Exchanging cash

[YinFl]

Looking for advice for a friend who is currently on the Frances. He has some dollars that he did not exchange because he was keeping it in reserve but now he needs it and is having trouble finding somewhere to exchange it. I believe he will be in Fromista tomorrow. I have been looking online trying to figure out where he can take his dollars to get exchanged. Can he do it at a Correos office?

 

[Robo]

Currency exchange is not really a 'thing' these days, other than at Airports.........in my experience anyway.
Most people just use ATMs.
But maybe ask in one of the major banks?

 

[Takahiwai]

It is really awkward to do nowadays, as I found to my cost on my camino earlier this year. Banks are legally supposed to offer the service, but in reality will only do so if you have an account with them. On the CF, there are a few cities which have a money exchange - Pamplona, Logroño, Leon, and SdC itself. On the Via de Bayona, I had to take a day off twice, in order to travel to San Sebastian and Logroño to change money. I got a good rate in both places, fwiw.

 

[Robo]

It kind of raises the question........why would you travel to a country carrying 'foreign' currency?
(when carrying a card gives you direct access to 'local' currency)
Who even carries much cash at home these days?
Do you intentionally 'local' currency at at home, to take overseas?
Not trying to be snarky, just wondering about the logic of it.
Maybe I'm missing something?
Must be.......

 

[Takahiwai]

It kind of raises the question........why would you travel to a country carrying 'foreign' currency?
(when carrying a card gives you direct access to 'local' currency)
Who even carries much cash at home these days?
Do you intentionally 'local' currency at at home, to take overseas?
Not trying to be snarky, just wondering about the logic of it.
Maybe I'm missing something?
Must be.......

I live in a country with a 'closed' currency, so I have no option but to travel with dollars. Only pre-paid credit cards are available from the banks, and there is a very low limit on how much you can deposit/spend per month. There are many countries in the developing world which still primarily operate on a cash basis

 

[truenorthpilgrm]

It kind of raises the question........why would you travel to a country carrying 'foreign' currency?
(when carrying a card gives you direct access to 'local' currency)
Who even carries much cash at home these days?
Do you intentionally 'local' currency at at home, to take overseas?
Not trying to be snarky, just wondering about the logic of it.
Maybe I'm missing something?
Must be.......

Does it matter?

 

[TravellingMan22]

Purely based on a google search you can exchange at correos, but you may want to check their site as to to whether you need to apply and collect, whether you can pay for your currency in cash, and which branches offer it.

Cambio de divisas en oficinas de Correos y a domicilio

Te ofrecemos el mejor tipo de cambio para más de 70 divisas. Haz el cambio de divisas para tus viajes en Correos con todas las garantías y disfruta de tu viaje.

www.correos.es

If desperate maybe ask a fellow walker (especially an American, to change). Someone may have taken out too many euros and you can settle on a rate midway between the buy/sell rate.

 

[Robo]

I live in a country with a 'closed' currency, so I have no option but to travel with dollars. Only pre-paid credit cards are available from the banks, and there is a very low limit on how much you can deposit/spend per month. There are many countries in the developing world which still primarily operate on a cash basis

Fair point.
Thanks.

 

[Robo]

Does it matter?

Not really.
I was just curious.......
and learned something in the process.
Sorry