to use a debit card, because credit cards often charge a high interest rate for a cash advance.
Exchange at your bank before your trip: Exchanging currency at your local bank is likely the most cost-effective way to convert currency.
USD | EUR |
---|---|
25 USD | 23.34 EUR |
50 USD | 46.69 EUR |
100 USD | 93.39 EUR |
500 USD | 466.97 EUR |
Travel FX, an FX specialist, usually provides their most competitive currency exchange rates. A multiple award-winning company, free delivery (over £700.00), no commission, pay by Debit Card or Bank Transfer and typically offering the best rates here.
Buying or exchanging foreign currency needs to take place at a U.S. Bank branch. We encourage you to make an appointment with a banker to allow time for questions and processing.
If you didn't get euros before leaving home and want to get some at the airport, go ahead and use the Travelex machines - but just say "NO" when asked if you want to be charged in your own currency. Always choose the local currency, euros, to avoid extra DCC charges.
Most places in Europe as others have noted take card and the cash was really just for emergencies or the odd street vendor. Bring cash for tips and the random place that doesn't take a card for payment. 100-200 euros in small bills should be fine. I would suggest not going on vacation/traveling to save money.
It all depends on where you're going and what you plan to do during your trip. As you can see from our travel costs table above, some European cities are cheaper or more expensive than others. As a general rule, though, it's a good idea to budget at least $100 a day for your vacation.
Should I order foreign currency from my bank?
Ordering currency from your bank before you travel is almost always better than using the airport currency exchange. Sally French is a travel rewards expert who joined NerdWallet in 2020. She previously wrote about travel and credit cards for The New York Times and its sibling site, Wirecutter.
- Keep your belongings safe in crowded areas with our expert tips.
- Leave some items in the hotel safe so that you don't have to carry everything with you.
- Keep your money close with a money belt.
- Always try to visit ATMs within banks while travelling.
Here is an overview of what two weeks in Europe on a high budget may look like: Accommodation: 200 Euros per night for 14 nights = 2,800 Euros. Food: 80 Euros per day for 14 days = 1,120 Euros. Transportation: 30 Euros per day for 14 days = 420 Euros.
- Stop by Your Local Bank.
- Visit an ATM.
- Consider Getting Traveler's Checks.
- Buy Currency at Your Foreign Bank Branch.
- Order Currency Online.
- Bottom Line.
- Tips for Money Management.
For a 7-11 day Europe trip, I bring $200-$300 Euros in cash. I find it less stressful to order Euros from my bank a few weeks before my trip, so I have local cash upon arrival. The exchange rate is usually better this way. While you can exchange money at the airport, I recommend this alternative.
References
- https://www.forbes.com/advisor/money-transfer/money-transfer-where-to-exchange-currency/
- https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/money/tipping-in-europe
- https://wise.com/us/compare/chase-usd-to-eur
- https://www.chase.com/business/banking/services/collect-and-deposit/wire-transfers
- https://www.investopedia.com/best-checking-accounts-with-no-atm-fees-5079489
- https://www.wellsfargo.com/foreign-exchange/currency-rates/
- https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/money/card-fees
- https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/money/chip-pin-cards
- https://time.com/personal-finance/article/foreign-transaction-fees/
- https://www.investopedia.com/articles/personal-finance/102314/cash-or-credit-better-european-trips.asp
- https://european-union.europa.eu/institutions-law-budget/euro/official-eu-currency_en
- https://www.actionforex.com/category/technical-outlook/usdcad-outlook/
- https://www.bankofamerica.com/foreign-exchange/foreign-currency-order-faq/
- https://www.postoffice.co.uk/travel-money/foreign-currency
- https://www.compareholidaymoney.com/travel-money/us-dollars
- https://atmfeesaver.com/withdrawing-cash-abroad-9-best-ways-to-save-foreign-atm-fees/
- https://www.thecurrencyshop.com.au/guides/travel-money
- https://www.forbes.com/advisor/money-transfer/currency-converter/usd-eur/
- https://wise.com/gb/currency-converter/cad-to-usd-rate
- https://courses.lumenlearning.com/wm-macroeconomics/chapter/demand-and-supply-shifts-in-foreign-exchange-markets/
- https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/money/cash-tips
- https://www.bankofamerica.com/foreign-exchange/foreign-exchange-rates-faq/
- https://www.americanexpress.com/en-us/credit-cards/credit-intel/should-you-pay-in-local-or-home-currency-when-traveling/
- https://www.worldpackers.com/articles/average-cost-trip-to-europe
- https://www.worldremit.com/en/blog/finance/is-it-better-to-exchange-currency-at-home-or-abroad
- https://www.poundsterlinglive.com/best-exchange-rates/convert/best-us-dollar-to-canadian-dollar-exchange-rate
- https://www.bankbazaar.com/currency-exchange/worlds-chepest-currency.html
- https://www.rbi.org.in/commonperson/English/Scripts/FAQs.aspx?Id=829
- https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/travel/international-atm-fees
