If you're in the NYC area, you can get a 1.5% fee on just about any currency at http://www.nycforeignexchange.com/. We've used them and they are reliable.

If you don't want to carry large sums of cash, the best thing is to use ATM's.

We use EMV Chip and PIN Debit Cards which are available through a number of US Credit Unions and which will work in any ATM in Europe that has the VISA notation. VISA charges a 1% fee and no ATM or Foreign Exchange fees.

While the Euro is in widespread use we have trips to 3 countries this summer that still use their own currencies (Sweden, Hungary, and the Czech Republic. We can reload the card account online with no fees from a regular checking or savings account.

Information on Chip and PIN cards can be found here http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/credi...signature.html