"Travel Euro Cheque"

OK, we wrote to the Ca Angeli to inquire.... In the meantime, my husband called Thomas Cook and they have something they call a "Euro Cash Exchange" -- does that ring any bells with anyone? Apparently it's like a cashier's check.

Four days in Venice, which is our third stop, booking a triple, adds up when they want cash only. That's a lot of cash to carry around and a lot to try to withdraw from cash machines (and we leave on a Sunday). So we're just looking for alternatives, if there are any.

Thanks!

beeswing

Just go to your bank or a reputable travel exchange company and buy an international draft in euros made out to the Ca Angeli. It's like a cashier's check in euros. You should pay $5-$10 for it at most. Mail it or take it with you.

Thanks, StCirq. If I have it right...and I'm not absolutely sure I do, which is why I was asking...what Thomas Cook is offering is the equivalent of a cashier's check in Euros.

In addition to the Ca Angeli in Venice, which we've already booked, I'm looking at the Hotel Casci in Florence, which (frankly) we can afford only if we can get the cash-only price. If the Ca Angeli says they will accept the so-called Euro Cash Exchange...I'll check with the Hotel Casci people and see if they will do the same. I was just hoping to hear from someone had experience with this particular Thomas Cook product -- or if not that, then something similar. (Thomas Cook is easiest because we have an office in town.)

beeswing

I would be surprised if you get a decent exchange rate with Thomas Cook (aren't they now Travelex?).

I'm sorry, but I don't know anything about the Thomas Cook/Travelex connection. I just know our local office is still called Thomas Cook.

Within reason, the exchange rate isn't so much an issue to us -- the combination of convenience/safety and the fact that the Ca Angeli will accept cash (and maybe cash equivalents?) *only* is more to the point. With the Hotel Casci, the price difference between cash and credit card is 10% -- if the exchange rate difference doesn't exceed that, a cashier's check would still be to our advantage. Thanks for raising the issue, though!

beeswing

Actually, I asked the hubby re: Thomas Cook or Travelex. He's not sure what the office he goes to is actually called. In any case, the name/affiliation is less the issue than whether or not the product they provide might make it easier for us to pay the Italian hotels. Interesting question, though.

beeswing

I strongly suspect you are looking at a mistranslation and they are asking for Travellers Cheques in Euro only

I also suspect they simply mean travelers checks in euros, that's all. Travelers checks aren't useless, exactly, it's just they aren't easy to cash and a lot of banks won't do that any more -- but if a place says they'll take them, that's fine (and some places do that take only cash, not just in Italy). And it costs you a lot to get them in euro, also.

I think the name Thomas COok is still used in some places, and actually, Travelex bought them out, I believe.

>>>>the price difference between cash and credit card is 10% -- if the exchange rate difference doesn't exceed that, a cashier's check would still be to our advantage<<<

I think it will cost you just as much to use Thomas Cook/Travelex as it would the credit card. That's how they make money.

I suspect a check in Euro from Thomas Cook will cost you a fee plus a lousy exchange rate. Today's current rates is 1.49 and I would assume Thomas Cook would charge you around 1.59. If you needed 500€ it would cost you $745 at 1.49, but $795 at 1.59 plus whatever fee they charge.

As for the international draft StCirq mentioned, it's about $40 at most of the banks in my area.

When you click around on the Travelex website to send money overseas, you are redirected to Western Union.

Is it possible for you to withdraw your maximum from an ATM for three days, or enough days to pay the hotel bill, and then keep the money in a money belt? That's what I do when I want to pay cash for a hotel.

Wow. $40.00 is more than I pay for a wire transfer! An international draft at my bank costs $5.00.

Ca Angeli emailed us and told us to ask our bank about "Travel Euro Check." We'll probably try more time and ask if they mean traveler's checks in Euros. Can anyone confirm that assegno turistico means traveler's checks in Italian? I got that from a translation site and thought having the Italian term to clarify things might be helpful.

As far as the ATM option: The amount for a triple for 4 days in Venice is more than we want to try to get from an ATM or carry around. If we can't get clarification from Ca Angeli, we may book someplace that takes credit cards in frustration.

Thanks, all!

beeswing

Many times on other threads, the following has been suggested:

Ask your bank to increase the daily amount you can withdraw from your account, if only for the time you plan to be traveling.

Take ATM cards for multiple accounts; you can withdraw the maximum from each one to reach the amount you need for your lodging payment.

If you don't have a sufficient number of accounts to allow you to withdraw the amount you need, open another account or two and get ATM cards for them. Use them all to make multiple withdrawals until you have the cash you need to make your lodging payment. Upon return, either close out the extra accounts, or keep them for future travel expenses.

If your bank resists, open accounts in another bank for your travel expenses. And let them know that you have done so.

Thanks, imaginaryjazz. I did do a search before I posted this and read the threads -- with 4 days an accommodation for a triple at high-season rates, that sounds like more hassle than I want to deal with. I'd rather find out if they'll accept an alternative to cash, but I may give up on the idea soon!

beeswing

Do you have to pay for all four days on arrival? If not, just get the cash daily and give it to the hotel. That way you don't have to carry it around.

It seems like a lot of wasted time and trouble!
I would look for an accomodation that accepts credit cards. It seems in your current situation that there would be a lot of worry/hassle involved and it may not be worth it.

Yes, un assegno turistico is a traveler's check.

You are making this way more difficult than it is. You can each take at least 250€ (and probably more as that's only $375, but it depends on your daily withdrawal limit from your bank) out of the ATM machine each day. Are you saying your room is more than 500€ per night? I don't understand why you think you would need to carry it around or what leaving on a Sunday has to do with anything.

We paid in cash for a triple several times on our last Italy trip, and we've done it previously, as well.

If we need to pay the bill over several days, as we withdraw the cash, the hotels have always been ok with this - they know what the daily ATM maximums are. We find an ATM closest to the hotel, and withdraw the daily maximum. We always take two separate credit cards, as a backup, so if necessary, we can withdraw the maximum for each card. Then we return immediately to the hotel and pay. That way we aren't walking around with more cash than we're comfortable with.

We had a cash-on-arrival arrangement with an apartment rental we had last summer - I think the total was 800 euros. It wasn't difficult to accumulate that cash from ATMs over the course of a few days. My husband just kept the cash in a security pocket (pocket that attaches to a belt and rides inside the pants). It wasn't difficult.

Have your bank increase your daily imit before you go. Withdraw from an ATM. If you hit the ATM (not your bank) limit simply do a second or third transaction.
I have done this in Canada, the US, France and Greece so can't see why it would be a problem in Italy.

Do ATMs in Italy have a max limit on how much you can withdraw in one transaction? But even if they do, that doesn't mean you can't withdraw from more than 1 ATM on one day.

I just came back from Spain and withdrew €500 from the airport ATM in 1 single setting. I've previously checked with my bank and my daily withdrawal limit is set at $1000, so taking out 500 euro is not a problem.

I put the money in my moneybelt, arrived at the apartment, handed over the money and was done with it. I only had that much money on me for no more than a couple of hours. My bank charged me 1% Forex fee and nothing else.

yk - Many machines have limits per transaction and most I've encountered in Italy are 250€. Normally you can do a second transaction right after the first until you reach the dollar limit imposed by your own bank for daily withdrawals. There have been one or two people report problems with multiple large transactions within minutes as their home bank starts assuming fraud.

StCirq wrote:

<< Yes, un assegno turistico is a traveler's check. >>

Thanks, StCirq! I appreciate your confirming that -- we'll be e-mailing the Ca Angeli tomorrow and knowing the right term may well aid understanding.

beeswing