This is the next article on hidden costs we started last month. This time, we’re discussing costs of using ATM (Automated teller machine). And, as we have mentioned here a number of times, that probably is the cheapest way for a traveler to obtain currency in another country, by accessing it via an ATM [...]]]>

This is the next article on hidden costs we started last month. This time, we’re discussing costs of using ATM (Automated teller machine). And, as we have mentioned here a number of times, that probably is the cheapest way for a traveler to obtain currency in another country, by accessing it via an ATM with either a debit or credit card. We want to discuss the real costs of such a transaction, because there are hidden fees here, as well. And because these do differ from bank to bank, we picked a large sample of banks. Also, from what I’ve been able to discover, these fees are pretty much the same everywhere, whether Tokyo, London, New York, or Sydney.

Mobile ATMs installed in a van with guards, User PrimroseGuy, Courtesy Wikimedia Commons

But let’s take a typical transaction abroad. Let’s say you are an American in London, don’t want to carry too much cash with you, so you want to withdraw the equivalent of $1,000.00 from an ATM. (Yes, ATMs don’t usually allow so large a withdrawal, but the dollar versus pound rate has fluctuated greatly over the last two years, with the rate at one point being more than 2:1.) Well, the first thing you have to do is select an ATM from which to make a withdrawal. The good news is that as long as your bank is a member of VISA, CIRRUS, MAESTRO, PLUS (some banks list them in these ways), you can do this just about anywhere, and with few exceptions. Slovenia, as of the writing of this article and based on one source, is one of those exceptions, because only Slovenian citizens are allowed to do this. Also, based on another source, a Bank of America card worked fine in Hong Kong, but not in Brazil. So research your destination carefully before you go there!

So; rule number 1:  When traveling abroad, especially to multiple countries please be sure you have some of the local currency on hand and a credit card as a backup. This way, in places such as Slovenia, you won’t be caught short. Also, use the links above to locate ATMs that work for your particular card.

Now to continue with our scenario; let’s say you’ve found such an ATM in London (and these are usually no problem to find there), what’s next? Well, unless your bank is a member of the Global ATM Alliance, you are going to be hit with fees to use that ATM. Your bank could charge a flat rate of anywhere from $1.00 to $5.00 (e.g., Wells Fargo is $5.00), plus you will probably be charged by the bank that owns that particular ATM, as well, the so-called “host bank.” Again, this fee varies widely from bank to bank, but can run close to your own bank’s fee in costs. So, total cost of just using that ATM could be as much, or at least the greater part of, $10.00. If your bank is a member of the Global ATM Alliance, then the machine charges are waived. However, the currency conversion charges are not waived. Those still remain intact.

So; rule number 2: If your bank is a member of the Global ATM Alliance, be sure to use their affiliated ATMs. For Bank of America, for instance, this would be Barclays in the United Kingdom. If your bank is not a member of this group, you might want to consider opening an account with a bank that is, that is if you travel a lot, because over time, these fees can really cost you.

Okay, back to our scenario. So now we’ve found an ATM, and we’ve made sure as to whether or not it is a member of the Global ATM Alliance. In our example, it isn’t. We want to withdraw some cash.  Rule number 3: the best idea here is to draw as much money as you feel you may need, to the maximum amount you are comfortable having on your person. The reason for this is that if your bank is not a member of the Alliance, every time you withdraw money it is going to cost you significantly. Also, in addition and regardless of which ATM you use, you are going to incur those transaction costs which we are now going to discuss.

Banks charge a transaction cost for money conversions. There is the fixed rate of one percent that everyone pretty much has to pay if using the Visa/MasterCard systems (there seems no way around this unless you use American Express or Discover, because they apparently don’t use these systems, but there are still charges), and then there is whatever the bank decides to tack onto this. Why do banks add on to it? Well, the answer seems to be because they can. They want the extra money, so they charge extra.

ATM Screen Courtesy Wikimedia Commons, User Katrin Grünthal

If you are thinking this is a bit of a rip-off, you are absolutely right. It is just another way for banks to make money off of their customers. They are getting quite innovative in this ability of late, to their own customers’ distinct disadvantage.

