Local Tip
Sky Harbor has no bureau, so withdraw dollars from a Bank of America machine there, such as on level 1 of Terminal 4 by elevator B. For notes over a counter, the tourist board names CXI at Scottsdale Fashion Square.
Where to change money in Phoenix
Walk-in exchange is rare around Phoenix; the one counter we could confirm for visitors is in a Scottsdale shopping centre.
- Currency Exchange International (CXI), Scottsdale Fashion Square, 7014 East Camelback Road CXI's first Arizona branch, opened in May 2025, is in Palm Court on the lower level beside Tecovas; Experience Scottsdale's FAQ names it as the area's exchange service. CXI lists 10:00 to 20:00 Monday to Thursday, 10:00 to 21:00 on Friday and Saturday and 10:00 to 18:00 on Sunday, matching the mall's own hours in October 2026. Reservations are free, and sorted £1 and £2 coins are taken.
- Large banks (Bank of America, Wells Fargo)Bank of America's exchange FAQ refers to its own customers, and Wells Fargo no longer sells notes at the counter, posting out its account holders' orders, which take 2 to 7 business days. The tourist board says most major US banks exchange currency, but these services are aimed at their own customers.
Changing money at the airport
Sky Harbor's services page says that PHX offers no foreign currency exchange (read in October 2026), so arrive with some dollars or a card that works in cash machines.
All the machines the airport lists are Bank of America. In Terminal 4 they stand landside on level 1 at the east end by elevator B, level 2 at the west end by door 24 and level 3 near Indigenous, and airside close to gates A1, B1, C1 and D1. Terminal 3 has one in baggage claim opposite door 5 and two past security, near gate F5 and across from gate E1.
ATMs and cards in Phoenix
Experience Scottsdale describes major credit cards as almost universally accepted and warns that hiring a car without one is difficult. A US cash machine that charges must show the fee before you commit, so you can cancel. When a Phoenix till or machine offers to show the total in pounds, say no: MoneySavingExpert's rule is to take the local currency every time.
Paying for transport in Phoenix
The free PHX Sky Train runs 24 hours, linking the terminals with the Rental Car Center, economy car parks and Valley Metro Rail's 44th Street station. Valley Metro's fares site lists two ways to pay: a Copper card, which carries a one-off $4 issue charge and is sold by many retailers, or the Valley Metro app; it does not mention tapping a bank card. A local ride is $2, and Smart Fare stops charging at $4 a day or $20 a week, provided you use one card or the app, not both. Sky Harbor's taxis all charge the same rates: $7 for the first mile, then $2.60 a mile, with an $18 minimum, a $20 flat fare to a marked downtown zone, and major credit cards accepted.
Good to know
- Experience Scottsdale gives Scottsdale's sales tax as 8.05% and its hotel and resort check-out tax as 14.02%, so allow for both.
- The same board suggests tipping 15 to 20% for restaurant servers and taxi drivers and $1 to $2 a bag for airport and hotel porters.
Key Areas in Phoenix
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Exchange bureaux, banks and cash machines, as mapped by OpenStreetMap. The map loads only when you ask for it.
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Phoenix travel money FAQ
Where is the best place to exchange money in Phoenix?
CXI at Scottsdale Fashion Square is the counter the local tourist board names. Sky Harbor has no bureau, and the large banks deal mainly with their customers, so most UK visitors take dollars from a cash machine and pay by card.
Is there a currency exchange desk at Phoenix Sky Harbor?
No. The airport's own services page says it has no foreign currency exchange. It lists Bank of America cash machines on both sides of security in Terminals 3 and 4, so withdrawing dollars on arrival is the practical alternative.
Can I pay Valley Metro fares with a contactless bank card?
Valley Metro's fares site names two ways to pay, a Copper card or Valley Metro's own app, and does not list bank cards. A local ride costs $2, and Smart Fare stops charging at $4 a day or $20 a week.
Checked October 2026. Fees, fares and opening times change, so check locally before relying on them. Sources: Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport · Currency Exchange International · Valley Metro · Experience Scottsdale · Scottsdale Fashion Square · Bank of America
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