This is such a helpful video, Tiffany, as I've been concerned with getting cash once we are in Greece. I plan on bringing some Euros with us but as we will be there for 12 days I don't want to walk around with a lot. P.S. I jiggle the ATM slot here in the U.S.!
Great video Tiffany! Thank you for sharing! I had no idea you could set up an international bank account (wise), so I’ll definitely be doing that when I travel internationally (I’m from Melbourne Australia).. Enjoy the rest of the summer 🌞, thanks again for your tips, I’ll be sharing this! 🌸🌺⭐️
Thank you for the great videos. I would like to suggest an episode on using taxis in Greece, especially Athens. We got ripped off once riding from Pireaus to Athens. Wondering about apps that you can pay for your ride on, etc. He pulled the old "drop the bill swap trick.
@@mesaekso1443 hand the money to pay over the seat and they drop it in their lap and replace it with a smaller amount and say "you made a mistake, this is not a 20 it is a 10.
Hi Tiffany, I've been watching your videos since I took a month-long "test trip" to Athens in 2021 in preparation for my retirement and full-time travel (which started this last July). Two other suggestions/plugs: 1) Schwab Bank has a checking account that doesn't charge international ATM fees, and fully reimburses ATM fees charged by the ATM owner (they try to calculate the amount when the transactions are international). They refund the fees at the end of each month and it works like a charm 2) more and more I find that when I use my credit/debit card to pay for things, I'm offered the option of a transaction in the "local" currency, or in dollars. I always choose the local currency, since the exchange rate used by Visa/MC is better than whatever is being offered. These may be repeats of suggestions you've already made - but repeats can be good, too Thanks for the info - keep it coming! I especially love seeing places that I visited on your videos. BTW - I liked the street market in Neos Kosmos much better than the one in Koukaki - and it's just one stop on the tram from your neighborhood.
I don't know if i missed it, but also, when withdrawing via ATM, make sure you withdraw in the LOCAL currency WITHOUT a currency conversion. ALWAYS decline the conversion! Thanks for these tips!
One more tip is to avoid "Dynamic Currency Conversion" to your home currency. Whether you pay for something by credit card or withdraw money from an ATM using a debit card, make sure you do so in the LOCAL currency because dynamic currency conversion will give you a lousy rate. They don't always give you the option to do transaction in your home currency, but I have had a situation (in Vienna) where an ATM first showed me the withdrawal amount in my home currency, (USD) and I had to decline it to do it in Euro..
Great advice..it's very, very misleading when going to an ATM there and not knowing which button to press to avoid that conversion! I think i'm a tech savvy person and was able to nail it...also happens on Paypal! I sent a payment to my luthier in Athens last month and there's an option there as well to avoid the 'dynamic conversion', i think they call it something else, but i avoided so many fees.
I have been to Greece 3 times in the last few years, always used my credit union debit card, no problem. You are so right about using ATMs attached to a bank to get Euros, unfortunately the ATM usually gives you 50 euro bills. I will check into a WISE card before my next trip.
The way to avoid that is to pull increments in €20. You may still get some if you get over €100. But I use those to pay for dinner as they usually have change to give rather than a store.
Thank you for this video. Very informative and simple. I am going to sign up for a Wise card so I can withdraw USD from a Greek Bank ATM as you advised. I'll use your link! Thanks again.
Tiffany this is so helpful, thank you! I just got back from my annual trip to Greece and got unexpectedly slammed with small but accumulating fees for using the ATM so much (from my CU). (I tend to use cash on smaller islands.) I’m going to look into your WISE card for next year. I appreciate the info! :)
Thank you so much for sharing this information. I remember seeing a comment where someone mentioned that someone businesses in Greece will tell you that they don’t accept credit cards although they’re supposed to. What to do in that situation?
I recently got back from Greece and I had gone to an ATM in Athens to get a larger amount of cash since I was given the option of a better price for earrings if I paid in cash vs card. Only after I had completed the transaction did I see that while the exchange rate wasn’t terrible, they charged a 9% commission fee. 9% on almost $700 is a lot! My US debit card doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees or any fee to use any non- network ATM. This commission doesn’t seem normal to me. Can you let me know what the “commission” fee is about ? I want to go back to Greece already because it was awesome but need to figure the cash thing out. I had leftover euros I had ordered for another vacation and had I not bought the expensive jewelry I wouldn’t have needed more. Next time I want to know what to do differently 😊
Thank you , so true I took money out of a ATM at the airport in Vienna, Austria for $100 and they charged me $27 and than luckily my hotel was across the street and only charged _ $2.00 for $100 -
I really appreciate your videos as they are most helpful. Is it possible to go physically into a bank and exchange currency? I typically don’t use ATM’s for safety reasons.
