How much $ do you bring with you?
 

When going to Europe for a week, how much money do you bring with you in dollars, euros, and Travelers Checks?

For a week in an hotel, I bring my trusty 50 dollar bill that I keep in my purse pocket all the time.
I also bring 100 euro because I rather have it with me when I land to pay a cab to the hotel and maybe a snack before I hit an ATM.
I have an old beat up traveler's check for 100 dollars that I have been taking with me for years, too.

I normally take $100, whatever leftover Euros I had from my last trip, my debit card, and 2 credit cards.

I return with my original $100 less any food/beverages/airport tips prior to departure, and usually have 20-30 Euros that I didn't need to spend. ((b))

I'm from London, if I'm travelling in Europe for one week without already having paid for the hotel, transfers etc. I'll take around 2000-2500EUR this will suffice for all shopping and accommodation.

as little as possible, maybe $100. I try to use our Amex whenever possible, I feel safer that way

I take more cash than the people above, except the person from England, but never use it. ATM cards and credit cards handle all I need. I too have $150 worth of travelers checks that I have to use someday. They have been on so many trips they are getting worn out. They were purchased in 1991! You just do not need them anymore.

For a trip of any length, we take enough $ to pay for airport parking at our point of departure and enough euros to get from our arrival airport to our hotel or the nearest ATM. Lately, we have had enough left over euros from previous trips so we didn't need to buy them before leaving for Europe. No travelers checks.

I take a few USDs in cash, use ATMs and low cost (1%) (USAA) US CCs, but NOT my 3% Citi AA MC.
I know someone will criticize my faith in ATMs, and eventually I'll get shut out, but...
It also helps to have small amounts in overseas financial institutions as a cushion if you travel lots - $10 K (total) is exempt from reporting to the IRS.
Full disclosure, I hate cash and charge all my expenses in the US (get AA miles) and have electronic, CC or direct checking W/D for all my other recurring bills - all fee free of course.
M
Have a great trip!

I'd agree with suggestions about $100. We did the same thing on our last trip. We were running out of money in some place in Italy (I think near Vatican) and stopped by an atm to get some more cash. However, it was a weekend and the machine was out of money. Tried a couple more atms in the area, they were out of cash too! Our $100 bill came in handy then to get cash from an exchange bureau at an exorbitant conversion rate.

How can you possibly manage on 100USD - using cards to pay for items leaves one open to fraud and losses due to the floating exchange rates.

A couple of thousand Euro's worth will suffice and you might even have some leftover for your next holiday.

m kingdom - credit cards give you fraud protection and good exchange rates. ATMs are prevalent almost everywhere so you can get cash wherever you go.

I would never carry that much cash around. What would you do if you got robbed? I'd rather be exposed to a slight chance of credit card fraud (which, at least in the US, I'd only be responsible for $50), than be worried that I could lose several thousand dollars.

Frank - bring a little, use ATMs and credit cards. I haven't bought travelers' checks in years.

Karen

I bring around 250 Euros, USD 100 for the US airport & the trip home and credit cards for the rest. I always overspend and need an unlimited supply!

m_kingdom2,
Please understand in the US, we may simply deny any fraudulent CC charges and walk away. Actually, one may have to have deeper pockets than most to pull that off cleanly in the current billing cycle, but I have never had a problem.
Remarkably, even the consumer unfriendly Citibank has, to date, been very helpful.
I certainly don't want a gun stuck in my ear 'cuz I'm wearing a Rolex or have tons of cash on board.
M

I deposit my cash in the in-room safe which is usually insured up to a value of 5000EUR. It guarantees the rate of exchange and is convenient and universally accepted.

$300-400 US cash to exchange at bank
ATM card
No Euro
Travelers checks to exchange at bank in case of emergency only

As for being held up for my watch, it's insured so I'd give it up without any fuss - not worth being injured when in the longrun they can do you a favour - you get a brand new watch at the end of the day. I only carry a few hundred EUR on me at any given time, this minimises potential losses.

I hate to admit it but I always take large sums of cash (in addition to ATM and credit cards which I only use when making large purchases and shipping things home). I'm always paranoid about having the ATM card eaten by a machine, going over the daily withdrawal limit, etc. ) I just like the freedom of cash. I leave the bulk of it locked in the room safe and carry "cash for the day" with me.

By the way, the only time I've ever been robbbed was in the USA, probably because I'm more aware when I'm away from home.

I usually bring about $50 USD, 100 euros and my debit and credit card. Whenever we are low on Euro's, we simply find an atm and get more money out.

I would never carry around a large amount of money at one time. Usually when we travel to Europe, we stay at two or three different areas. Traveling on the trains with a few thousands euros is something I wouldn't do.

I NEVER carry dollars in Europe:)

€50-60 and my credit card. Can't remember the last time I bought a traveller's cheque

I'm surprised by the number of people responding to this question who feel the need to bring hundreds or even thousands of dollars or euro. I personally feel jittery carrying more than 200 dollars and/or euro on me at any one time. I'd rather take out money from the ATM every 2-3 days and use credit cards as much as possible.
So, this is what I bring when going to Europe:
Dollars- $100 (exchange places seem
to enjoy new twenties)
Euro- 60-70 (leftover from last
trip, in 10s and 20s.)
Trav.Checks-NONE (last brought them in
1997 and didn't use them)
Debit Card- One
Credit Card- Two

This combination isn't for everybody but its worked for me for years.