Going thru Milan Malpense I had to change some $ into Euros. The bank charged me a very unfavorable rate of .91, a 6.5% commission AND a 3 Euro fee. The bottom line: 1$ = 1 EU.

At the prevailing rate of in the 86/87 U.S. cents to the Euro I am typically (in Germany getting 1.1 Euro per dollar, e.g. 220 EUs for $ 200.

After letting the agent know about my dissatisfaction with these rate, she shrewedly declared, that some places in the city were charging 12 %.

I hope my experience will save others a few hard-earned (vacation) dollars.