The normal added on charge can be anywhere from another one percent of the total transaction to even more. Wells Fargo (like many banks), and according to one source, has upped its charge from two to now three percent of the total amount of the transaction. This is on top of the one percent that is always charged by the international clearinghouse, according to one irate customer’s website. So, we’re talking four percent of a total transaction here. That’s a cost of $4 dollars for every $100 dollars involved in the transaction, and don’t forget those possible ATM fees added into that if it’s a non-Alliance ATM you are using.  Now remember, different banks charge different percentage amounts. A few still don’t charge anything at all.

According to the “Bargaineering” website, http://www.bargaineering.com/articles/foreign-currency-transaction-fees-list.html, Foreign Currency Transaction Fees List, this is what some banks are charging their credit card customers (directly quoted from “Bargaineering”):

And according to the website, Money Blue Book, (http://www.moneybluebook.com/list-of-credit-card-foreign-currency-transaction-fees/) these fees are charged by these banks, and this is all directly quoted material from that site, as well:

And at Credit.com, they list these sample fees for banks:

Costs Going Up With Profits? Foreign Exchange Market Turnover Courtesy Wikimedia Commons

These include the 1% base transaction cost where applicable. However, doing some independent checking of this, I’ve found some of these numbers, though fairly recent, are already out of date. Changes are occurring rapidly and often since the current financial crisis. As stated, Wells Fargo, for instance and according to one source, has raised its rate again since the above articles were posted. So besides the 1% base charge, they went up to 3% recently on top of this figure (as listed above for them), to a total of 4 percent, instead of 3% according to that one website and same irate customer. American Express is another example, having raised their fees another .5% already, apparently. HSBC, according to another website, has raised its fees another 2% to a total of 3%.

Notice a trend here? Yes, the fees are going up, and quickly! And also yes, in these tough economic times, such figures change so rapidly as to be almost obsolete by the time we get them. However, the rest of the numbers still do seem to stand as of the time of this article. But always check with your bank just before going on a trip to see what they charge at that point in time. I’m betting these rates will continue to change in the near future, rapidly, and steadily upward.

But using these numbers, as an example, let’s get on with that equivalent to a $1,000 dollar transaction we were talking about earlier and let’s see what it will cost us. We will use Wells Fargo as the bank involved. Please remember, this is just an example only and again, most ATMs have limits on withdrawals that are well below this $1,000.00 figure. However, this amount has been valid in the recent past. Right now, in England, a withdrawal of ₤400 pounds sterling, would be roughly equivalent to a withdrawal of $660 US, but a little over a year-and-a-half ago, that figure would have been $840, so that’s another reason why I’m going with the $1,000 figure, to allow for normal exchange rate fluctuations. In any case, here’s how $1,000 breaks down:

Calculations for Total Costs for ATM Currency Transaction:
4% of $1,000.000
Transaction, plus $5.00 = $45.00 on $1,000.00
Note: Not including host ATM costs, if applicable, which could raise the figure closer to $50.00.

This is not cheap! And every time you withdraw this amount, this is what it will cost you.

Again, these fees seem to apply the same across the board, whether in New York, Toronto, London, Paris, Prague, Frankfurt, Beijing, Tokyo, Moscow, Cairo, Rio, or any other major city, since it is the banks themselves that charge them. Variables include if you are not using a Global ATM Alliance member, in which case, this again means the host bank for that ATM can add on fees for the use of their machine. The upper limit, seems to be right around $5.00 for this.

So there you have it.  Overall, you will pay considerable fees for the privilege of withdrawing money from an ATM while abroad, although this is still considerably cheaper than using foreign exchange services or bureaus that cost even more. And also remember that our example of $1,000 was just that – an example. Most banks won’t allow you to withdraw near that much. So, as in the Wells Fargo example, if you were just withdrawing $100.00, this would come to about $9.00 in costs and that is nine percent! The more often you withdraw and the smaller the amounts you withdraw, the greater the percentage comes to for the cost of doing this. That’s why it’s important to withdraw as much as you can, and as seldom as you can, to keep these costs down.

