This is my first trip to Europe. ATM vs. Travelers Checks. Comments?

I find I use very little cash in europe. I charge mostly everything. Usually have about $200.00 for incidentials or shopping antique fairs and if I need more, and can't charge then, I use my ATM. Unles you can cash your travelers checks at Amex office or an associated bank they charge too much for cashing.In London you can even charge in some of the taxis. I often come home with part of the $200.00 o and save it for the next trip, if I don't use it up in the duty free on the way home. If you just have a little left over, the airlines usually have an envelope for donations to a charity, I think it's a childrens fund , give it to them.

Merchants in Provence gladly accept French t. checks, but not US. Had to go to a bank to get them cashed.

No question - ATM's. Two weeks in Italy and two weeks in France and no problem whatsoever even in small towns and you get the most favorable exchange rate. Be sure your PIN is correct, think you need a four digit and take two cards in case mag strip doesn't work, etc. This was only for cash, use credit card for anything you can charge.

For my last several trips to Europe I used my ATM card all of the time. I take several travelers checks with me just in case but have not had to use them yet. <BR>I've used my ATM card in London, Glasgow, Paris, Prague, Budapest, Florence, and Venice without much problem. If there was a problem, it seemed that the machine itself was down. <BR> <BR>I also use my credit card for many purchases so I don't need as much currency. I carry two credit cards one of which also has a pin number so that I can get a cash advance at an ATM machine. I'd only use it for emergencies since interest on cash advances kicks in immediately. But it's a extra bit of security for me in case the ATM card gets eaten by a machine. <BR> <BR>Lee

I just returned from a month in Paris and used the ATM all the time. When I got home and saw my bank statement, they charged me $2.00 every time I withdrew. I didn't even consider the cost of withdrawals. Granted it only amounted to about $10.00 but had I known I would have gotten much more cash at the beginning of my stay. I wear a money belt and also had a secure apartment so more cash wouldn't have been an issue. I came home with all my traveler's checks. ATMs are everywhere.

Hi Margo. Perhaps bring some money in traveler's checks just as a backup (we were glad to have them in Sorrento a couple months ago when every ATM we found seemed to be down for one day) but, otherwise, I wouldn't bother with them.

travelers checks are a major hassle in many places, last 4 trips we haven't taken tham and haven't missed them. A little foreign currency with you before you leave and at least 2 credit cards for there. <BR> <BR>One little trick, take a card with you that has ZERO balance for cash withdrawls. Several weeks before you go send em a check for about how much cash you'll need. Your account will have a surplus and the cash withdrawls will come from that and you will avoid any interest charges that normally occur the moment you make a cash withdrawl. It's not a huge saver but every little bit helps and puts you that much closer to the next trip. <BR> <BR>cheers, the turnip

I have used my atm card (checking account) all over the world with no problem. I had major hassles trying to use travelers' checks. Guess they are good for a back-up. Also, you get a higher exchange rate with ATM that probably offsets the ATM fee. By the way, we just got back from Key West here in the USA and were charged a higher ATM transaction rate than anywhere out of the country.

An old duffers survival kit. <BR> <BR>1. Two credit/debit cards minimum - one of which is Visa or Mastercard. <BR> a. validate the PIN number before debarking. <BR> b. notify the bank of your travel dates. <BR> c. if you travel with a family member have one credit card in common. <BR>2. First day local currency for each country visited. <BR>3. Take travelers checks, even if you think you will never use them. <BR>4. Take some good ole cash. <BR> <BR>Photo copy all the non-cash stuff, plus your passport, drivers license, airline tickets etc.. (I scan the document and put into my computer, then print using a small font) Also keep phone numbers, addresses of where to report losses. <BR> <BR>Wear a money belt to keep most of this stuff. And if traveling with a companion exchange each others documents and/or have two sets. <BR> <BR>Points to Ponder - Ever have . . . <BR> <BR>Your bank stop accepting your card during the middle of a trip? <BR> <BR>Have a merchant's card reader scratch the magnetic bar of your card? And if you are really unlucky, wipe out a second card when retrying. <BR> <BR>Hassle to get currency exchanged upon your arrival in a country? <BR> <BR>And a final gleeful thought . . . My wife and I each carry a 'wallet' - my back pocket/her purse where it is easily accesible. In it we put one small denomination of local currency, several pieces of blank note size paper, and a piece of paper with a happy face and note appropriate to pickpockets. <BR> <BR>Twice we have 'lost' our pocket cache over the years. Wonder what the thieves thought? <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR>

My goodness, John, do you have FUN while you travel? <BR> <BR>I know that what you are saying makes sense, it just seems too...planned?

Hi Dee, <BR> <BR>Please excuse us, old people have lots of experiences that are recycled into ordinary life effortlessly. It minimizes 'vacation hassles' and leaves time for FUN. (actually makes fun out of some of them - like pickpockets). <BR> <BR>Last month I painted a Wallace Fountain in Paris, while the worker and his supervisor laughed at the crazy American. I call that fun. Or a least better than spending the time trying to recover from a hassle. <BR>

As most folks have already said, ATMs are the way to go for day-to-day money. Visa/MC for major purchases, hotels, etc. But don't be an "ugly American" and try to charge everything. Small country B&B's, inns, cafes etc sometimes don't accept credit cards and when they do it costs them between 3% and 7% for the service. So it is always good to pay cash in these places. <BR> <BR>The main cost for using an ATM is the fee your bank charges (usually $1-$2) which will be much less than the cost of exchanging travelers cheques. <BR> <BR>BUT - depending on where you are going, I do recommend taking a FEW US$ (not more that 5% - 10% of your expected spending money) travelers Cheques as an emergency stash. Normally you won't need them and since they are $s you can bring them home and use them w/o losing any on the exchange. In the last 4 years I have had to use some of my $ stash twice - once on the Isle of Mull off Scotland which has only one ATM machine which was off line, and once in a small village in Germany. In both places the post offices gladly bought the $ travelers cheques.

Margo, <BR>We just returned from Italy -- ATM's are definitely the way to go. They were everywhere and easy to use. Just make sure you have a PIN and notify your bank of the time period you'll be using your ATM card out of the USA. We did use our credit cards some also (take 2 different cards); also be sure to notify credit card companies before leaving. We just got our bank statement; our usage fee for each ATM transaction was only 75 cents -- well worth it. <BR>Have a great trip!