ATM's
 

To all of you European traveling veterans:<BR><BR>We (my fiance and I) are traveling to the Germany/Austria region for our honeymoon in December. Our research has told us that the best exchange rates are through the ATM's.<BR><BR>Can anyone vouch for this? Not only that, is that the reccomended way to get cash, regardless of the exchnage rates? How does everyone handle the currencey issue?<BR><BR>Also, for those that have used the ATM's over there what can I expect as far as ease of use? Do ATM's in Germany have an English option or do I need to memorize some of the ATM jargon I'm likely to see?<BR><BR>As always, thanks for your input!<BR>W

Austria and Switzerland (and everyplace else) have ATMs on every other street corner. They're multilingual and painless. (In Switzerland, sometimes they're indoors and harder to get at.)<BR><BR>You might be limited to $200-$300 per day/transaction, though. Check ahead of time. I was more comfortable paying for meals with cash than handing out my credit card.<BR><BR>I used a dozen ATMs in six countries and only one machine wouldn't take my card (even then, there was another bank's machine across the street that did...)

W,<BR><BR>They are called "cash machines" in Germany. Just as easy to use in Europe as in the States. You will usually have English language options. Be advised, you can only use the cash machines to withdraw funds from your checking account. Good idea to keep track of your withdrawals in case you have to find a computer and move money.<BR><BR>It's a good idea to check with your bank and see how much they charge, if anything, for foreign withdrawals.<BR><BR>The cash machines are your best exchange rate. <BR><BR>By the way, I see the "yeagermeister" in your heading. If your last name is Yeager, and you think you have a German name, WRONG!!!!!! While in Munich this past Spring, I checked the white pages for Yeager......not one! It is all Jaeger and Jager with the 2 dots. I guess when they moved across the ocean, the spelling was modified.<BR><BR>Dick

MSNBC just had a story on traveler's checks and why ATMs are better in western Europe. <BR><BR>http://www.msnbc.com/news/818216.asp

Find out before you go to Europe what your bank will charge you for ATM withdrawls at other banks' machines. My credit union charges no fee for using any ATM, and the ATM machines in France and Amsterdam charged me no fees, either. This was by far the best way to get cash in Europe. My Citibank Mastercard charges me 2% for international conversion, so I rarely used it on my last European trip.<BR><BR>Andrew<BR>