Cover Cartoon of Puck (magazine) titled: "The Central Bank— Why should Uncle Sam establish one, when Uncle Pierpont is already on the job?" Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

As I’ve mentioned in a prior article, I’m planning a month’s stay in the United Kingdom this coming spring. That, for me, means a number of trips to the ATM while there, because I don’t like carrying huge amounts of cash on me. But rest assured I will be withdrawing the maximum allowed. I will split that between my father and me, and we will be using money belts. It’s the cheapest and safest way to go. And I say “cheapest” with reservations, because it is only the “cheapest” of a number of expensive ways to obtain the local currencies.  In my estimation, banks have seen to it that there are no longer any really “cheap” ways to get cash. Well, maybe for them by getting it from us through charging so many fees, hidden and otherwise…you think?

Rob Shelsky, Currate.com Contributing Editor
Robert Rademacher, Currate.com Editor-in-Chief

References:

Currate.com World Currencies Map
http://currate.com/map

MasterCard Locations
http://www.mastercard.com/us/personal/en/cardholderservices/atmlocations/index.html

VISA/PLUS
http://visa.via.infonow.net/locator/global/jsp/SearchPage.jsp

Yahoo Answers, Can I use my Bank of America debit card to withdraw money from any ATM?
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080218154826AAUF7sU

Elliott, How to get rid of a foreign transaction fee on your bill
http://www.elliott.org/blog/how-to-get-rid-of-a-foreign-transaction-fee-on-your-bill/

Independent Traveler.com, ATMs Abroad
http://www.independenttraveler.com/resources/article.cfm?AID=41&category=8

ATM Conversion Fees
http://europeforvisitors.com/europe/articles/atm_conversion_fees.htm

Money Blue Book
List Of Credit Card Foreign Currency Transaction Fees

http://www.moneybluebook.com/list-of-credit-card-foreign-currency-transaction-fees/

Credit.com Foreign Currency Conversion Fees are an Unwelcome Companion, by Shane Romig
http://www.credit.com/credit_information/credit_cards/Foreign-Currency-Conversion-Fees.jsp

USA Today
Pre-vacation research can reduce currency-conversion fees
http://www.usatoday.com/money/perfi/columnist/block/2006-05-29-currency-exchange_x.htm

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Bank of America and Lloyds [...]]]> Money, “you can’t get there without it” when traveling. As it turns out, you can’t even just send money “there” without it costing significantly more money, because we are charged through the nose for the privilege of wiring currency. As it turns out, sometimes, this is often on both ends.

Bank of America and Lloyds Wire Transfer Costs Screenshot

Again, we have stumbled onto those infamous “hidden fees” we’ve mentioned in prior articles. This time, it isn’t high-cost currency exchange services we’re talking about either, but our banks. We all know banks are charging more and higher fees for many things. Included in this, is “wiring” of money, as it is still so quaintly called.

Why are they often charging more fees? Well, I put this question to several repre­senta­tives of Bank of America when I telephoned them; the answer was always amazingly similar: “…as you probably know, the current financial state of the economy is not good.”  There were variations on this theme, of course, such as: “The world financial situation is the cause.” Or, “The current economic conditions force us to have to…” blah, blah, blah!

Always, it seemed the answer was couched in this vague way. You see, it wasn’t the bank’s fault that they had to charge more fees. “It was the “current financial” circumstances that were to blame.  They were just victims in all this, just as we customers were. Harsh times, it seems, call for harsh measures for all.

Or could it just be that banks are now charging us for their own mistakes, the massive numbers of bad loans in real estate they’ve made in the recent past, and/or other imprudent investments on their part? In other words, are we customers paying for their excesses and mistakes of the past decade? The answer, to some real extent, would seem to be yes!

