EXCHANGE RATE LOCATIONS –The Woes of Finding Those “Money Trees”

Gargoyle at the tower of Notre Dame de Paris France - Courtesy of Wiki-media Commons

Having trouble finding a place to exchange money when you travel? Have you arrived in another country only to wonder what you were going to do for local currency, where to go to get it? Have you stood in the middle of a crowded airport terminal with a pile of luggage, wondering which way to go to find a place to get local cash?

I’m betting you have, at least once in your travels. Truth is we all have at some point. Even for the perennial traveler, this can be a big problem. Strange airports or new cities – it’s all confusing at first, and we are all “newbies” there. And once we’ve extended ourselves by going some place new, going beyond our old “comfort zone,” we may discover it’s very difficult to locate the “currency zone” in these new destinations. This means we may just “settle” for a convenient, but high-cost currency exchange kiosk.

Of course, we could always just bring what we need of the local currency with us. But obtaining that before we go abroad can be expensive and time consuming. Then, too, there is the problem of carrying all that money around with you in the form of cash.

Moreover, we’re told not to do this, but instead to get our local currencies from the destination country’s ATMs, using debit or credit cards to get the best deal. We’ve even made that point here, at Currate.com. And it is a truly valid point.

Downtown Chicago WaterFront - Courtesy of Wiki-media Commons

So the consensus on currency advice is that you should wait until your arrive at your destination to convert currency. But then there is the question of exactly where do you get that money? Where are the physical locations of these places for currency exchanges?

New York City Financial District - Courtesy of Wikipedia Commons

New York City Financial District - Courtesy of Wiki-media Commons

From one who has wandered around Heathrow, Washington’s Dulles, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Dallas, and many other large airports, believe me when I say it can be a difficult and time consuming task! This is often due to the sheer size, complexity, and number of terminals at various airports. Forget currency exchange locations, I’ve even had trouble finding the exits at some airports. Then, when I enter the nearest city, I’m at a complete loss as to where to go.

London Eye London, United Kingdom

So, with this first in a series of four articles on the subject, we’re going to give you physical locations of five major currency exchange services and also of five major banks for the “top ten” destinations worldwide. Now, you may not see the service or bank of your choice listed here, but rest assured more will be covered in later articles when we list AT M locations for these same destinations. Our overall goal is to try to cover as many of these as we reasonably can.

Now, what are the “top ten” destinations worldwide? Well, that seems to be a matter for considerable conjecture and debate. Everyone has an opinion on this, it seems. And, they can vary widely.

Water Foundation Berlin Germany Deutschland - Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

So, I’ve decided to base my choices on the newly released book, Time Out. This book relies heavily on various authors living in the subject cities, and the subsequent list is based on their choices. Such things as the look of a metropolis, the “style” overall, the amount and diversity of the city’s cultural offerings, it’s fame as a place of “good eats,” and of course, the position it occupies in the hierarchy of the world’s greatest cities, are all factors. And all these writers are considered experts in their fields, accomplished, and up-to-date world travelers. Do remember that negative points, such as poor or often inoperative public transport systems, crime rates, etc., had strong effects on which cities they ultimately chose, and what levels they occupy on the final list.

Gaudi’s Casa Batllo, Barcelona, Courtesy Wiki-media Commons

So you may find the book’s choices interesting as a result. There are the usual cities right near the top, but there are also a number of “ties” for cities we might not have normally considered as “top ten” destinations.

Here’s the list as Time Out details it:

New York (USA)
London (United Kingdom)
Paris (France)
Berlin (Germany)
Barcelona (Spain)
(5) Chicago (USA) (Yes, it is tied with Barcelona for fifth.)
(5) Tokyo (Japan) (Also tied for fifth.)
Istanbul (Turkey)
Rome (Italy)
(9) Sydney, Australia (Tied with Rome.)

If you would like more information on how and why each of these cities were chosen for the “top ten,” please use the reference link at the end of this article to check it all out for yourself.

Below the body of this article, you will also find our list of five exchange services and their various locations in these cities, as well as five major banks with their branch locations. For the exchange services, all locations (as shown on their own websites) are listed. However, for banks, sometimes there were just so many, that I limited it to a maximum of ten locations for these for each city. Also, some are branches with ATMs as well, but I concentrated on actual physical offices.

