Originally Posted by
QueenOfCoach
I like to have some foreign currency in my pocket as the plane lands in the destination country. When I arrive, I am usually tired and just want to get the heck out of Airport World and on to my hotel or host's house. I ask myself: Why add additional stress at a time when I know I'm going to be really tired?
Thus, I change about US$50 or so to the destination country currency before I leave. Therefore, upon arrival I can buy some water or a sandwich if I so desire without having to hunt down an ATM in a strange airport.
Later, when I'm rested, I withdraw more from a convenient ATM.
This is what I do. I got some Euros at JFK a year ago before a trip to Rome and the exchange rate was outrageous, not to mention the extra charges. Much better to use a local ATM when you get where you're going, although it is nice to have some local currency on hand when you arrive because inevitably you will need it. Once when going to London, I failed to do this, and ended up having to tip a bellman in US dollars. I imagine he gets this a lot (it was a Marriott property which hosts a lot of US visitors), but I still felt bad.