When I have happened to look at the Atlanta airport, where I get my Intnl. flights, the exchange rates posted have been higher than what I have paid for my euros. I don't really check. I look up the exchange rates online before I call my bank to order mine, to be able to compare.

Here are some sites to check:

<b>xe.com
oanda.com
investoolsct.com/charts.asp</b>

I never change money before leaving. The way I see it, I have several fallback positions:

Plan A: get some local from an ATM when I arrive. If an ATM isn't available,

Plan B: buy my way to town with plastic. All the public transport and most taxis and shuttles take it. If I can't do this for some reason,

Plan C: see if I can get a ride to an ATM near my hotel from a taxi. Failing that,

Plan D: spend some &quot;USD mad money&quot; on a taxi or

Plan E: pay a <i>Bureau de Change</i> their usurous rate to convert some.

I've done this every time since ATMs became ubiquitous, and have never had to resort to anything beyond Plan B.

I always take cash for this very reason. I had this happen once, and once was enough.

Read the same scam story in the L.A. Times yesterday. Wow.

Because we go often to Europe, I was thinking about opening up an account in Paris. I had one there years ago, but wonder if it's still as easy to maintain. Anyone know?

On my first trip to Paris several years ago, I had 2 credit cards rejected while checking out of hotel (VERY early in the morning), with the airport shuttle due to arrive at any moment. And a fairly substantial bill from a 10-day stay.Finally, my American Express card worked! I was in a panic - and thank goodness I had several cards with me.
Now when I go, I do just about what gracejoan does, and take plenty of everything. I've been lugging the same traveler's checks back and forth for years! I always make sure I have euros or pounds leftover for the next trip - I would never arrive in Europe without at least some local currency. Moneybelts work quite well!

The problems using ATMs and credit cards outlined here are interesting reads, but lets look at the big picture.
The vast majority of people giving their input on this message board have never had any problems. When you sort through the hundreds of trip reports filed, you mostly see nothing regarding ATMs or Credit cards. Why? Because there were no problems.
Obtaining money and paying for things in Western Europe is so routine (as in the USA) that it doesn't even require a comment.
That is not to say you shouldn't have a Plan B and so on. My back up plans are similar to Robespierre's.

Platzman, true, MOST travelers will not have a problem, but just one time is too many. I disagree that &quot;it doesn't even require a comment&quot;. Posts like this one are very helpful for inexperienced travelers, who might travel with just one credit card and are not aware of the problems that could arise. I was never a Boy Scout, but I still maintain, &quot;Be Prepared&quot;!

this thread reminds me of all of the threads about petty theft- yes,it does occur occasionally,we should all be smart and aware,but keep our anxiety in proportion to the actual situation.

One of the reasons I brought this situation to everyone attention was to inform them of my experience. I have been to Europe 3x a year since 1999. It is very disconcerting when you do take numerous credit cards and inform the banks you are going overseas, and if THEY feel it is unsafe they put a hold on your ATM.

I have never had a problem before either, but once was enough. So all this touting that ATM is the only way is rubbish, I just got burned!!

I have never been pick pocketed either, but my chances of being pickpocketed is slimmer than the banks playing games with me.

People who weren't in Europe have also had holds placed on their cards, making it impossible to withdraw cash, etc. My roommate's friend has no money until she gets paid again because they have basically frozen her card, all because of that stupid ex-employee who hacked the MC system and wastaking money from a bunch of different accounts.

Sometimes it's just a glitch in the banking system. In April, I was unable to use my Southtrust ATM card at any ATM in Spain. Tried dozens of machines. None worked. On same trip, went to Portugal, and ATM card worked fine. Went to Morocco, ATM card worked fine. Back to Spain, and ATM card would not work. All the machines in Spain told me that &quot;Your Bank Has Not Authorized This Transaction&quot;.

Believe me, it is a horrible feeling when you're unable to get money. Luckily for me, I had exchanged $106 for 70E in the Atlanta airport (and I have never done that in the past, but I saw the Thomas Cook booth, and decided to go ahead and exchange some this time). And went to Portugal within a couple of days of beginning my trip. I was able to get the Euro I needed for Spain whilst in Portugal.

I've used the exact same ATM card in France, Italy, Greece, England, Scotland, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, and practically every state in the USA and up until April, had never had any problems ever.

My bank could not offer any reasons as to why my ATM card would not work in Spain. The branch manager said that it may be related to the fact that Southtrust is being merged with Wachovia, but he thought that if that were the case, it shouldn't have worked in Portugal or Morocco either. Basically they had no idea why. It's a mystery.

Keith

Sue4, I guess I should have been more specific when saying &quot;it doesn't require a comment.&quot; I was referring to the trip reports. Very rarely does the author comment about ATMs and how they paid for things. Thats because there was really nothing worth mentioning. Its routine. They paid for things the same as they do on a trip here in the USA.
And I agree a back-up plan is needed. And the one outlined by Robespierre is similar to mine, with the addition of going into the bank to get cash from the teller using VISA or M/C if necessary.

Just thought I'd chime in about ATM problems. I've used my ATM card with no problems for fifteen years in about a dozen countries, so I figured Sweden would be no problem.

To make a long story short, after arriving in Stockholm last month I couldn't get money from any ATMs for my first three days. I tried several different banks -- it always accepted my PIN but when I requested an amount it told me that there were technical problems or my transaction wasn't authorized or some variation on that. I did go into a bank and the teller could use it. When I called my bank they said there was no problem with my card and that was all they knew.

Eventually, it started working at ATMs, though it quit again later in the trip.

Network problems? Gremlins? Bad karma? Who knows? But, yes, you should have a plan B.