Temple of Antoninus and Faustina Roman Forum Rome, Italy - Courtesy of Wiki-Media Commons

What criteria did I use to select these particular services/banks? Well admittedly, it was somewhat arbitrary, because there are lots of them. And again, some others will be listed later in this subject’s series, such as Western Union. Western Union is seen by the majority, it seems, as principally for “wiring” money to various destinations. Actually, they do far more than that, and so again, will be covered in a later article. For exchange services, I went by those which seemed to have a large presence, either in the general public’s mind, or on the Internet, where most people now first turn to for this type of information. One surprising result of this is that although some had a substantial Internet presence, they had no phsyical locations at all to go to, but instead rely upon sending the money by various methods to their customers. Needless to say, this has some drawbacks for the fast moving traveler.

Shinjuku Street Downtown Tokyo, Japan - Courtesy of Wiki-Media Commons

As for banks, these are based, again, on their presence in the American public’s mind and news of late, as well as being major banks here in the United States. You may find it surprising how some of them have so little in the way of branches abroad. Bank of America, for instance, although a powerhouse here in America, relies principally on “allied” banks and their ATMs in most countries to allow its customers to get local currency. There will be more on this subject, as well, when we discuss ATM locations abroad in a later article.

Sunset over the Golden Horn Istanbul Turkey - Photo by Bertil Videt 2003, Courtesy Wiki-media Commons

Please be aware that the locations are based on these corporations’ websites, and/or other sites that listed such. We cannot, of course, guarantee their absolute reliability, since branches open and close, and the current worldwide economic conditions have had a strong impact on the financial sector. I noted that some branches, now open, will be closed early in 2010, so I deliberately did not include them in the list. Therefore, before you go abroad, double-check that these locations are still accurate, still open, and still providing the services you need. Finally, also notice that in many cities, the major services seem to “cluster” in the same locations. If you want to know where the financial centers are, just use these clusters as your guide.

Sydney Opera House Sydney Australia - by Anthony Winning, Courtesy of Wiki-Media Commons

And as always with currency exchange matters, before you even begin to worry about when and where to go to get that destination’s money, remember to first go to Currate.com. At Currate.com’s website you will find a “one-stop-shopping” approach to all the currency exchange rate information you need. Currate.com lists currency exchanges rates that are reliable because they are regularly updated. It has a great, easy-to-use currency converter calculator, as well as a Google-style world map with “point and click” to your destination capability of over 240 countries. And, if you have a mobile phone with Internet Browser ability, you can just go to http://currate.com/basic. If your mobile phone use more enhanced features, try http://currate.com/enhanced. If you do this, you need never be without reliable exchange rate information close at hand, even when traveling abroad. And finally, Currate.com has actual images of over 180 currencies. This is a great feature for the new traveler, as well as for any traveler who finds themselves in a country with an unfamiliar currency.

Now, here’s that list of locations for the “top ten” cities, as we promised:

TABLES OF MAJOR CURRENCY EXCHANGE SERVICES AND BANKS

-CURRENCY EXCHANGE SERVICES-

Note: Western Union offices are not included due to excessive exchange costs.

New York, United States of America – USD Dollar Currency
American Express (4)	Currencies Direct	International Currency Exchange (2)	Travelex (4)
200 Vesey St. New York, NY 10281	N/A	JFK International Airport Terminal 1 (2) Arrivals and Departure Jamaica, New York 11430	1271 Broadway/32nd Street New York, New York, 10001
151 W 34th St. Fashion District, NY 10120			590 Broadway/48th Street New York, New York, 10036
822 Lexington Ave. 63rd St. Lenox Hill NY 10021			29 Broadway New York, New York, 10006
374 Park Ave. Midtown NY 10022			30 Vesey St. New York, New York, 10007

