Euros-Traveler Checks-ATM
 

Deciding among the 3, maybe a little of each. Are there any problems cashing checks? Is there still an exchange fee if you bring US checks and change at a bank? We seem to get dinged with hefty fees by our local banks for foreign ATM withdrawals. Will us CC for hotels and larger purchases, but for everyday cash, we need some current advice!

This is discussed almost weekly and most people will tell you to use the ATM for withdrawals and also charge stuff when you can. No travelers' checks or money exchanges.

I'll bet you haven't read any of the dozens of posts on here about his, have you.

on well, you will pay a fee to cash TCs, of course. They are checks, no bank is going to do it for free -- as you won't be their customer. A lot of banks wont' do it anyway, but they certainly charge for that service if they do.

You'll pay a fee to cash them anywhere, and of course you'll pay a fee regardless of what currency they are in (definitely in US currency, but all the places I've seen also have fees to cash them if they are in euro -- because they are NOT CASH. they are checks. They aren't going to do anything for you for free).

Use an ATM for everyday cash. If you want and get them free (do not pay for them), take a few US TCs extra for emergencies. Depends where you are going as to how hard to cash they will be.

Travelers checks are difficult to cash, even at banks, and the fess are high. If you wish, take some US travelers checks with you in case of an emergency, but plan to bring them home unspent.

Use credit cards for major purchases and get cash from ATMs for everything else. There are some important things to do BEFORE leaving home to be sure your cards will work in Europe. Read this helpful article: http://tinyurl.com/k3vy6.

Airlines will accept traveller's cheques, if you want to find a place that will take them. This of course assumes that you might need to buy a ticket during your travels. And a credit card would still be better, due to the included insurance.

Credit card for the hotel.

ATM for euro for daily expenses.

USD in cash or TC for emergencies (likely not used).

Thank you - I did check this site for anything new - but most posts were from '06!

The search function is kind of buggy on this site - recently I was trying to find something and no posts after 06 would come up, same thing you ran into, even though I knew that the topic had been discussed recently.

I'd say 2/3 times a week on this question.

So, use ATM for cash withdrawals, make sure $ are in your checking account, make sure you have 4-digit PIN. Don't use credit card for withdrawals, but a bank/debit card.

TCs are dead. Too costly, too much of a hassle to find a place to cash them. Only use, maybe, would be as emergency funds, but then again you have credit cards.

Credit card to pay for major purchaes (hotel, etc). Main ones would Visa and MC, Amex less common. Be aware that some machines that take credit cards (e.e. train tickets) will not accept North American CCs, since they don't have the "smart chip". Also, don't let merchants charge you in US$, always choose the local currency.

I sometimes get a few euros before going over, just to cover me in case ATM at airport is down, too busy,etc..

Don't fall for the "no fee" currency bureaux...they are not charities. They don't charge you a fee, but make it up in giving you a worst exchange rate. For any currency transaction, ask two questions: what is the fee, what is the exchange rate. For similar reason, don't exchange currency at hotel, restaurant,etc..In fact, don't exhcnage currency there at all, if possible.

gypsy_queen: It is asked and discussed daily, believe me. But the indexing and search function here at Fodor's is often not working or way behind.