I'm going to Germany next week and I need some help
deciding the best method for exchanging dollars for
German Marks. Should I exchage by withdrawing from an ATM? Or should I simply charge everything and rely on my credit card company to exhange fairly?

I am not an expert on this subject but having been reading in here for 6 mo now most people say the ATM"s give you the best rate. I think the credit card companies can take several months to put the charge through and then you get the exchange rate at the time it goes on your billl; not when you made the purchase (but cannot swear to this). We just exchanged our money at the airport and used Dutch guilders in Germany as we spent so much time in Hollland. They took those easily. Good luck.

P.S. I found out something interesting today- I belong to a credit union and was in there today and they had a little sign that said they will exchange currency and get you foreign currency free of charge as well as travelers checks. So that might be a thought.

They get you either coming or going. Either they give you a lousy rate of exchange and charge no check-cashing fee...or they give you a good rate of exchange and charge a fee. Best way: use plastic. That way, you get the bulk rate of exchange and the use of your funds until you pay the credit-card bill. Check Rick Steves' web site; he explains it all in plain language. Worst things you can do: keep changing from one currency to another and/or cashing a travelers' check at a hotel. How do I know? I am a retired banker.

Paul, We have found putting everything on plastic is the best route, you'll get a good exchange rate, at least as good as what's published in the paper. When we travel we like to stay in pensions and eat at neighborhood establishments. For this reason we carry travelers checks in the local currency, as many, if not all, of these places don't take plastic and the exchange rate is atrocious. If you have an AMEX gold card you can purchase them in DM using an EFT. We are leaving for Germany in three weeks and will be trying the ATM method for the first time, as a trial. AMEX doesn't offer trav. chks in all currencies, but DM is one they do. GUTENTAG

A word of wisdom from someone who lives in Germany: credit cards are not accepted as wiedely as in other European countries, in fact, Germany may be the the most credit-card-unfriendly. Even big gas stations, like Shell for example, do not always take them, and if you're eating at small restaurants it would be very advisable to ask if you can charge beforehand. Visa & MC are the more common, with AmEx you could run into trouble.