London, United Kingdom – GBP Pound Sterling Currency
American Express (4)	Currencies Direct	International Currency Exchange	Travelex (7)
30-31 Haymarket London SW1Y 4EX	51 Moorgate London, EC2 R6BH	Earl’s Court 181 Earl’s Court London SW5 9RD	9 Russell Square London, WC1B 5EH
60 Buckingham Palace Rd London, Greater London SW1W 0RR		Euston Rail Station London NW1 2DU	Basement, Selfridges 400 Oxford Street London, W1A 1AB
84 Kensington High Street Kensington London W8 4XP		London Gatwick Airport South Terminal Railway Concourse West Sussex RH6 0RD	Royal National Hotel Woburn Place London, WC1H 0DG
Belgrave House 76 Buckingham Palace Road London, SW1W AX		London Heathrow Station Heathrow Airport Hounslow Middlesex TW6 2JA	Tower of London Tower Hill London, EC3N 4AB
		London Luton Airport Terminal Building Departures Concourse Luton Bedfordshire LU2 9LR	Airside Arrivals / Departures Landside Departures (Main) London City Airport (3) Royal Docks, Silvertown London City Airport London E16 2PX
		241 / 339 Oxford Street London W1R 1AA / W1C 2JB
		Paddington Station London W2 1HB
		56 / 86 Queensway London W2 3RY / W2 3RR
		Waterloo Station EuroStar Main Concourse London SW1W9TP
		Westfield Shopping Centre Unit 2119, Ariel Way London W12 7GE

Paris, France – EUR Euro Currency
American Express	Currencies Direct	International Currency Exchange	Travelex
Paris Airport (10 locations) Roissy Charles de Gaulle Terminal 1 (3) - Transfer Level (Satellite 3) - Arrivals (Public Zone, Gate 16) - Departures (Public Zone, Gate 10) Terminal 2A – Departures (Gate 5) Terminal 2B – Departures (Gate 7) Terminal 2C (2) Gate 6 & Customs Zone Terminal 2D – Departures (Gate 6) Terminal 2E – Departures (Gate 6) Terminal 2F1 – Arrivals (Gate 6) 95741 Paris	N/A	01 Rue Auber 75009 Paris	125, ave. des Champs-Elysees 75008 Paris
5, Rue Scribe 75009 Paris		140 Av. Des Champs Elysees 75008 Paris	194, rue de Rivoli 75001 Paris
		91 Boulevard de Strasbourg 75010 Paris	25, boulevard des Capucines 75002 Paris
		9, Rue Berger 75001 Paris	36-42, rue Rambuteau 75003 Paris
		Gare du nord Terminal Eurostar Station 75010 Paris	4 boulevard St. Michel 75006 Paris
		Quai Transversal Rue de Dunkerque 75010 Paris	45, avenue de l’Opera 75002 Paris
		Train Blue – Gare de Lyon 20, Boulevard Diderot 75012 Paris	52, avenue des Champs-Elysees 75008 Paris
			8, place de l’Opera 75009 Paris
			84, boulevard de Clichy 75018 Paris
			Gare du Nord 18, rue de Dunkerque 75010 Paris
			Gare Montparnasse Niveau Departs Grandes-Lignes 11, blulevard de Vaugirard 75015 Paris

Berlin, Germany Deutschland – EUR Euro Currency
American Express	Currencies Direct	International Currency Exchange	Travelex
Fasanenstraße 81 10623 Charlottenburg Berlin	N/A	Berlin-Schönefeld Airport Airport Terminal 1 Terminal A – Arrivals 12529 Schönefeld	N/A
Bayreuther Straße 37 10787 Berlin		Berlin Tegel Airport Terminal A (Gate 0) 13405 Berlin

Barcelona, Spain – EUR Euro Currency

American
Express

Currencies
Direct

International
Currency Exchange

Travelex

Passeig de Gràcia 101
08008 Barcelona

——N/A——

Barcelona Airport
La Caixa
Currency Exchange Bureau
de Change
Terminal 1

——N/A——

La Ramblas 74
08002 Barcelona

Barcelona Airport
La Caixa
Currency Exchange Bureau
de Change
Terminal 2 (Food Court)

Carrer del Rosselló, 261

08008 Barcelona

–

Diagonal/Proveca
Barcelona Metro

Chicago, United States of America – USD Dollar Currency
American Express	Currencies Direct	International Currency Exchange	Travelex
5209 N. Clark St. Chicago, IL 60640	N/A	Chicago O’Hare Airport Terminal 3 or International Terminal Des Plaines, IL 60018	19 South La Salle St. Chicago, IL 60603
1501 N. Milwaukee Ave. Chicago, IL 60622			360 N. Michigan Ave. (Inside US Bank) Chicago, IL 60601
605 North Michigan Ave. Suite 105, Entrance East on Ohio St, Chicago, IL 60611

