AMX - Cheque Cards
 

Anyone with any experience using American Express Cheque Cards in Europe?
What about traveler's checks? Good ideas or not?

Many people have had negative experiences with the Amex Traveler's Cheque Cards, so search for "Amex" in this forum, and I think you'll find some useful feedback.

In my opinion, there's no need to carry traveler's checks or pre-paid cards in most of Western Europe. You'll get a better deal taking money out of an ATM machine, even if your bank charges the ridiculous 3% transaction fee. Get a little money in euros or the local currency before you leave, but make a withdrawal immediately upon arrival, and use your credit card for big purchases. This is the best advice I can offer.

Sorry, never used the AMXE Check Card. It never made too much sense to me - why give AMEX your money (to hold interest free) when you can do as most tourists now do and use an ATM card to get cash on an as needed basis. As for Traveler's Checks, they are becoming a thing of the past, like dinosaurs, but many places throughout Europe still do accept them.

Hi lss1,

All prepaid cards charge you for the card, charge you to put money into the account and then charge you take money out of the account, while giving you a poor exchange rate.

Charge everything chargeable and use an ATM card to get walking around money.

Bring TC's in dollars for emergency backup and deposit them when you get home.

Enjoy your visit.

((I))

Many many threads here on this topic, if you need a couple of hours reading...

Simplest, most cost efficient..is ATMs. Occasionally might want to have a few euro or bob to get you from airport to hotel (e.g. ATM at airport is broken, too long a line).

People here don't, IMHO, use TCs anymore. Maybe,just maybe...for backup cash. But if you have CCs and ATM cards, probably not needed.

They are not recommended, as others have stated, for 2 reasons...cost and convenience. Merchants, in general, are not going to take them. And if you simply want to convert them, means need so spend your vacation time to go to AMEX office or a bank to convert them, at who knows what rate. I believe someone here also stated that not all banks will convert (?).