Best Way to Get Euros?

I'm going to France and Belgium at the end of September and would like to
get some advice on changing dollars for euros or using an ATM. I did some
traveling to France back in 2001 and I never changed any money, I just hit
an ATM when I arrived at CDG. It was easy and reasonably priced (little/no
fee and a decent exchange rate). Is this still the best option? I've heard
that there are now some transaction fees, even with ATM/debit cards. Thanks
for any help.

Charles Goodman

P.S. I use Wachovia bank, which is on many of the major ATM networks. I had
First Union (same thing as Wachovia) when I went to France in '01 and never
had a problem using my ATM card.

Check with your bank as to which overseas ATM's you can use
without incurring a fee. (For example, in 2001, Bank of America
customers could use BNP Paribas ATM's without a fee....)

Even in some cases where I had to pay a fee, it was nominal,
say $2 US....

Alternatively, your bank or AAA may offer "travel packs" of, say
$50-100 in foreign currency (Pounds, Euros, etc). Not the best exchange
rate, but might be preferable to watching your back while figuring out
a strange ATM in a foreign airport, just so you have enough money for a
taxi or something....

"Donald Newcomb" <DRNewcomb@attglobal.NOT.net> wrote:
> I actually have two seperate accounts, which I can transfer funds
> between. The [ATM] cards aren't duplicates, they are completely
> seperate. This way only a major system failure could block access
> to my funds.

I have a second ATM card, too. Its carried by my wife. :-/ Our
cards are, however, on an account that's separate from my regular
checking account. I only put enuff funds in that account to cover
cash expenses for a few weeks at a time. That way, if the card is
lost or stolen and misused, at least it won't result in any bounced
checks in my main account.

Note that the fees are nothing new - they've always existed but the
banks are now being more open about them rather than hiding them in the
exchange rate.

In article <h_OdneHrPYkMBZPeRVn-1w@comcast.com>,
"HH" <hhhague@comcast.net> wrote:

> ATMs are by far the best option. I used ATMs exclusively in France and
> England last May and rarely got hit with fees. Ask you bank for a duplicate
> ATM card in case your card is swallowed by a machine when you really need
> the cash. Banks generally don't like to issue duplicate cards, but insist. I
> try to have a few euros in my pocket before leaving the U.S., but I have
> never failed to find an ATM at an arrival airport.

Frommers says English ATMs nly accept 4-digit PINs?

chancellor of the duchy of besses o' th' barn and prestwich tesco 24h
offy wrote:

> Frank F. Matthews <frankfmatthews@houston.rr.com> wrote:
>
> []
>
>>That will not work. The charge structure for ATMs depends on bank
>>relationships and not the system. I doubt that the "system" wants to
>>keep up with the shifting relationships. All they care about is the
>>card working. And often they don't are about that.
>>
>>Try discovering which British bank does not charge a fee for B of A cards?
>
>
> My partner's brother had asked his bank (it's in Boston, but I forget
> which one) about fees in the UK- and was told that if he used Barclays'
> ATMs, he wouldn't be charged. I was actually a bit suspicious about
> this, as I just assumed he'd be charged for using all ATMs, or not. My
> partner's Boston based bank doesn't charge for any ATM withdrawals
> abroad. Nevertheless, the brother reported later that he indeed wasn't
> charged.
>
> Incidentally, I wasn't charged for making Ulster Bank withdrawals in
> Dublin, when I thought I would be. Given that they're owned by my bank
> (Royal Bank of Scotland) probably no surprised, but I don't know if the
> bank publicises this. By pure chance, Ulster Bank was the only one I
> used to withdraw money on the trip.
>


I suspect that his bank is actually head quartered in Charlotte. The
Fleet folks are still in denial big time. I believe that Barclays' is
correct as the B of A partner.

In article <Xns96BF6438DA7D0yourvacation@216.196.97.136>,
jcoulter <yourNOvacationJUNK@comcast.net> wrote:

> poldy <poldy@kfu.com> wrote in
> news:poldy-98A411.16262326082005@comcast.dca.giganews.com:
>
> > In article <h_OdneHrPYkMBZPeRVn-1w@comcast.com>,
> > "HH" <hhhague@comcast.net> wrote:
> >
> >> ATMs are by far the best option. I used ATMs exclusively in France
> >> and England last May and rarely got hit with fees. Ask you bank for a
> >> duplicate ATM card in case your card is swallowed by a machine when
> >> you really need the cash. Banks generally don't like to issue
> >> duplicate cards, but insist. I try to have a few euros in my pocket
> >> before leaving the U.S., but I have never failed to find an ATM at an
> >> arrival airport.
> >
> > Frommers says English ATMs nly accept 4-digit PINs?
>
> And what is the deal with that? I have never experienced any other kind
> in the US. Is there some other system?

My credit union ATM card has 5 digits. Maybe the fifth is just ignored?