No, the banks do not offer services to non customers here. Greek banks are very difficult to deal with as well. If you get cash at the ATM when the bank is open, you will be fine.
@@agirlandherpassport I really appreciate your information as this is most helpful. I was planning on exchanging my USD for Euros while there. It now makes sense as to why everyone is saying to use an ATM. Thank You! Please keep the great videos coming as I enjoy them and you are most helpful.
I never liked Greek banks. The service is terrible and my stress level goes up every time I go into one. I avoid them as much as possible. I just withdraw from ATMs using my American debit card.
Thanks for your video! Can you please give me some advice? I am about to visit greece from new zealand and i have a €200 note-will this be accepted anywhere, the internet suggest people are scared of the note due to its link with crume rings Thanks
You’re welcome. I have never seen one so I may not be the best person to ask. It’s a very large bill to get change for in Greece. I would go to a bank and get some small notes.
Need more tips for your trip to Greece, check out this video! ua-cam.com/video/h2UhRv_xDog/v-deo.html
This is such a helpful video, Tiffany, as I've been concerned with getting cash once we are in Greece. I plan on bringing some Euros with us but as we will be there for 12 days I don't want to walk around with a lot.
P.S. I jiggle the ATM slot here in the U.S.!
I’m so happy to hear that. I jiggle the ATM slot everywhere! I trust no one. Haha
Great video Tiffany! Thank you for sharing! I had no idea you could set up an international bank account (wise), so I’ll definitely be doing that when I travel internationally (I’m from Melbourne Australia).. Enjoy the rest of the summer 🌞, thanks again for your tips, I’ll be sharing this! 🌸🌺⭐️
Thank you! It is very useful.
Thank you for another helpful video. Stay safe!
You’re welcome! You too
I’m excited that the dollar has finally evened up with the euro! September plane ticket is booked!
It’s so great! I feel like I got a raise.
Thank you for the great videos. I would like to suggest an episode on using taxis in Greece, especially Athens. We got ripped off once riding from Pireaus to Athens. Wondering about apps that you can pay for your ride on, etc. He pulled the old "drop the bill swap trick.
@@mesaekso1443 hand the money to pay over the seat and they drop it in their lap and replace it with a smaller amount and say "you made a mistake, this is not a 20 it is a 10.
@@meligala11 Ok, got it.I 'm a local and never had a thing like that happen to me...
@@mesaekso1443 I was an obvious tourist 😂
I would have said oh well and left the cab.
I greatly appeciate this information! I'm headed to Greece in Autumn.
Thank you! I have always had issues with using US ATM cards in European ATM. I will be ordering the Wise card for my next travel to Greece and the UK.
You’re welcome!
Hi Tiffany,
I've been watching your videos since I took a month-long "test trip" to Athens in 2021 in preparation for my retirement and full-time travel (which started this last July). Two other suggestions/plugs:
1) Schwab Bank has a checking account that doesn't charge international ATM fees, and fully reimburses ATM fees charged by the ATM owner (they try to calculate the amount when the transactions are international). They refund the fees at the end of each month and it works like a charm
2) more and more I find that when I use my credit/debit card to pay for things, I'm offered the option of a transaction in the "local" currency, or in dollars. I always choose the local currency, since the exchange rate used by Visa/MC is better than whatever is being offered.
These may be repeats of suggestions you've already made - but repeats can be good, too
Thanks for the info - keep it coming!
I especially love seeing places that I visited on your videos. BTW - I liked the street market in Neos Kosmos much better than the one in Koukaki - and it's just one stop on the tram from your neighborhood.
Great tips! No worries about repeats as not everyone will see all of them.
Thank you great info
Glad it was helpful!
I don't know if i missed it, but also, when withdrawing via ATM, make sure you withdraw in the LOCAL currency WITHOUT a currency conversion. ALWAYS decline the conversion! Thanks for these tips!
One more tip is to avoid "Dynamic Currency Conversion" to your home currency. Whether you pay for something by credit card or withdraw money from an ATM using a debit card, make sure you do so in the LOCAL currency because dynamic currency conversion will give you a lousy rate. They don't always give you the option to do transaction in your home currency, but I have had a situation (in Vienna) where an ATM first showed me the withdrawal amount in my home currency, (USD) and I had to decline it to do it in Euro..
