Traveling overseas -- best way to deal with local currency

[amarinth]

@jsc1953

2. Just use credit cards. But the card issuer, and Visa/MC, slap currency exchange fees on top of the transaction. And it’s conceivable that not everyone takes Visa.

As their commercials say, Visa really is almost everywhere you want to be - especially in Europe.

What I tend to do is have a card that allows that allow cash withdrawals with few to no fees, use those to get cash from a bank ATM after I arrive, and use cash for almost everything. It frees me up from worrying over whether or not my card will work, keeps my fees down, offers good exchange rates, and helps to keep me on budget.

ETA: I’ve also never had a problem finding bank ATMs in the airports after I’ve arrived. Cruising may be a different story. But if you’re flying in, I’d be surprised if you can’t find a machine between your gate and the exit.

[NinjaChick]

@chappachula

Who cares about the conversion rate? You’re on vacation–you care about convenience, not saving 3%. The important thing is to be able to function well immediately when you arrive in the foreign country. Buy some currency in advance.

Sure, going to a bank is better. But if you need to take a taxi to the bank where the ATM is, or if you want to buy something from a vendor standing right next to you as you step off the boat, or you want to pay a tip to somebody-- you might need a few dollars worth of the local cash.And if you need some money,you may really ruin your day if you don’t have it.
You probably won’t need it, because your credit card will work fine…But why take the risk?

The OP is taking a cruise, and probably has only about 8 hours of free time at each stop. You don’t want to waste 30 or 60 minutes runnng around looking for an ATM, just to save $5 because you got a better conversion rate.
When you get home and tell people about your vacation, you’ll want to talk about the beautiful sights , the interesting souvenier you found, etc–not boast about the good conversion rate you got.

Geez, I apologize for giving advice that’s only pertinent to people who both prefer not t waste money and spend more than 8 hours at their destination. The only places I’ve ever been where it took more than a few minutes to find an ATM were tiny, remote towns – which are not the sort of places a cruise ship would even be able to stop, let alone likely.

I’ve never been on a cruise. Sounds like a hell of a waste if you only get a few hours each at all the interesting places you’re going.

[Bullitt]

@NinjaChick

I’ve never been on a cruise… <snip> …you only get a few hours each at all the interesting places you’re going.

That’s the deal, and many folks like cruises. I’ve done two cruises that the folks sprung for. They were definitely enjoyable but generally they’re not my thing.