One of the first things you need after clearing customs at DFW Airport is U.S. dollars. But how you get them determines whether you start your trip with a fair rate or lose 5 to 10 percent before you even leave the terminal.
The best option is a pre-paid multi-currency card from a service like Wise or Revolut. These cards convert at near-mid-market rates with minimal or no foreign exchange fees and work like a debit card at any U.S. merchant.
The second-best option is an ATM withdrawal using a no-foreign-exchange-fee debit card. You get the bank rate plus a small ATM fee. Avoid convenience-store ATMs; they add $4 to $6 on top of your bank’s charges.
The third option is ordering USD from your home bank before you fly. The rate is not as good as the options above, but it gives you cash in hand before departure.
The worst convenient option is the airport exchange counter. The rate is the least favorable, but it gets you cash immediately upon arrival.
Never exchange money at a hotel or through a taxi driver.
ATMs are available 24 hours a day in all five terminals. Bank of America ATMs are the most widely available and offer the best rates for customers of Bank of America and its international partner banks. ATMs are located near baggage claim, security checkpoints and gate areas.
Outside the airport, Chase, Wells Fargo and Bank of America branches in downtown Dallas and across the metro area have ATMs with standard fees. Avoid standalone non-bank ATMs in convenience stores. They charge $4 to $6 in ATM fees on top of whatever your bank charges.
When you pay with a card and the terminal asks whether you want to be charged in USD or your home currency, always choose USD. Choosing your home currency triggers Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC), which adds a 3 to 7 percent markup that goes to the merchant or payment processor, not to you. This is the most common way international visitors overpay without realizing it.
The rule is simple: always pay in the local currency. In the United States, that means always choosing USD.
Most U.S. merchants accept credit and debit cards, including contactless payments. All stadium parking in the Arlington Entertainment District is cashless. Inside Globe Life Field, concessions and merchandise accept cards.
Cash is primarily needed for tips (restaurants, hotels, rideshare), small vendors, cash-only restaurants (Joe T. Garcia’s in Fort Worth, for example) and vending machines. Carrying $100 to $200 in small bills covers first-day expenses comfortably.
Once you have your cash and cards sorted, head to the Arlington Entertainment District. Get tickets to see the Rangers in 2026 and enjoy the ballpark knowing your money is working as hard as you are.
An ATM withdrawal with a no-foreign-exchange-fee card offers the best rate. Avoid airport exchange counters if possible.
Ordering USD from your home bank before departure is a reasonable option but typically offers a worse rate than ATM withdrawals or multi-currency cards.
Yes. ATMs charge the bank rate plus a small fee. Airport exchange counters add a wider spread that costs you more per dollar.
When a card terminal asks whether to charge in USD or your home currency, choosing your home currency adds a 3 to 7 percent markup. Always choose USD.
Most merchants accept cards, but carry $100 to $200 in small bills for tips, cash-only restaurants and small purchases.
