My sister and I are debating the best way to carry/travel with/exchange money in Italy and France. We have agreed that we will get a better rate if we exchange our money in Europe (instead of US), but we will exchange $50-$100 in the US just to start us off so we have money when we arrive in Europe. The question is do we take some travelors checks and exchange them at a bank? Or is smarter to just use the ATMs and my credit card to get around? Thanks!

PLEASE do a search - this question is asked daily

What Alan said. There are several really good threads with info if you use the search box above.

The short answer.... yes, get a 100 euro or so before you leave to start you out. Travelers checks suck...bad exchange rate & additional fees and no one wants to accept them. ATMs and credit cards rock, some more than others due to interest charged (Captitol One card seems favored here). Be sure to take more than one and call your companies prior to the trip to let them know you'll be using them in Europe so they don't freeze your account for fraudulent use.

As the formers posters have said - it really is best to take $50-100 in Euros with you. Then just use ATMs and credit cards the rest of the time. ATMs are easy to find and most places take credit cards, although it seems not as much Am Ex as Mastercard & Visa.

NO,NO, and NO to traveler's checks. Do a search. There are hundreds of threads on this subject.