Should I convert US dollars to euros while in USA or in Europe?

Asked Sep 10 '16 at 03:46

Active Sep 10 '16 at 06:53

Viewed 217 times

I will eventually end up with so few US dollars when in San Francisco airport, that I won't have to declare them to customs when I arrive at Greece.

Should I convert them to Euros in SF, or in El. Venizelos airport at Athens? Or it's pretty much the same fees in both cases?

edited Sep 10 '16 at 06:53

asked Sep 10 '16 at 03:46

gsamaras

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Unfortunately it's pretty much the same. – Fattie Sep 10 '16 at 04:26
@JoeBlow would you like to post an answer with that then? :) – gsamaras Sep 10 '16 at 04:45
@gsamaras Do you know the rate at which you can sell dollars in Greece? – Karlson Sep 10 '16 at 04:47
Sell? What to do you mean @Karlson? – gsamaras Sep 10 '16 at 04:48
Wells Fargo in San Francisco at $1.18 to 1€; Hellenic Bank at $1.13 – Giorgio Sep 10 '16 at 06:41
Hellenic bank? You mean National bank of Greece? Also pleas explain, because I have no idea how all this works..I think you are suggesting go going to the bank in Greece and give them my US dollars? – gsamaras Sep 10 '16 at 06:55
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Also pleas explain, because I have no idea how all this works. I think you are suggesting go going to the bank in Greece and give them my US dollars? How else do you think you can exchange dollars to euros? Of course you have to give them your dollars. – deviantfan Sep 10 '16 at 07:05
Any bank in Greece.... Alpha Bank, Eurobank Ergasias, National Bank of Greece, Piraeus Bank... will exchange dollars for euros. – Giorgio Sep 10 '16 at 07:31
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How much money do you have? Under 100 bucks the difference is negligible. – JonathanReez Sep 10 '16 at 08:52
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I think this is covered by What is the best method for exchanging dollars for Euros?: that also talks about using cards, but covers cash as well. Basically, so long as you don't change at the airport, it'll be pretty much the same, make sure you change somewhere that's not a captive market – user56reinstatemonica8 Sep 10 '16 at 11:44
“so few”... the limit is €10000! – Relaxed Sep 10 '16 at 12:09
hi @Dorothy, unfortunately those figures mean: nothing. The FEES added totally swamp any exchange rate differences. (Unless you're exchanging millions of dollars on the money market.) – Fattie Sep 10 '16 at 12:26
Please don't answer the question within the comments. Comments are for clarification requests, and not answers. – CGCampbell Sep 10 '16 at 12:52
This is a shopping question and I have voted to close as such, not necessarily a dupe. – mts Sep 10 '16 at 15:07
@gsamaras Technical term. When you exchange for dollars you're buying dollars. When you exchange dollars for another currency you sell dollars. – Karlson Sep 10 '16 at 16:26
Ah OK Karlson. So @user568458 basically what you say is not to exchange the money in the airport, and go to a bank in Greece and do the conversion. – gsamaras Sep 10 '16 at 19:05
Regarding your photo question: http://www.itagsoftware.com/ – Fiksdal Sep 10 '16 at 19:42
Good luck! :):) – Fiksdal Sep 10 '16 at 19:45

Should I convert US dollars to euros while in USA or in Europe?

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