Just goes to show,nothing is foolproof.Travellers checks are a pain,cash can get stolen,ATM machines can go down,such is life!((f))

This kind of news puts a big dent in the faith of electronic banking. Its news the cashless society people would rather keep quiet.
On the other hand, you do have other options. They include
1- going into the bank with your M/C or VISA debit or credit cards and getting cash from the teller. You will need Passport but no PIN.
2- Charge everything possible. Everyone in France accepts CC except very small businesses. You can travel in France with no cash as long as you avoid non-CC places.
3- Have backups (a second credit card for sure, maybe a second debit card, and USD100 to exchange as a last resort)

good point platzman, it's not open 24-7 but anyone should be able to go into the bank itself and ask for a cash withdrawal. Would the MC system being down, stop that from happening?

gracejoan, you do have a system that with backups that work for you, but nothing is perfect. Most retail establishments no longer accept travelers checks, so in order to cash them you'd have to go into a bank or exchange place and pay a very high fee.
99% of the time, atms work. Many of us are not comfortable walking around with 1000-3000 euros in cash in our wallets. And, of your several credit cards, your master cards may not have worked under these circumstances.

As massagediva said, no arrangements are 100% perfect. I would not choose to give up the convenience of atm cards, any more than I would choose to give up using a totebag and start using a security wallet. We all make the safety and convenience choices that we feel comfortable with. Even if a problem arises, it doesn't mean that the approach is deeply flawed, just not perfect.

I've traveled to every continent in the world and have had very little problem with using ATM's in the past ten years. Travellers' checks are the biggest pain. After walking five blocks in 100+ heat/humidity in a small Venzulean town to cash some at the ONLY bank (or establishment) that would cash them, never again. Carrying large amounts of cash is just plain foolish. And pretty foolish to even exchange at very high rate in the U.S. before travelling. Even with fees, ATM's and credit cards give the best exchange rate. As others have suggested, two atms cards and credit cards should be just fine with perhaps travellers' checks for back-up.

pjsparlor, I'll bet you were fit to be tied! Our first time in Paris, the credit card my husband brought was the new expired one which we couldn't use. We were staying the the Regina which was not cheap. I had some money in my checking acc't but not nearly enough for our hotel. Fortunately, the hotel was able to use the credit card I guranteed the reservation with to pay. We would have starved if I didn't have my atm that time!

I have been traveling to Europe around 3x a year. So I was so frazzled not to have my ATM work! Never have had a problem prior to this. So it just shook my confidence alot! We were fortunate that we were only in Paris and charged everything. I have some friends in Paris who gave us some euro. I also went over with 100 euro left over from the last trip in March. So it could have been alot worse. Interesting thread, alot people have been in the same boat as me~

I'm not sure carrying lots of cash is necessarily foolish. It's just as easy to lose an ATM card as it is to lose cash (though I understand you can get another ATM card - but how easy is that to do when you're on vacation?).

I was in New Zealand using my card at a store and the clerk handed it back to me in 2 pieces - apparently it had somehow snapped in half horizontally. (I could still access my account using numbers, but couldn't use the card in an ATM.) Luckily I had a backup, but still...never would have expected something like that to happen.

I ALWAYS have lots of cash on me - not always do I use it - ATM's do work best. Even at home I use cash - after 9/11 and the NYC blackout, my husband and I always make sure we have enough that we could bribe a cab driver to take us somewhere! Also, back in the day before ATM's, we'd carry large amounts of cash into communist countries - foreigners were required to spend a certain amount of $$ per day. In many, many trips abroad, I have never had an issue with good old money.

ATM's are definitely useful (and certainly the best value), but I think cash is underrated.

Pjsparlor - thanks for the alert.

I guess some did not understand...I take some travelers checks for EMERGENCY ONLY..I.E...getting stuck because of an accident or something...NOT to cash, or to use otherwise. I have plenty of credit cards and euros for all my travel needs. The checks are free, and feel comfortable having them. I just deposit them when I return home...never have used them, and hope nothing ever happens that I do need them.
Never a problem having the euros...just glad to never have to look for an ATM, or wonder IF they work. For me, whatever makes my travel as simple and easy as possible, I find is best!!

