Europe before Euro

There are three exchange organizations in Sweden, besides the banks. These three are Forex (largest), Valutaspecialisten, and Wexex. All of these three are respectable, and all of them offer better rates than the banks. All of them charge no fee for exchange of Swedish currency into foreign. Valutaspecialisten and Wexex does not charge any fee for exchange of foreign into swedish currency, but Forex does charge for this unless you have a receipt from Forex of purchase of that currency from them. Try to get a Forex receipt from some Swede who changes Swedish into your currency, and then you can change at no fee. Most are open 8.00-21.00, less on Saturdays and Sundays. There is generally minimal difference in exchange rates between these three, the difference will be much less than half an hours wage unless you change some $20.000...They actually all closely monitor each other. Forex does accept Amex and Diners cards. At a recent trip to Malmo I noticed that no banks in central displayed exchange rates in the windows, nor in the bank hall. Apparently the bank rates are so uncompetitive especially when you include their fees, so they only occasionally catch an unknowing tourist ...If you are in a small town or "far away" from the exchange services, you can try the post office for exchange after bank hours, or on Saturdays. Only some post offices do foreign exchange, but you can always try. The rate will be the same as for banks, but the fees may be slightly lower, or at worst equal. I recommend that you use these exchange services for cash and travellers checks, instead of the banks, if you are in a city that has this service. Swedish banks are known to be outrageously expensive, even Change points at tourist spots are know to offer better deals!
Addresses:
VALUTASPECIALISTEN
Stockholm:
- Kungsgatan 30, 08-10 30 00, fax 08-10 81 11
- Arlanda Airport, 08-797 85 57
Malmo:
- Hamngatan 1, 040-788 88, fax 040-12 15 55 open 7.00-21.00 (over the waterfilled canal from the railway station).
WEXEX
Stockholm:
- in Gallerian shopping complex, off the main shopping arcade, in a small bunch of odd shops (watches, old cameras). Somewhat hard to find. tel 08-20 22 77
FOREX Stockholm:
- Main Railway Station, (to the left off main entrance), 08-11 67 34
- City Terminal, 08-21 421 80
- Vasagatn 14, tel 08-10 49 90
- Silja Ferry Terminal, 08-663 07 00
- Viking Ferry Terminal, 08-20 29 19
Malmo:
- Norra Vallgatan 60, 8.00-21.00 h, tel 040-12 40 34
- Gustav Adolfs Torg 12, 040-11 94 34
- Bourse House, Skeppsbron (opposite main railway station), 7.00-18.00 h, tel 040-30 48 54
- Sturup Airport, 040-50 00 33
Gothenburg:
- Main Railway station, 031-15 65 16
- Kungsportsavenyn 22, 031-18 57 60
- Nordstan (shopping complex), 031-15 75 30
Helsingborg:
- Jarnvagnsgatan 13 (Railway station), 042-18 71 90
- Knutpunkten, 042-24 47 00
Uppsala:
- Fyristorget 8, 018,10 30 00
Trelleborg:
- Norra Kajgatan 20, 0410-453 20 Ystad:
- Farjeterminalen, 0411-133 35