what is the best way to get british pounds in london? can we use our atm card very easily? how would you adise to aquire cash in pounds while in london? how about travelers checks get them here or there? any advice on this subject would be greatly appreciated.

I just got back from the UK and was able to use my ATM card just fine. As long as your ATM is included in a network like cirrus or interlink you shouldn't have much trouble finding a machine formatted for your card. Make sure you know your PIN NUMBER - there are no letters on the ATM buttons. Also, you get the best rates from ATMs and credit cards. So we used credit cards whenever we could. We didn't use traveller's checks so I wouldn't know about that. You might want to have a few pounds before you arrive though.

ATM and credit cards are the way to go. Do a search for this on this forum; there are many previous debates over this subject. The consensus is generally to go with the ATM. Traveller's Cheques are becoming obsolete.

thanks for the information. we`ll take some cash with us and use the atm machines and our credit card. now we won`t have to worry about carrying money or how to get it while over there.

thanks kim and caryn for the information. we`ll take some cash with us and use the atm machines and our credit card. now we won`t have to worry about carrying money or how to get it while over there.

Dear Bill: The ATM machines and credit cards are the way to go these days BUT be careful WHERE YOU USE THEM. My sister (a London resident)found herself followed on a bus after being observed by a couple who deliberately jostled her as she boarded and then stole her purse. If it could happen to her it can happen to anyone. (This happened to occur in Mayfair.) Joan

A few weeks before we left for London, we had our bank get us some pounds. It cost money, but it was worth it to not have to negoiate pounds after a long flight! The previous travelers were correct, the ATM's are wonderful. I was impressed in France. The ATM in Paris somehow knew I preferred english and changed to english after I inserted my card!

I'm still in favor of travelers checks because if you lose your money - too bad ! But your travelers checks can be replaced. I do recommend that you get your cheques in pounds (or whatever the local currency of your destination). Most AAA officed and major banks in the US offer travelers checks in pounds, French francs, Canadian dollars, Japanese yen, etc.etc. This way, you've already dealt with the exchange rate at the time of purchase and you don't have to search out somewhere to cash them when you arrive. <BR> <BR>

Lee, I have to disagree with you. The exchange rate you get on those travelers checks is never going to be as good as at an ATM machine. Given today's ATM technology, there is no difference in using your ATM card in Europe or your home town. Just take out money as you need it. And if you plan well, you won't have nay foreign currency or foreign traveler's check to convert back to dollars. <BR>And happily, I've found that European banks have not yet adopted the ATM usage fee that is so common in the US. Of course, your bank will still charge you a fee for each withdrawl so don't take out small amounts.

I'm with Brian on this one: if you get tc's in the currency of the country, you get clobbered with the exchange rate when you buy them. Then, should you not use them all, you get clobbered AGAIN when you exchange them back. Also, every cambion I've ever used charges a fee (usually 5%) to exchange tc's to cash. Yuck. I love my ATM card; even if the ATM is broken (it happened in Morocco), I went into a bank, they ran my card through their machine, and gave me dirhams to my heart's content. I use it to buy things (it's a debit card thingy hooked up with MasterCard) as well, and I get an incredible exchange rate. I always get about US$100 in local currency before I leave (American Express local office has the common currencies on hand; for Morocco, I had to order dirham ahead) so I'm not without funds to buy a coffee or a newspaper on arrival (also means I can hop on the local transportation as soon as I'm through customs). <BR>Yup, your own bank will charge a buck or so to use the foreign ATM but 1) that's cheaper than what tc's cost and 2) you make it up in the better exchange rate. <BR>Caution, though: be sure to have either a credit card with you, or some other means to access money. If you run into a problem with your ATM card, you'll need to be able to get money until the problem is solved (you might want to let your bank know you will be travelling overseas and to expect foreign ATM withdrawals so that they don't block your card).