What is the best way to convert USD to Euros for spending money in Amsterdam?

Are there shops and restaurants that would take my Wachovia Visa debit/credit card as payment and withdraw USD that they convert to euros? I don't want to have to walk around with alot of cash there. If I must withdraw cash, is it best to do it here or there? I'd imagine all of these things incur some kind of fee.|||Most Visa credit cards are OK for payment, not too much of a fee there.


For cash you better take you bank card, and use it in an ATM, lower fees, normally.





Check with your credit card company and your bank that your cards are ready for use in Europe, (and tell the companies that you plan on using them abroad, American companies seem to need to be told.)


And ask about the fees they charge.





You are right, traveling with cash is stupid, just take enough for the first day or so, or just get it out of the ATM after arriving.|||Check with your bank what sort of transaction fee they charge for intl transactions as well as withdrawals. That will help you decide if it's better to take out a lot of money at once, or just charge all of your expenses|||First check with your bank to make sure they allow the card to be used out of the country and what they charge; most Visa cards with the Cirrus logo are usable. While most major hotels, restaurants and stores for tourists will take the card you might have a harder time using the card for purchases in some of the smaller local stores and restaurants. It is cheaper to get money out of an ATM rather than carrying around cash and converting it at one of the many locations that convert currency (these places tend to rip you off so try and see if your bank will allow you to convert money and if not only use these places to convert just enough for a couple days when you arrive). Also be aware that some Dutch banks have their ATMs set to only allow you to withdraw up to 250 Euros a day which might result in more frequent withdrawals and more charges from your bank as a result. |||You can talk to you bank and find out if you can use your bank card in the ATM machines over here, and how much it costs - it could work out considerably cheaper than a credit card withdrawal. It would be a lot safer than walking around with cash, I agree.





Credit cards are not that popular in the Netherlands, but you probably could pay at some restaurants with Visa, they usually have a a sticker on the door to the place that shows what cards are accepted. |||Personally, I was more comfortable carrying around a large amount of Euros that I got in the US than I was making numerous withdrawals from ATM's over there. I got a thousand Euros from AAA.





I also got one of those cloth zipper wallets with a cloth loop that hooks to your belt and hangs in your pants. A pickpocket would have to remove your pants to get to it.