OT- exchanging money

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im going to amsterdam in august im wondering when or where is the best time to exchange money. Is there a spot in the us to exchange before going or should we wait to exchange when we get there.
 

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Wait. Get about 50 Euro here just to fly over with.

Try to put everything on credit cards as you will always get the best exchange rates with no fees.

Once you are there, you will see many exchanges - or cambios - all over the place. Even in Schiphol you will be able to exchange.

GL - amsterdam is a great place.
 

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Put a request in with your bank and they will order some. I always use my ATM and Credit Cards. You tend to get a much better exchange rate.

You fly into Schripol and most likely take the train to Central Station. They take credit cards in the automated machines for the journey. Heck you can use an ATM at the Airport.:103631605

Have a good time.
 

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Do not exchange money at the airport. You'll get killed on the exchange.
 

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Thanks for the quick replies much appreciated. One last question because amsterdam is such a very touristy place to go do most of the locals speak english so i dont need to have a crash course of dutch??????
 

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fightclub34 said:
Thanks for the quick replies much appreciated. One last question because amsterdam is such a very touristy place to go do most of the locals speak english so i dont need to have a crash course of dutch??????

Yes, almost everyone in the Netherlands speaks English.
Dutch is almost like a private language and it is not uncommon to find Dutch people in the tourist service industry who speak 5 or 6 languages.
 

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The BEST options in order of preference:

1. DEBIT CARDS

A. HSBC account w/ debit card AND be traveling in a country where they have atm's...you pay NOTHING extra. Give them a call.

AND, when abroad, very IMPORTANT: most foreign banks do not charge fees to use their ATM's..verify with a local so you do not use either a bank or atm that does!!!

B. Netbank ditto as above: Zero....&/but IF you use debit card for purchases, incur 1% fee.

C. WAMU refunds all atm's fees incurred from others...+ If you ever need to have money wired internationally, WAMU is totally free for account holders. CALL!!!

D. Most credit uinions-- USAA is THE absolute BEST..& you do NOT need to be current/former military to join!!!!! First 10 monthly atm withdrawals free, first $15 monthly atm fees from others refunded...CALL to ensure ALL foreigns included!!!



E. Citibank EZChecking w/ debit card holders(except in biggest money states(CA, NV, NY): only 1%...first five monthly atm fees credited on statement...but since you should be paying NO foreign atm fee...
<NV<NY): p fee... atm foreign NO paying be should you since statement...but on credited fees monthly five 1%...first only <> <NV<NY): p fee... atm foreign NO paying be should you since statement...but on credited fees monthly five 1%...first only <>
IF you do not have sufficient funds in your bank account, SOME MBNA cards have an offer ONLINE ONLY to transfer a cash advance to your bank account with ZERO fees AND ZERO interest for ONE YEAR...CALL them FIRST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

But this is THE preferred method: DEBIT CASH WITHDRAWAL AT A NO-FEE ATM!


2. CREDIT CARDS

VISA & MC charge an automatic 1% for foreign currency transactions--then, most issuing banks tack on their own...SOME even EAT that 1%...however, some don't, AND add fees of their own(but PLEASE confirm by CALLING first!!!!! Some start pulling benefits to late-payers and/or re-allocating them among their different cards).

ZERO:

1. MBNA...whether Amex or other type...AND they use VERY favorable exchange rates!!!!!!! These rates can be as much as 2% lower than most cards. (It doesn't help if a card tacks on nothing, but purchases for you at a high price!!!!!!!!!!!) CAVEAT: NOT for ALL their cards, some are 1%...others are 3%.....CALL, as they constantly re-allocate their 0 & 1%!!!!

2. Amalgamated Bank, BMW Bank, Discover & Tompkins Trust Company....
CAP1 for some of their higher-end cards, & for other lower-end ones IF you are part of their whatchamacallit club, sign up for it( works out to monthly $6), then cancel upon return. For some of their cards exchange fees are 1%... CALL.
Merril & Chuck Schwab "depending" on issuing bank, can be 0/1/3% with NO rationale whatsoever-- at zero banks the fee can be 3% & vice-versa. CALL!!!

One per-centers:

FLEET, Principal, Farm Bureau, most credit uinions-- again: USAA is THE absolute BEST credit union. Some Paypals...CALL!!!

NOTE: in case you ask-- though AMEX provides a lot of nice services & has a recommended service to sign up for re travel insurance / cancellations / delays...they do charge higher % AND tend to NOT obtain competitive exchange rates. NO WAY.

Safe Trip.
 

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