North view of Bank of America Plaza, Lamar Street, Dallas Tx., USA Author, Nathan Slaughter, Courtesy Wikimedia Commons

Banks seem to have taken a new tack. The once-valued customer is now the privileged one to be slammed with numerous hidden fees, fees of every type, on checking accounts, saving accounts, paying by phone, and as one article even put it: “There’s even fees in some banks for walking in and talking to a teller.” (See, GAO report: Hidden bank fees rising, Bob Sullivan, [link below].) Hidden fees abound, it seems. And this is at no minor cost to the consumer. This week, CNN repeatedly aired on television an opinion piece on hidden fees, how they were costing the average consumer, and big time! They stated that the average consumer pays close to a thousand dollars a year in hidden costs! Now, this isn’t just banks, but many other businesses as well, from telephone companies, cable companies, airlines, hotels – you name it – they all seem to have jumped on the greed bandwagon. And that juggernaut of a rapacious wagon is racing right at us consumers. We bear the brunt of all these hidden costs.

Google World Currencies Map - United Kingdom - British Isles

However, I’d just like to concentrate on the hidden costs of wiring money by using one’s own bank. This time, I’m speaking from direct and very recent personal experience. I needed to wire money to owners of a cottage in eastern England. Unlike the other cottages I’ve already reserved, this one didn’t take credit cards; the owners being very new to the business just weren’t set up for it yet. They asked me to wire the money to their account. Immediately, I knew that was going to cost extra. How much, I didn’t realize. I suspect, neither did the owners of the cottage.

I went to Bank of America Online. This was on October 29^th. On their website, it said you could either accomplish the transaction online, or at a local branch. Seeing how involved it was, I opted for the local branch. But I was brusquely told there that they no longer handled wire transactions, that now it was strictly online as a “convenience to the customer.” When I pointed out that the website said otherwise, they told me the change had “just” taken place, as of October 31.  Lucky me!

Mind you, my closest branch is miles away from where I live, so this entailed a long and pointless round trip. Incensed, I called Bank of America. They said that if the transaction was of an “urgent,” enough nature, the branch could still do it. Lucky me again! So armed with this information, I went back to my branch. It took well over an hour to accomplish the transaction. The bank officer handling it wasn’t sure what the British currency even was (Great Britain Pound Sterling, GBP Currency), wasn’t sure if England was in Great Britain “or the United Kingdom,” couldn’t obtain the SWIFT Code for the bank I needed. (Main office representative said (according to my bank representative) that they had no SWIFT Code, hadn’t even heard of Lloyds Bank).  What? Lloyds is a major English bank! How could Bank of America not have heard of it?

What’s more, to find what the current currency exchange rate was, I had to assist that officer to go to Currate.com on the Internet. I’m not kidding! Then, I had to tell him to Google for SWIFT Codes, because they are available on the Internet for many banks. Now, I had numbers given to me by the owners of the cottage for their bank, including a SWIFT Code, but here again, we had problems. The bank officer wasn’t sure what or which numbers I had, were the correct ones that made up the SWIFT Code. Again, I helped him figure that out, by pointing to the similarity of the online British SWIFT numbers to the ones I had. I also had to figure out how much to send, based on the exchange rate, to cover the 200 pound cost of the cottage. I ended up sending 202.27 GBP pounds, just to be on the safe side.

Invoice of Bank Of America Wire Transfer Charges

Finally, the transaction was accomplished. The exchange rate that Bank of America charged me was 1.70 USD dollars to the GBP pound. This, as near as I can deduce, was the usual three percent above the current published rate for that date. On top of this, I was charged another $35.00 USD. This, despite my having two accounts at their bank.  So much for being a valued customer!

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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 [...]]]>

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 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:

1. New York (USA)
   
2. London (United Kingdom)
   
3. Paris (France)
   
4. Berlin (Germany)
   
5. Barcelona (Spain)
   
6. (5) Chicago (USA) (Yes, it is tied with Barcelona for fifth.)
7. (5) Tokyo (Japan) (Also tied for fifth.)
8. Istanbul (Turkey)
   
9. Rome (Italy)
   
10. (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.

