Is it better to exchange money in US or abroad?

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.



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Convenience and accessibility are key considerations when deciding between exchanging currency at home or abroad. Exchanging currency before your trip offers the convenience of having local currency readily available upon arrival at your destination and you won't need to worry about exchanging currency abroad.

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When you are traveling to another country, you can exchange some of your money before you leave home. Doing so gives you time to shop around for the best rate. Plus, when you arrive, you won't have to immediately find a bank or currency exchange.

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Banks and credit unions are generally the best places to exchange currency, with reasonable exchange rates and the lowest fees. Here's how financial institutions — and a few other places — can help travelers exchange currency.

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US dollars: I carry $100–200 as a backup. While you won't use it for day-to-day purchases, American cash in your money belt comes in handy for emergencies, such as when banks go on strike or your ATM card stops working. I've been in Greece and Ireland when every bank went on strike, shutting down without warning.

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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.

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The general consensus is that you should have $50 to $100 in cash per day for each traveler.

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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.

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As a general rule, though, it's a good idea to budget at least $100 a day for your vacation. This is just spending money, as hotel costs are likely to have been either paid in advance or settled by card when you check out.

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How Much Cash Can You Fly With? If you are traveling on an international flight and have more than $10,000 in your possession, you must disclose the amount of U.S. Currency in your possession on a FinCEN 105 form. On a domestic flight, no rule requires you to disclose carrying $10,000 or more on the flight.

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Use a credit card without a foreign transaction fee While it's good to have some cash when traveling internationally for cab rides, subways, and tours, it'll be safer to keep most of your cash at home and use a credit card instead. But not just any credit card.

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