Originally Posted by
abmj-jr
Agree with the above. If you will be doing international travel frequently it makes sense to shop for a no-fee forex account. For occasional travelers it doesn't. In this case, I'd just bring cash.
No need to shop for a no-fee forex account. Open free brokerage account with Schwab and you also can open free checking account. No minimum balance (my brokerage account has $0 in it; and I only fund the checking side for international trips) no fees, no nothing. No ATM fees worldwide bc they don't have ATMs (and if the ATM you are using charges a fee they reimburse you).
Mobile app has a $10,000 USD max on checks so most checks you handle can be deposited and otherwise you just have to find a Schwab brokerage location and deposit in person.
Not sure if opening an account is limited to US residents only but it was one of the very best things I learned about on FT. I just go to any ATM that accepts Visa when I land and usually take of the equivalent of $100 USD and then just take out more as needed.