Euro cash for summer travel: order ahead and skip the wait

Euros are our second most requested currency every summer. Two habits make buying them painless, and one common mistake keeps costing travellers money.

Habit one: order ahead

Reserve on the rates page and your euros are counted and bagged before you arrive, with the rate locked for 60 minutes from confirmation. Walk-ins are always welcome, but in July the reservation line moves faster than the walk-up line. For larger amounts, reserving also guarantees the stock is there.

Habit two: mix your denominations

Ask for a travel mix at the counter and we'll split it sensibly:

• Small notes (€5 to €20) for cafés, buses, market stalls, and tips. Many small European vendors wince at a €100 note before noon.
• Large notes (€50 to €100) for hotels, deposits, and the emergency fold in a different pocket.

The mistake: waiting for the airport

The kiosk at either end of your flight builds 8 to 12% into the rate. We did the math. Buying your euros in town the week before you fly beats buying them under a departures board, every time.

And keep a card as backup. Cash plus card is still the most resilient way to travel. If your trip gets cancelled or you come home with euros left over, we buy back unused foreign cash at the posted buy rate, with no restocking fee.