Sue

One thing I've learned is to use my ATM during banking hours. Last year for no reason, an ATM machine in Cannes ate our ATM card the Saturday of a 3-day weekend. Since we were fairly close to Cannes on Tuesday, we returned. They had our card, but wouldn't give it to us because we had cancelled it in case the machine spit it out to someone else. But they couldn't check on the money (we didn't get it, but our bank was charged) until Thurs. and we were long gone by then. Yes, what a nightmare, but it could have been worse. For some unknown reason, we had taken along an ATM card for another account we rarely use and had the PIN. A call to the US and we transferred money into that account, so we were OK. Then, of course, when we got home, I had to write the bank protesting the charge, which was eventually removed (I think it did take about 60 days). <BR> <BR>Despite this horror story, it is just a freak accident, once out of many, many times using our ATM and we will continue to use it. We do take a little money in travelers checks, and could always use cash advances from credit cards in a real pinch, but that, of course, is inordinately expensive and to be avoided if possible. (I remember the good old days when a bank in Europe would write a cash advance like a restaurant charge and it would never get picked up as a cash advance by the credit card!)

Chelle

Love ATMS, used them all over Europe with one scare. I remember my pin with letters, some of the ATMS only have numbers - threw me for a while! If I pushed the wrong code it could eat my card.