Hi All - <BR> <BR>I haven't posted a question in a while but one came to me while I was reading the site. Every now and then someone will post a question regarding how much money they are taking and if it's enough. Too me, it always seems like not enough but then again, I'm paranoid about running out and not being able to get more. <BR> <BR>Also, many people (including myself) believe in the old "bring half the clothes and twice as much money" mantra. <BR> <BR>I was wondering if anyone out there has ever found themselves in the situation where they ran out of money during a trip, couldn't get money from credit cards, or ATM's didn't work when they were needed most. <BR> <BR>So, any stories??

A friend and I did the "four months backpacking through Europe" route a few years ago, and while we had a fantastic time, we really strecthed the budget! We ate nothing but bread and water towards the end, camped, figured out EXACTLY how many screwdrivers we could have etc. We ended up with less than a dollar in the airport in Athens with no way to get more! We tried to buy some candy but didn't have enough money. Oddly enough, we REALLY enjoyed that meal on the flight home. <BR>

We were in the South of France and as usual we had taken only a little French Francs to cover the first days because there are plenty of ATM's, we had our Eurocheques (I thought) and we often use a creditcard. <BR>On the third day I wanted to collect cash from the bank but I didn't find the Eurocheques, nor the corresponding bank cards. No problem, I had my Visa card but what the hell was the code number? <BR>With my last money I bought myself a phonecard and phoned to my mother to ask her to check if we left cheques/bankcards at home. And yes, they were laying on the bookshelf next to the books we also should have brought. <BR>There we stood, in the south of France without any money and not knowing what to do. <BR>Suddenly I got an inspiration, for us it came from heaven!, to call our travel insurance company. They could at least calm us down and tell us what to do. But they did more: they asked us how much money we needed, they contacted our bankers and called back with the good news that within 24 hours we would have our money. This happened at 1 pm and at 7 pm the same day we already had the money we asked for. <BR> <BR>After this incident we have immediately taken a worldwide travel insurance for the whole year around. You never know!

The first time I went to Cyprus on my own for a week, as a much needed break following a period of intense work, I had done no preparation at all. (No Internet in those days-1989) <BR> <BR>I booked the trip on Saturday, finished the job that was causing the aggravation late on Tuesday and drove down to Glasgow (3hours) to make an 8 am checkin. <BR> <BR>On the flight I opened the packet of stuff I'd been given, and discovered a number of horrors:- <BR> <BR>1. The banks close in winter after 12 noon. Our flight was due in at 1.30pm. <BR> <BR>2. The car hire company wanted a £25 deposit. I had £9 in my wallet. <BR> <BR>3. This was in the days before internationally functional money machines. <BR> <BR>I was absolutely exhausted, and so relieved when I got to Paphos airport to discover that the bank in terminal building was open. I approached with joy and hope- only to disciver that it was open for the cashing of travellers' cheques only. (I did mention that I had no travellers' cheques didn't I?) <BR> <BR>I was then directed by the tour guide to the queue for the car hire, which i joined. 45 minutes later I got to the front to discover it was the wrong queue, and was sent to see a nice man who had been waiting for me for 45 minutes, since I was the only customer he was expecting off that flight. <BR> <BR>Almost in tears, I was so tired,and desparate to get to my bed, I explained, and offered him my watch- I'd have given him the soul of my first born if he'd asked- and he asked with some astonishment, did I not have any plastic? <BR> <BR>Yes, I did but the bank wasn't playing. <BR> <BR>"No problem" he said- led me along the back of the terminal building and through an open nondescript door, into what turned out to be the back room of the bank. there his friend Georgiou gave me as much money as could have been required for a fortnight. <BR> <BR>Moral- there'll always be someone who wants your money who knows how to get it for you.

Thanks! <BR> <BR>Great stories. You've encouraged me to continue with my paranoid behaviors regarding "travel cash". <BR> <BR>Sheila, I admire you. Pretty gutsy to just pick up and go with no planning like that in the days before Fodor's travel forum. <BR> <BR>When I was young, I went with my father on business so naturally everything was taken care of. Then, while getting my business off the ground my husband and I didn't do much else than weekends. <BR> <BR>Now, we've started traveling and fortunately have access to this site. It's really terrific to be able to book a hotel AFTER you see the pictures on the net. <BR> <BR>Have a great weekend! (what's left of it!) <BR> <BR