CASH conversion, US Dollar to Euro..rape?

[KMK0420]

Ok.. I'm going to need to convert around 1500-2000 US dollars to euros, preferably before my trip.

Question is..

Where are the CMEMORYEST places to do this in the US (specifically, pennsylvania)? I know banks are a huge ripoff, but i would REALLY rather convert the money before i get into a foreign country (travelling to amsterdam)

also, am i correct in guessing i'm looking at like 50-150 bucks for a conversion fee?

experienced travellers to the Dam from the US.. chime in if you can! thanks

 

[Grat3fulh3ad]

The best rates I found were in amsterdam under the dam hotel sign...
just have a few euros for the cab ride from the airport 50 euro or so depending on the morals of the cabbie, then go to the dam hotel near centraal station...
You may want a bit more than the cab fare on hand, depending on what you owe on hotel, etc...
If I remember right my us bank charged fees and made me fill out paperwork, the dam hotel charged no fees, or very small ones...

 

[SmokeyPufmaster]

Your debit card works great over there.

 

[KMK0420]

well, i could use my debit card but the question is..

will my bank (national city) charge me a fee for using it out of the country?

do coffeeshops accept visa? or cash only?

i just figured using cash would save me the hassle...

but if its THAT much of a pain, i could just deposit it all and use my card.. but then again.. how do i know how much is actually being deducted since im buying with euros through a usd based bank? do i just have to do the math myself or do the receipts say? im new..sorry, haha..

 

[SmokeyPufmaster]

Yes your bank will charge you a fee to withdraw Cash from a foreign ATM. But the fees are much less than the exchange places and you'll get a better rate of exchange. It's truly a win win situation.

 

[Guest]

Its interesting you brought this up because I have a similar question. If I went to Istanbul and bought something that was around 1000 euros on my american express card, would there be any extra fees or anything involved? In other words, when I got my credit card statement would it just show the dollar equivalent of 1000 euros?

 

[wantaknow]

i would think gift visa cards would be inorder no account numbers to steal and you get them for 5 bucks over amount

 

[SmokeyPufmaster]

Yes Indicad, you would only pay the conversion equivalent of 1000e. When you withdraw cash from an ATM you will then be charged bank ATM fees. Your exchange rate will be the best you can get as it is the bank to bank exchange rate. And not the one designed to generate profit for the exchange company. Then their fees on top of that. Debit card is the way to go.

 

[KMK0420]

ok so say i wanted to have 1500-2000 in amsterdam to spend, how much would it cost to convert and carry all the cash on me and how much would it cost to extract that out of an atm?

 

[Gangabiss]

Listen to Grat3fulH3ad, he's on the money.

Last time I went with my mates we got there after having changed our cash at the post office before we left and when we got there we found little shops with much better conversion rates than back home.

Even with the commision added on you would still get more money back.

 

[treble]

^I can back gangabiss and Grat3fulH3ad up on this. We just took cash and either pay in USD which some places did do... though this was before euros or change it there. Its easier and cheaper. The banks are ok as well. We went to one in the main square near the central rail station.

no doubt there are private changers there as well.

now you got one less thing to worry about you can focus on having a great time. have a good one

treb

 

[diggle]

Check with your bank before you leave the country!!!

I was in Turkey and tried to use my ATM (debit) card to get some cash out of my account....they "hotcarded" me for suspicious transactions and cancelled the card, despite the fact that I called them and told them I was in Turkey. I was told this was "bank policy"...some bullshit about certain countries being at high risk for CC fraud, and there was nothing anyone could do about it, so I was basically focked w/o cash as far as they could care.

 

[Alex-F]

Yes your bank will charge you a fee to withdraw Cash from a foreign ATM. But the fees are much less than the exchange places and you'll get a better rate of exchange. It's truly a win win situation.

Yep I'll go with that.

 

[specialk]

I paid 1000 bucks deposit with my fucking credit card to a company in New Zealand last week, my fucking bank charged me 25 bucks for transaction on top of all else.

Fuck banks, those assholes also charge me steep rates every time i go over the limit, its a day light robbery