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 Get Directions * approximate times – Area served: - Show Category: Unverified listing
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

-BANKS- (to be added shortly)

References:

Time Out’s Top Ten Greatest Cities In The World
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/travel/holiday_type/breaks/article6818787.ece

American Express Offices, CitiDex New York City
http://www.citidex.com/30.htm

American Express, London
http://www212.americanexpress.com/dsmlive/dsm/int/gb/en/personal

American Express Europe, Asia
http://www.amextravelresources.com/

American Express Australia
http://www.americanexpress.com/australia/personal/te/fes/locations.shtml#NSW

Travelex USA Branches
http://www.travelex.com/us/locations/default.asp?step=2&lang=ENG

HSBC USA Branch Locations
http://www.banking.us.hsbc.com/HICServlet?cmd_GetUSMap=

HSBC International Branch Locations
http://www.us.hsbc.com/1/2/3/personal/inside/about/hsbc-worldwide

Currencies Direct
http://www.currenciesdirect.com/common/contact_display_au.aspx

Currencies Direct (About Us)
http://www.currenciesdirect.com/uk/aboutus/keyfacts.aspx

ICE Branch Locations – United Kingdom
http://www.iceplc.com/branchlocator/uk.shtml

Foreign Currency Exchange Services
http://fceservices.com/

Bank of America (Worldwide Branch Offices)
http://locators.bankofamerica.com/locator/locator/LocatorAction.do

Bank of America (Chicago Branch Offices)
http://locators.bankofamerica.com/locator/locator/CHICAGO_IL/branch_and_atm_locations/locations.html

Capital One (New York Branch Locations)
http://maps.capitalone.com/locator/BranchSearch.action?search=&_sourcePage=index.jsp&address=&city=New+York&state=NY&zip=&searchType=branchSearch&Search.x=28&Search.y=14

Capital One (Contact Info for United Kingdom)
http://www.capitalone.com/contactus/uk.php

Chase
https://www.chase.com/

Chase (Contact Info)
https://www.chase.com/ccp/index.jsp?pg_name=ccpmapp/shared/assets/page/findus

Wells Fargo (Branch Locations)
https://www.wellsfargo.com/locator/

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Travel warnings and alerts; these are not something the average traveler is usually very aware of, except in the most obvious of instances. We all know, for example, that Iraq and Afghanistan are not safe places for travelers these days. Sudan, Iran, and Somalia are not, either. But how many other [...]]]>

Travel warnings and alerts; these are not something the average traveler is usually very aware of, except in the most obvious of instances. We all know, for example, that Iraq and Afghanistan are not safe places for travelers these days. Sudan, Iran, and Somalia are not, either. But how many other countries can you name right now that you probably shouldn’t go to on your holidays? I’m betting you can’t name more than half of those remaining ones.

Terrorists Roaming The Neighborhood - Image Provided by Loyal Currate.com Reader

So, why is that? Why do even seasoned travelers not concern themselves more about this issue? Well, there are a number of reasons for this, one of them being a certain complacency these days that we live in a “global village,” and except for a few problem areas, everything is pretty much “okay.” Also, let’s be honest here, it is a subject travelers tend to avoid. Admittedly, it is a rather depressing topic, but for those traveling abroad, it is something of which they should be aware. After all, going to the wrong place at the wrong time can make for a very unpleasant trip indeed!

First, what is a bona fide travel warning and why are they issued? Well, according to the United States Department of State such warnings “are issued to describe long-term, protracted conditions that make a country dangerous or unstable. A travel warning is also issued when the U.S. Government’s ability to assist American citizens is constrained due to the closure of an embassy or consulate or because of a drawdown of its staff.”

This means that even if you aren’t hurt or in danger, but you happen to lose your passport or need some other type of help; you may not be able to go to an American embassy or consulate to get it. They may be either closed, or so short on staff that they just don’t have the facilities to aid you in a timely manner, or even at all.

So, which countries currently have travel warnings issued for them by the United States Department of State? Which ones do travelers really need to be aware of and to avoid?