Great advice..it's very, very misleading when going to an ATM there and not knowing which button to press to avoid that conversion! I think i'm a tech savvy person and was able to nail it...also happens on Paypal! I sent a payment to my luthier in Athens last month and there's an option there as well to avoid the 'dynamic conversion', i think they call it something else, but i avoided so many fees.
I have been to Greece 3 times in the last few years, always used my credit union debit card, no problem. You are so right about using ATMs attached to a bank to get Euros, unfortunately the ATM usually gives you 50 euro bills. I will check into a WISE card before my next trip.
The way to avoid that is to pull increments in €20. You may still get some if you get over €100. But I use those to pay for dinner as they usually have change to give rather than a store.
Thank you for this video. Very informative and simple. I am going to sign up for a Wise card so I can withdraw USD from a Greek Bank ATM as you advised. I'll use your link! Thanks again.
You’re welcome!
Should I use United States exchange or Greece currency when they ask the question at the ATM
Always choose the local currency
Tiffany this is so helpful, thank you! I just got back from my annual trip to Greece and got unexpectedly slammed with small but accumulating fees for using the ATM so much (from my CU). (I tend to use cash on smaller islands.) I’m going to look into your WISE card for next year. I appreciate the info! :)
You’re welcome! Sorry to hear you had so many charges. Definitely worth getting the card.
Thank you so much for sharing this valuable information! Is there a withdrawal daily limit with the Wise card?
You’re welcome. You can set the limit.
Thank you so much for sharing this information. I remember seeing a comment where someone mentioned that someone businesses in Greece will tell you that they don’t accept credit cards although they’re supposed to. What to do in that situation?
That is rarely the case now. Sometimes they will offer you a better price for cash but most places accept credit cards now.
👍Tks
Hi Tiffany, do you know if the Piraeus Bank ATMs are in English or have an English language option? Thanks!
Yes, all the banks have an English option.
I recently got back from Greece and I had gone to an ATM in Athens to get a larger amount of cash since I was given the option of a better price for earrings if I paid in cash vs card. Only after I had completed the transaction did I see that while the exchange rate wasn’t terrible, they charged a 9% commission fee. 9% on almost $700 is a lot! My US debit card doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees or any fee to use any non- network ATM. This commission doesn’t seem normal to me. Can you let me know what the “commission” fee is about ? I want to go back to Greece already because it was awesome but need to figure the cash thing out.
I had leftover euros I had ordered for another vacation and had I not bought the expensive jewelry I wouldn’t have needed more. Next time I want to know what to do differently 😊
Thank you , so true I took money out of a ATM at the airport in Vienna, Austria for $100 and they charged me $27 and than luckily my hotel was across the street and only charged _ $2.00 for $100 -
You’re welcome. That is a horrible charge! So glad the hotel did better.
I really appreciate your videos as they are most helpful. Is it possible to go physically into a bank and exchange currency? I typically don’t use ATM’s for safety reasons.
No, the banks do not offer services to non customers here. Greek banks are very difficult to deal with as well. If you get cash at the ATM when the bank is open, you will be fine.
@@agirlandherpassport I really appreciate your information as this is most helpful. I was planning on exchanging my USD for Euros while there. It now makes sense as to why everyone is saying to use an ATM. Thank You! Please keep the great videos coming as I enjoy them and you are most helpful.
@@christicook2238 You're welcome! Thank you!
I never liked Greek banks. The service is terrible and my stress level goes up every time I go into one. I avoid them as much as possible. I just withdraw from ATMs using my American debit card.
Thanks for your video!
Can you please give me some advice? I am about to visit greece from new zealand and i have a €200 note-will this be accepted anywhere, the internet suggest people are scared of the note due to its link with crume rings
Thanks
You’re welcome. I have never seen one so I may not be the best person to ask. It’s a very large bill to get change for in Greece. I would go to a bank and get some small notes.
What if I already got euros from the U.S and now I have $2000 in green $100s euros how can I break this down
can I pay by PayPal in currency offices like one change
I don’t know. I have never tried.
🙏😊
😊😊
Is it true that on a Certificate of Citizenship, we will be asked what name we prefer to put on there? Like a chance to legally change your name; 👋🏼
I don’t know. I’m not a citizen of Greece.
How to get a date in greece?
Can I get credit card in Greece for touristic and connect it with PayPal
No. It’s difficult to open a credit card in Greece and you need a tax number.
@@agirlandherpassport and any kind of visa card to connect with PayPal
@@khaledkandel1543 maybe revolut which allows for good rates and you can put it in paypal i believe
7:40 no shame in the jiggle
Please help me
Are people stupid that, in the 2020's, they can't think for themselves on where to get Euros they have to ask someone on UA-cam? Use the Internet!