changing currencies

[Decimac]

Hi fellow travelers
I'm taking my first multi stop trip in a few weeks and need some advice.

I will be needing usd and euros. I will load up my Qcash card but for the cash component wondering if best to do before I go, or change in the relevant country and if so, who to use?
My entry point to the USA is Hawaii. First stop in Europe is Berlin.

My second question is, I am in Frankfurt for 2 nights one day waiting for a flight home. Ive been told Frankfurt is quite industrial. Any ideas on how to spend my time to its best.

Oh I should mention I will be with my 16yo daughter so there is an age restriction.

Thanks

Decima

 

[Mattg]

I would recommend either getting cash before you go, or withdrawing the cash from an ATM on arrival in Honolulu and Berlin. If you exchange money in Australia, try using someone like UAE Exchange, and not one of the major banks. I personally use UAE Exchange as the rates are good and they don't charge a commission. But there are others that are probably just as good. It also depends which Australian city you're in.

The ATM withdrawal on arrival method is good as the only fees you'll potentially need to pay are ATM fees. Many people on the forum would recommend opening a Citibank Plus Transaction Account for this purpose - it's free and allows for free ATM withdrawals overseas with no Forex fees.

I used to live in Berlin - you will need cash there. Many restaurants and even supermarkets do not accept credit cards.

Frankfurt is OK but it's really a financial centre more than it is a tourist attraction. If you have two days, I'd suggest doing a walking tour of the city centre (some parts are actually very nice) on one of those days and visiting somewhere like Heidelberg on the other day. Heidelberg is a beautiful small town and only about an hour from Frankfurt by train. For Frankfurt walking tours I would recommend these guys: http://www.frankfurtonfoot.com/

 

[RooFlyer]

Far be it for me to argue with Mattg, who has lived in country, but with 2 days in Frankfurt I'd spend one of them in nearby Mainz, reachable by short train trip.

On the Rhine, its very scenic and also has the Gutenberg Museum - its were moveable type printing was invented. There's Roman ruins etc to be seen too, plus cathedrals, old squares etc. Really nice.

if the weather is fine, and if you and daughter are that type, you can hire bicycles and ride a little way down the Rhine.

 

[OZDUCK]

We normally arrive in Europe with only enough Euros for the first day. After that we withdraw cash from an ATM - widely available. Mattg's suggestion about opening a Citibank Plus Transaction Account is a very good idea. We always carry cards for two different accounts just in case.

Berlin will certainly require cash, in general we found far less acceptance of cards in Germany than here.

As a suggestion for something else to do around Frankfurt I would recommend a trip to Ludwigsburg Palace www.schloss-ludwigsburg.de. It is a fabulous baroque palace with an excellent English language tour each afternoon and is easily accessible by public transport. If you get there before 8 November you could also visit the Pumpkin (Kurbis) Festival which takes place in the palace grounds - it is far more fun than you might think. www.kuerbisausstellung-ludwigsburg.de/e

 

[Decimac]

Fantastic advice guys. Im interested in the citibank plus transaction account. Will have to look into that. If I use the atm in Europe does it automatically change currency at the current rate? Fees?
A day trip outside of Frankfurt sounds good.

 

[Mattg]

Fantastic advice guys. Im interested in the citibank plus transaction account. Will have to look into that. If I use the atm in Europe does it automatically change currency at the current rate? Fees?
A day trip outside of Frankfurt sounds good.

With the Citibank account, the only fees involved are potentially any ATM fees charged by the ATM you withdraw money from. If you can find a Citibank ATM then there are no fees at all. Yes, the money will automatically be converted from AUD based on the rate on the day.

 

[ShaneN]

I would take a few hundred dollars worth of both US dollars and Euros from Australia, to ensure that I had cash available immediately without searching for an ATM. I rely on ATMS after that. Like Mattg, I use UAE Exchange. In my experience they have the best rates and have quite a number of branches around Sydney and Melbourne.

For the US dollars, it is very useful to have some small notes ($1 and $5) immediately on arrival for tips where necessary. Large notes can also be hard to change in the US - try to avoid $100 notes, even 50s can be a bit of a problem, 20s are ideal. UAE Exchange are unlikely to be willing or able to give you small notes. You can try your bank, or a friend or family member may have a small stash left over (I know I have).