Well, according to their website at: http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_1764.html, as of October 7, 2009, those countries are:

This Information Is Courtesy of
the United State Department of State,
Current Travel Warnings

You can just click on the country and this will link you to the most current information on the warning for that nation. This information may include where in the country there are problems (if they are localized or not), the type of trouble, and to what degree of severity these problems are. Also, there will be information as to the status of the American Embassy there, and other matters that must concern a traveler’s safety. These sites often also give the would-be traveler valuable information on how better to stay safe.

This is the list as of the time of writing this article. Since this list is subject to change and often, always check the above-listed website of the United States Department of State, “Current Travel Warnings,” for the most recent updates.

However, this isn’t all. There is still the matter of “Travel Alerts.” The United States Department of State also issues these. How do they differ from “Travel Warnings?” Well, again according to their own website at: http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/pa/pa_1766.html, Travel Alerts are: “issued to disseminate information about short-term conditions, generally within a particular country, that pose imminent risks to the security of U.S. citizens. Natural disasters, terrorist attacks, coups, anniversaries of terrorist events, election-related demonstrations or violence, and high-profile events such as international conferences or regional sports events are examples of conditions that might generate a Travel Alert.

So the main difference between a Travel Warning and a Travel Alert is that the former is a long-term warning, but the latter is a short-term one. Don’t think that these are any less important, because they are short-term. Situations change rapidly and can be volatile, so they are just as vital. Current Travel Alerts exist, as of October 7, 2009, for the following countries:

This Information Is Courtesy of
the United State Department of State,
Current Travel Alerts

Do notice that the alerts include, among others, Germany, India, China, and Mexico. Who would think Germany, a country in the heart of Europe, could be so potentially unsafe? Mexico, of course, has been much in the news of late. And by the way, there is even an alert about the Hurricane Season. So again, there is a lot of worthwhile information for travelers at these sites. Just click on the country to link to the information about that travel destination. And remember, these are constantly updated, so you should check out the website shown above, just before planning your next trip, and again before you actually leave. Do this for both such sites.

The point of this information isn’t to scare the traveler, to shout, “BEWARE,” at you, but rather to inform travelers of current conditions at various destinations. To be informed is to be aware, and the aware traveler is a safer one in this case.

Do remember, though, that alerts can come at any time. So, you must be flexible in your travel plans. If, even while traveling, an alert comes out that one of your destination countries may be unsafe for the moment, consider alternate destinations. Be ready to change your plans in a hurry, if need be.

And different destinations can mean different currencies, which have different exchange rates. With sudden plan changes, you may not be prepared for this eventuality. So if you have a mobile phone with Internet browser capabilities, take it along with you on your trip. It may be of invaluable service, because with it, you can access Currate.com, where you will find reliable and up-to-date currency exchange rates for most currencies.

Currate.com even has a Google style world map currency conversion where you can just point and click to your destination. It’s as easy as that. And this way, you can quickly find out the most recent exchange rate for a nation’s currency, have access to the easy-to-use currency converter calculator there, and can even see actual images of over 180 world currencies. So, not only will you know how much it costs to convert, what the destination currency actually looks like, but you will also be able to access such information any time as long as you have that mobile phone with you. You can just use your mobile phone to go to http://currate.com/m. If your mobile phone has more enhanced features, then try http://currate.com/e.

This way, you will always have quick and easy access to the best and most recent information on currency exchange rates. And as with travel warnings and alerts, it’s best to be aware of the latest currency exchange rates, rather than have to “beware” of making costly errors in your currency transactions all the time. Currate.com is a necessity for the “aware” and “flexible” traveler. And these days, all travelers need to be this way.

Rob Shelsky, Currate.com Contributing Editor

References:

U.S. Department of State, Travel.State.Gov Website
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis_pa_tw_1168.html

DallasNew.com, U.S. travel alert for Mexico no help to tourism
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/fea/travel/thisweek/stories/DN-mexalert_0308tra.ART.State.Edition1.48f1ea8.html

USA Tourist Community
http://community.usatourist.com/blogs/alerts/default.aspx

US Renews MX Travel Alert Today: What about that?
http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/billiegreenwood/borderexplorer/1208303160/tpod.html

Berlin rejects travel alert for foreign tourists
http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,4719133,00.html

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