Avoiding common exchange mistakes. Airport currency exchange services market themselves on convenience, but that convenience ...

Avoiding common exchange mistakes. Airport currency exchange services market themselves on convenience, but that convenience comes at a price — often up to 10 percent worse than bank rates.

“In general, the worst place to exchange currency is, in fact, the airport,” Ms. French said. She advises ordering a small amount of foreign currency from your bank before you fly.

The currency exchange rate is the value of one country’s currency relative to another country’s currency. Exchange rates fluctuate 24/7. Do banks accept foreign currency in the US?

Airport exchange counters typically stock only common currencies like euros, U.S. dollars, or British pounds. Travelers to less popular destinations may find their needed currency unavailable ...