Forgot to add my response to someone saying that it is foolish to carry large amounts of cash!!..It may be foolish for them, but not for me! The exchange rates for obtaining the euros before leaving are VERY competitive...as to credit cards..I always make sure that I have "different" ones..MC, Visa etc....This has worked for me for many, many years. I have an ATM card with me, too...I have only used it at home, to see if it worked. I have no need to use it. This way is convenient, competetive, simple, and the way I like to do it!! Different strokes, for different folks! I would never be rude enough to say that your way was foolish...to each his own!!

Just a little note re: t-checks.
In many countries, they may cost you more than simply taking a cash advance on a credit card. Several years ago in Austria, banks were charging fees which amounted to $8 PER CHECK. Then the exchange rate was an additional 6-7% poorer. Its seems with my credit cards, there is a $5 minimum fee or 3% of the total (plus interest which can be largely avoided by prompt re-payment).
Thus, I would not hesitate to use a credit card in a pinch, either at the ATM or teller window.

RE T-Checks...If you are a AAA member and you also have a AAA credit card, there is no charge for the checks, you put them on the AAA card, travel with them for EMERGENCY use only, deposit them upon return home, pay the credit card statement when it arrives...you have had the use of the EMERGENCY funds at absolutely no cost!! IF you have the unfortunate need for them, you would be glad to have them. I am comfortable having them with me!

This thread has been very interesting. Many Fodorites act as though you're a moron if you get Euro before your trip instead of relying totally on ATM's. I always figure that if the ATM's are going to be down for whatever reason, you can be sure it will happen when I'm there! If you keep your cash in a moneybelt, it's fairly safe. The last time I got Euro through HSBC, it was at a very competitive exchange rate.

But if you have to convert them you must find a place to do it and take a beating on the rate. Taking an extra card or using a credit card (also taking a beating on the fee) seems easier.

I was also traveling with friends who had not been to Europe before, and I told them to get an ATM card.

They did not feel comfortable with this so had all their euro from US with them.

I have to admit I thought they were rather foolish, not taking my advice!

Well I looked like the foolish one, trying my best to get cash from the ATM.

Good lesson for me, I thought I was soooo savvy, but sometimes cold hard cash is a good back up!!

I will never think someone is a moron if they choose not to use an ATM!!

For those of you that take Euros, HOW do you get a competitive exchange rate from the bank? I exchanged some $$ into pounds for a trip last summer at "my" bank (BB&T) and got totally ripped off, especially since they insisted they had to have it couriered to the branch because it was over a certain amount (the courier was charged to me). When I complained, they said they were very competitive! I ended up concluding I would have been better off doing the exchange at the departure airport exchange booth! ( I don't feel comfortable waiting until arrival to do the exchange at the arrival airport because traveling with children, someone is usually not feeling too well after an all night flight and we don't want to worry about it before we get a cab or train or whatever...)

Since I go to Europe nearly every summer, I've gotten in the habit of returning to the US with at least a hundred dollars or more worth of both euro and pounds when I return. They go in my safe deposit box until my next trip. Gee, the ones I've had in there since July of 2003 and really gaining in value from what I paid for them. They'll make a nice "starter" kit for next summer since I'm not going this summer, and I'm glad that I ended up in this case with a little over 300 euro and over 100 pounds! My other investments should be doing so well as those currencies in the safe deposit box!

Patrick I wish I had euros from 2001 or was it 2002 when the euro became available?, I think they cost me 80 cents to a US dollar then!! Would have been good return on my money!! The Franc was good in 1999 and 2000 but that is here nor there now!

This is making me wonder if the problems I have had in Paris with my ATM card are due to the Master Card brand it carries. I have used the card in several other countries without issue, but in the four trips to paris in the last year my ATM card has never worked in Paris. Last trip it also didn not work as a debit card at a ggrocery store checkout. I notified the bank of my upcoming travel and they assured me it would be fine, but it never worked. Despite receiving messages that the transaction was not authorized by my bank, when I queried the bank on my return they said their system shows no such activity. When this first occurred last year the bank (Chase) instructed me to use my Visa CC instead for a cash advance, and they would refund the fees. They have done so to date.

Victoria, we just get $100 worth at the departure airport. You'll always get stung at the bank.

In January I had no trouble in Paris using my Mastercard debit card to get were outside of banks), and ditto in Prague in April.

oops, that should have read:

I had no trouble in Paris last January with my Mastercard debit card, getting cash from atms that were attached to banks
and I also used the debit card on at least one occasion for a purchase.
Ditto Prague in April.