- https://wise.com/us/blog/should-i-exchange-money-before-i-travel-to-europe
- https://www.holidayextras.com/travel-money/best-time-to-exchange-travel-money.html
- https://intothebold.com/how-much-to-budget-for-travel-in-europe/
- https://www.monito.com/en/wiki/best-debit-card-for-international-travel
- https://www.bankofamerica.com/foreign-exchange/buying-foreign-currency-faq/
- https://www.hostmerchantservices.com/articles/exchange-foreign-currency/
- https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/banking/where-to-exchange-currency-without-paying-huge-fees
- https://www.bendigoadvertiser.com.au/story/6490980/the-best-time-for-travellers-to-buy-us-dollars-before-a-trip/
- https://wise.com/us/blog/the-best-places-to-exchange-currency-without-huge-fees
- https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/money/cash-machine-atm-tips
- https://www.intrepidtravel.com/us/europe/will-my-mobile-phone-work-in-europe
- https://www.investopedia.com/articles/personal-finance/022415/worst-place-exchange-currency.asp
- https://www.usnews.com/banking/articles/where-is-the-best-place-to-exchange-foreign-currency
- https://wise.com/us/blog/how-much-cash-to-bring-to-europe
- https://www.exiap.com/currency-exchange/buy-euros
- https://www.trip.com/guide/info/trip-to-italy-cost.html
- https://smartasset.com/checking-account/5-cheap-ways-to-exchange-currency
- https://www.bankofamerica.com/foreign-exchange/currency-exchange-faq/
- https://www.wellsfargo.com/foreign-exchange/
- https://resources.bankofamerica.com/direct/render-resource/652b1758b1204e679972c572580864a0
- https://www.delawareinc.com/blog/exchange-rates/
- https://www.compareholidaymoney.com/travel-money/euros
- https://www.revolut.com/en-US/currency-converter/convert-usd-to-eur-exchange-rate/?amount=100
- https://www.smoney.com.au/blog/how-much-spending-money-to-take-to-europe-for-1-2-or-4-weeks/
- https://www.parisdiscoveryguide.com/how-to-get-euros-for-paris-trip.html
- https://www.revolut.com/currency-converter/convert-usd-to-cad-exchange-rate/?amount=100
- https://km.visamiddleeast.com/en_KM/pay-with-visa/find-a-card/atm-overseas.html
- https://www.forbes.com/advisor/money-transfer/currency-converter/usd-cad/
- https://financebuzz.com/no-international-atm-fees
- https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/banks-that-exchange-foreign-currency
- https://www.investopedia.com/articles/personal-finance/082114/best-places-exchange-currency.asp
- https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/travel/order-foreign-currency
- https://www.bankofamerica.com/foreign-exchange/foreign-currency-exchange/
- https://www.koho.ca/learn/how-much-cash-should-i-carry-when-travelling-abroad/
- https://www.afar.com/magazine/best-places-to-visit-where-the-dollar-is-strong
- https://wise.com/us/blog/how-to-get-euros-in-the-us
- https://www.sumup.com/en-us/business-guide/foreign-transaction-fees/
- https://www.barclays.co.uk/travel/using-debit-card-abroad/
- https://www.worldremit.com/en/blog/finance/exchange-rates
- https://www.quora.com/Should-you-buy-euros-in-America-to-travel-to-Europe
- https://www.reddit.com/r/Europetravel/comments/161x2xu/how_much_money_should_i_carry/
- https://www.quora.com/How-much-money-should-you-bring-on-a-trip-for-two-weeks-in-Europe-including-transportation-and-hotels
- https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/money/pay-credit-cards-vs-cash
- https://www.tui.co.uk/travel-money/buy-euros/
- https://answers.usbank.com/mobileanswers/s/article/How-to-order-foreign-currency-online?
- https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-much-cah-do-i-bring-europe-shelby-frenette
- https://www.northwestern.edu/abroad/money-matters/money-management/accessing-money-abroad.html
- https://www.hdfcbank.com/personal/pay/money-transfer/remittance/fees-and-charges
- https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/money/travel-checklist-money
- https://www.fodors.com/world/europe/italy/venice/travel-tips/money-119365420
- https://www.money.co.uk/travel-money/best-euro-exchange-rate
- https://www.nomadglobal.com/en/international-card
- https://expatexplore.com/blog/top-tips-keep-your-money-safe-when-travelling/
- https://worldwidemoneyexchange.net/is-it-better-to-exchange-currency-at-bank-or-airport/
- https://www.forbes.com/advisor/money-transfer/highest-currencies-in-the-world/
- https://www.travelexinsurance.com/smart-travels/tips/how-to-use-credit-cards-debit-cards-atms-europe
- https://www.riamoneytransfer.com/en/blog/how-to-decide-the-best-day-for-a-currency-transfer/
- https://wise.com/gb/travel-money/travel-money-card/atm-fees
- https://www.experian.com/blogs/ask-experian/how-to-avoid-international-atm-fees/
- https://www.thediscoverer.com/blog/how-much-cash-you-should-travel-with/
- https://admiralmarkets.com/education/articles/forex-strategy/best-days-of-the-week-to-trade-forex
- https://www.cleveland.com/news/2024/02/traveling-internationally-order-foreign-currency-before-you-go.html
- https://www.cnbc.com/select/how-to-avoid-atm-fees/
- https://www.cmcmarkets.com/en/learn-forex/16-strongest-currencies-in-the-world
- https://currencymart.net/currency-exchange/what-is-the-best-day-of-the-week-to-exchange-currency/index.html
- https://www.aaa.com/AAA/FinancialSvcs/currency/