Money & travel
Skip the exchange booth at St. Pete-Clearwater 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.
None — PIE has no currency exchange booth or counter in the terminal.
The airport points travelers to off-airport Florida Currency Exchange locations — the closest is at Westfield Countryside Mall in Clearwater (27001 US Hwy 19, about 10 miles away); another is at Westshore Plaza in Tampa. Both are retail exchange counters that typically charge well above the mid-market rate, and neither is inside the terminal.
ATMs are in the concourse outside Ticketing A (pre-security) and at the west end of Baggage Claim; they accept Mastercard, Visa, Discover, and American Express.
Standard bank-network ATMs on the major card networks. Using a no-foreign-transaction-fee card (Schwab, Wise, Revolut) avoids surcharges; since PIE has no in-terminal currency counter, an ATM withdrawal in USD is the only on-site cash option.
Best cards for ATM use abroad
Recommended for PIE
Withdraw USD from the Baggage Claim or Ticketing A ATM with a no-fee debit card — PIE has no on-site currency exchange, so this is the only practical way to get cash at the airport itself.
Pro Tip
PIE's international service is limited to seasonal BermudAir flights (Bermuda, Anguilla, Belize City, and Providenciales), so exchange demand is low and the airport has never added an on-site booth — exchange currency before you arrive, or rely on the ATMs for USD.
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 PIE airport or at my destination?
Almost always at your destination. Airport exchange booths at St. Pete-Clearwater 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 PIE airport?
ATMs are in the concourse outside Ticketing A (pre-security) and at the west end of Baggage Claim; they accept Mastercard, Visa, Discover, and American Express. Standard bank-network ATMs on the major card networks. Using a no-foreign-transaction-fee card (Schwab, Wise, Revolut) avoids surcharges; since PIE has no in-terminal currency counter, an ATM withdrawal in USD is the only on-site cash option.
Which currency exchange is at PIE airport?
None — PIE has no currency exchange booth or counter in the terminal. The airport points travelers to off-airport Florida Currency Exchange locations — the closest is at Westfield Countryside Mall in Clearwater (27001 US Hwy 19, about 10 miles away); another is at Westshore Plaza in Tampa. Both are retail exchange counters that typically charge well above the mid-market rate, and neither is inside the terminal.
What is the best card to use for foreign currency at PIE?
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 PIE airport · Live PIE TSA wait times
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