Money & travel
Skip the exchange booth at Palm Beach International Airport. Use an ATM with a no-fee card — the ATM gives you the real mid-market rate, while airport exchange booths charge 10–20% above it. On a $500 exchange, that difference is $50–100 in hidden costs.
The key rule
Airport currency exchange booths typically charge 10–20% above the mid-market rate.
On a $500 exchange, that is $50–100 in hidden fees. The ATM is almost always better — even with a bank fee. And with a no-fee card, the ATM is unambiguously better.
Travelex operates a currency exchange counter in the Main Terminal, Level 2 (phone 561-684-0321); travel money can also be pre-ordered online for pickup at PBI.
Travelex counters typically run well above the mid-market rate plus a service fee — a real cost for exchanging any meaningful amount. PBI's international service is limited to Bahamasair (Nassau) and Air Canada/Porter (Toronto, Montreal), so most travelers on those routes won't strictly need to exchange currency: US dollars are widely accepted in Nassau, and Canadian merchants routinely take US-dollar cards without a manual exchange.
ATMs are located in the Travel Service Center on Level 2, in the ticketing area on Level 3, in baggage claim on Level 1, and inside Concourse B and Concourse C.
PBI's ATMs run on the Visa/Plus, Mastercard/Cirrus, and STAR networks. Using a no-foreign-transaction-fee debit card (Schwab, Wise, or Revolut) at any ATM avoids surcharges when withdrawing Canadian or Bahamian dollars for PBI's international routes.
Best cards for ATM use abroad
Recommended for PBI
Skip the Travelex counter for anything beyond a small emergency amount — withdraw Canadian or Bahamian dollars from an ATM with a no-fee debit card instead, or simply pay with a no-foreign-transaction-fee credit card at your destination, since both the Bahamas and Canada readily accept US dollars and US-issued cards.
Pro Tip
Because PBI's only international routes are short hops to the Bahamas and Canada, currency exchange is a much smaller concern here than at a major international gateway — budget your time and money toward the ATM in Concourse B or C rather than the Main Terminal Travelex counter.
Before you leave
Order foreign currency from your bank before departure — Chase, Bank of America, and Wells Fargo all offer currency ordering at branches and online (3–7 business days). Rates are better than airport booths, and you avoid the airport rush entirely.
At your destination
Withdraw from a local ATM at your destination — you get the real mid-market exchange rate, minus a small network fee. A no-fee card eliminates even that. This is almost always the cheapest option.
In transit
Currency exchange at city banks or post offices in your destination country is typically far better than airport rates in both countries. Most major cities have walk-in currency exchange with rates 5–10% better than airport booths.
Is it better to exchange currency at PBI airport or at my destination?
Almost always at your destination. Airport exchange booths at Palm Beach International Airport charge 10-20% above the mid-market rate. At your destination, ATMs give the real interbank rate minus a small network fee — typically saving $50-100 on a $500 exchange versus the airport booth.
Where are the ATMs at PBI airport?
ATMs are located in the Travel Service Center on Level 2, in the ticketing area on Level 3, in baggage claim on Level 1, and inside Concourse B and Concourse C. PBI's ATMs run on the Visa/Plus, Mastercard/Cirrus, and STAR networks. Using a no-foreign-transaction-fee debit card (Schwab, Wise, or Revolut) at any ATM avoids surcharges when withdrawing Canadian or Bahamian dollars for PBI's international routes.
Which currency exchange is at PBI airport?
Travelex operates a currency exchange counter in the Main Terminal, Level 2 (phone 561-684-0321); travel money can also be pre-ordered online for pickup at PBI. Travelex counters typically run well above the mid-market rate plus a service fee — a real cost for exchanging any meaningful amount. PBI's international service is limited to Bahamasair (Nassau) and Air Canada/Porter (Toronto, Montreal), so most travelers on those routes won't strictly need to exchange currency: US dollars are widely accepted in Nassau, and Canadian merchants routinely take US-dollar cards without a manual exchange.
What is the best card to use for foreign currency at PBI?
The Charles Schwab debit card is the top choice — it reimburses all ATM fees worldwide and charges 0% on international transactions, giving you the real mid-market exchange rate. Wise and Revolut travel cards are strong alternatives with similar 0% fee structures. Avoid using a standard bank debit card, which typically charges 1-3% foreign transaction fee plus an ATM surcharge of $3-5.
See also: Getting around PBI airport · Live PBI TSA wait times
Know exactly when to leave for the airport
The Leave-By Time calculator folds the live PBI TSA wait, real-time drive time from your door, and gate-walk distance into one exact time to leave home — no guesswork.
Calculate my Leave-By Time →