I was in a train station in Venice during a trek through Europe this year and saw their rate on EUR/USD exchance was 1.29/1.51! 2200 pips! The banks are better of course, but that gives you an idea how hardcore these people are with the exchanges...
Surdo There are plenty of cards that do NOT charge an extra fee. You simply have to make sure you sign up for the correct one and it is only a matter of making a few phone calls. I used a Visa debit card in Monaco a few months ago and saved a ton of $$$ because I was getting the spot rate without any fees whatsoever.
Would you mind sharing which ones? I have had very good luck using a PAYPAL debit card actually. They charge a 1% fee but rebate it back to the card, and the exchange rates are fair. B of A has reciprocal agreements with HSBC and ScotiaBank on the debit card, but are slime on the credit card. obrigado, el surdo
Just saw a new company that advertises a lot smaller spread for foreign exchange of 0.35%: http://peerfx.com