How can you get the best currency exchange rate if you are visiting outside of the country?

I live in the United States and plan to take a trip to Germany next year. Is there anyway for me to get a better exchange rate for my money before I get there?How can you get the best currency exchange rate if you are visiting outside of the country?Bring a Check Card or Credit Card, use local ATM's they will give you the best currency rate, it is calculated by the minute. Unless of course you can predict rising currency rates but i doubt it.



Its not a good idea to use change area, either on the streets or at the airport, as well as local banks. They change a %26quot;change fee%26quot; (usually a percentage) followed by a very bad exchange rate. Most of the time they get you for about 3 cents on a dollar for the exchange rate, and 3% commission.



ATM's are the way to go. I live in Europe but have American bank accounts. I know this first hand.How can you get the best currency exchange rate if you are visiting outside of the country?Find a guide book that tells you where the best places are to change money, such as %26quot;Let's Go.%26quot; I found it best in Europe, and I went *all* over, to just pay for what you can with credit cards which offer the best exchange rates and least likelyhood of getting screwed, and pull money out of ATMs when needed as the rates there are regulated too. Take out 300 Euros or so at a time to minimize finance charges. The biggest challenge is spending as much of your money in non-Euro countries before you leave without leaving yourself in want of tip money or money for something to eat just before you hop a train. ALWAYS HAVE SOME MONEY IN DOLLARS AND SOME IN EUROS JUST IN CASE. Hide about $100 and 100EU on you in broken up amounts so you can deal with contingencies. Don't have everything in 100's or 20's because when you are a foreigner, nobody seems to have change - so a $2 tip ends up being $20 to keep from stiffing somebody. Always have two credit cards, but not in same place. Expect to throw away a bit of money when leaving countries with odd currency. Break it up before you leave into smaller notes so you can give them to kids as presents or show your friends all the weird currency and as momentos from your trip. Break that 5000 Hungarian whatevers into a couple 1000s, 200s, and various coins to have a more interesting variety of bills and coins to share.How can you get the best currency exchange rate if you are visiting outside of the country?I agree with the answers above regarding exchange rates in terms of using a ATM or check card. In regards to using that however, try to find a friend or a relative you can trust to deposit incriments of 300 dollars US currency at a time incase of theft of your card, your not out your whole trip money. Also make sure you NEVER trust people on the street giving you deals in money exchange. Only use reputable and safe-looking money exchange places. But defently check out Lonely Planet %26quot;Europe on a shoestring%26quot; if you are looking to save money in europe it is absolutly a Indespensable bible almost of things to do Especialy if your young and on a budget.