RubyTwins

How hard is it to find ATM machines outside of Athens? I don't like to carry tons of cash if I don't have to but our tour guides want cash and I am assuming most small restaurants will be cash.

travelerjan

UNless your tour is to small villages in the mountains, plenty of ATMs around! The local people need to get cash too.

brotherleelove2004

Be sure to notify your banks of your intentions of using your cards while travelling.

Pegontheroad

brotherleelove has it right. It's important to notify your bank and credit card company/companies or you may not be able to get cash.

Heimdall

I only bring along the euros left over from my last holiday, and use ATMs in Greece for my cash. As above, you will be able to find ATMs in all but the small villages. Even the little island of Antiparos where I usually go has at least three ATMs.

lancer11

Just a suggestion, if possible open 2 travel accounts and only put the amount of money you wish to use in each. I say 2 in case you lose a card or something happens the second account is a back up. Check your accounts daily while away and on return home, any monies left in the accounts transfer out and leave only the minimum allowed. Why? because your account can get hacked. It happened to me last year in Italy. Someone made a copy of my debt card ( that had a chip) and my password. The card was used about 2 months after I got home in a different state. Luckily I only had $50 in it and they were only able to get $40 of it.Never thought that would happen. I only used the card 4 times and at atm machines to withdraw cash.

Heimdall

Lancer11, you were probably the victim of an ATM skimming device, and wise to take precautions. Whenever possible I use ATMs attached to banks, preferably during opening hours.

Here is how the skimming devices work, and what to look out for:
http://uk.pcmag.com/software/36627/f...-card-skimmers

A couple of other points about overseas ATMs:

You are sometimes given the option of settling the amount in your home currency rather than euros—<i>don't do it, or you will be charged a higher exchange rate</i>. This is called Dynamic Currency Conversion or DCC. Do a Google search to find out more about DCC.

European banks don't charge for ATM withdrawals, but some private ATMs, e.g. Euronet and Travelex, will add charges, and should be avoided when possible. Athens Airport, for example, has ATMs from several different Greek banks such as Piraeus Bank, Alpha Bank, and National Bank of Greece which don't charge for withdrawals, while the blue and yellow Euronet ATM does.
https://www.atmia.com/images/company...uronet/IAD.jpg

RubyTwins

Thanks for all the great advice. I live in NY so I know all about those skimmers and avoid ATMs at Deli's because of that.