By: Andrea Bennett
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When it comes to saving money in Europe, the advice I most often hear is: go during “shoulder season,” discover alternate destinations, or take a cruise (and eat on the ship, even when it’s docked). But sometimes, only Paris in the springtime at the Four Seasons Hotel George V will do. To mitigate the pain of the current exchange rate without compromising your ultimate trip, follow my six-step plan.
Avoid ATM fees
Cash machines are still the best way to get local currency — if you can get around the exorbitant fees. Lately, some banks have hiked their flat rate of $2 per withdrawal to $5, or added a conversion surcharge, or both. Check to see what your bank levies before leaving home — and before making a withdrawal (you can find a list of costs at Bankrate.com).
Find a local partner
Even if your bank has substantial fees for withdrawals, many institutions now work with partners abroad and allow customers to take out money at no charge. Bank of America imposes $5, plus 1 percent of the withdrawal amount, at unaffiliated overseas ATMs, but nothing at those of partners like Barclays (United Kingdom), BNP Paribas (France), and Deutsche Bank (Germany). Some banks, such as Citibank, have their own branches in Europe.
Do fewer exchanges in larger increments
Travelex currency-exchange kiosks (located at most airports) provide a lower service fee for larger transactions—for a $100 exchange, the charge is 6 percent, while it’s about 1.5 percent for sums of more than $500. Some companies (Travelex and Marks & Spencer) have “buy-back” programs, where consumers can sell their leftover currency at a favorable rate, often waiving the service fees, so you won’t have to dump your leftover money on duty-free Toblerone bars (although you’ll often have to return to the place of the original transaction).
Make major purchases with a credit card
Using your plastic abroad often guarantees you the lowest exchange rate and protects you from unauthorized charges. But the fees (for currency conversions and foreign transactions) are often the same as those on the issuer’s debit card. Only a couple of cards don’t charge extra (check before you go). Or, consider opening an account in euros to escape transaction fees altogether. Lloyds TSB Offshore
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Source: http://travel.msn.com/Guides/article.aspx?cp-documentid=477021
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