Tokyo, Japan – JPY Japanese Yen Currency
American Express	Currencies Direct	International Currency Exchange	Travelex
30-16, 4-chome Ogikubo Suginami-ku Tokyo 167-8530	N/A	Tokyo Narita Airport Greenport Agency (GPA) Terminal 1 4th Floor Departures Tokyo	1-1 Kanda-Hanaokacho Chiyoda-Ku Tokyo 101-0028
		Tokyo Narita Airport Greenport Agency (GPA) Terminal 1 3rd Floor Departures South Wing Tokyo	141 Building 1F 1-4-2 Nishishingjuku Shinjukuku Tokyo 160-0023
			15F, Akasaka Twin Tower East Building 2-17-22 Akasaka Minato-ku Tokyo 107-0052
			c/- Keisei Tabi Room, Narita Airport Second Build Station 1-1 Furugome, Narita City, Chiba Tokyo, 282-0004
			c/- JR Tokyo Station Gransta Concierge 1-9-1 Marunouchi Chiyoda-ku Tokyo, 100-0005
			c/- Keisei Tabi Room Narita Airport First Building Station 1-1Goryobokujyo Sanrizuka, Narita City, Chiba Tokyo, 282-0011
			c/o Keisei Railways Keisei Ueno Station 1-60 Ueno Koen Taito-ku Tokyo, 110-0007
			Haneda International Terminal Haneda Airport 3-4-4 Otaku Tokyo, 144-0041
			Toho Towin Tower 1F 1-5-2 Yurakucho Chiyodaku Tokyo, 100-0006
			Yaesu Shopping Mall No. 2 Yaesu 2-1 Chuo-ku Tokyo, 104-0028

Istanbul, Turkey – TRY Turkey Liras Currency
American Express	Currencies Direct	International Currency Exchange	Travelex
Maya Akar Center New York State Banking Dept. Kat 5 – Daire 23, Büyükdere Caddesi Central Bank (Turkey); No. 100-102, 34394 – Esentepe, Istanbul	N/A	Atatürk Airport Terminal B International Döviz Bürosu Office Arrival Hall	N/A

Rome, Italy – EUR Euro Currency
American Express	Currencies Direct	International Currency Exchange	Travelex
Piazza Di Spagna 38 Rome, 00187	N/A	N/A	Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino Airport (4) Aeroporto Leonardo da Vinci di Fiumicino Arrival Luggage B & C Gate B & C Rome 00050
Cinecitta Largo Caduti Di E1 Alamein 9 Rome, 00173			Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino Airport Aeroporto Leonardo da Vinci di Fiumicino Partenze Rome 00050

Sydney, Australia – AUD Australia Dollar Currency
American Express	Currencies Direct	International Currency Exchange	Travelex
Level 17, 175 Liverpool Street New York State Banking Dept. Sydney NSW 2000	N/A	Sydney Airport ANZ Foreign Exchange International Terminal 1 Sydney	c/- Citibank 2 Park Street (cnr George Street) Sydney NSW 2000
50 Pitt Street (Westpac Banking Corp) Sydney NSW 2000		Central Railway Station Sydney Terminal 13 Eddy Avenue Ramp Sydney NSW 2000	c/- Citibank Haymarket 695 George Street Haymarket Sydney, NSW 2000
275 George Street (Westpac Banking Corp) Sydney NSW 2000		Springfield Avenue & Darlinghurst Rd junction King Cross Sydney	c/- HSBC 28 Bridge Street Sydney, NSW 2000
275 George Street (Westpac Banking Corp) Sydney NSW 2000			c/- HSBC 724-728 George Street Sydney, NSW 2000
296 George Street (Westpac Banking Corp) Sydney NSW 2000			c/- HSBC 92 King Street Sydney, NSW 2000
341 George Street (Westpac Banking Corp) Sydney NSW 2000			Multi-Currency ATM Departures Level Landside (pre-customs) Sydney, NSW 2020
673 George Street (Westpac Banking Corp) Sydney NSW 2000			Shop 15C, Lower Ground 2 Queen Victoria Building 455 George Street Sydney, NSW 2000
			Sydney International Airport (2) Multi-Currency ATMs - Departures – Airside (post-customs) - Arrivals – Airside (pre-customs) Sydney, NSW 2020