Maybe you should look at other banks? I've been told by numerous owners that there is no fee for depositing TCs in the local currency. Twice in Germany, several times in the UK, a couple of times in France, and a number of times in Italy. Most recently, twice this summer.

But by the way, perhaps there is a difference between cashing a TC and depositing one in your checking account? In fact I know some European banks will even cash one for no fee is that person has an account there -- I've had friends cash them for me.

I don't see that paying with regular money is any big deal. At least, not in Germany.

Go to an ATM, draw out the money, and hand it over. The machine will spit out euro notes, a receipt and return your card. The only differnce is that a balance inquiry is not possible in my experience. You might keep a check on the exchange rate and run a tab to let you know how big a dent you are making in your checking account.

(And don't put your credit card in the slot. The withdrawal becomes a cash advance and the fees are very good for the bank but not for you.)

I suggest you know in advance what kind of daily withdrawal limit your bank might impose. Other than that, get your money and pay your bill.

Germany is more cash oriented than we are. I paid my hotel bill in Munich that way this summer.

If you are in a city, I don't think finding an ATM machine will be difficult If a financial institution is not within easy view, ask at the hotel.

The difference between a TC and a bank cheque: Bank cheques will be processed automatically, the are of a standard DIN size and are machine readable. A TC will need some human handling, this costs a fee at german banks (so they say). If they do accept them, they simply were being nice and paid the fee themselves. Those banks are greedey! A TC will ONLY be accepted without fees if you have bought it at this bank. That's they way it is in Germany.

It's absolutely uncommon in Germany to pay with travellers' cheques. Some big international chain hotels may accept them, perhaps, but I would not expect anyone else except banks to do so.

In Germany, the entire hotel bill is paid upon departure, i. e. the last morning when checking out. (If you want to, you may pay earlier, but no one will ask you to.) Thus you'll have enough time to find an ATM in Berlin or change your TC's into cash.

I'm not sure how we got onto this whole discussion about Traveler's Cheques, which I will agree is a bad way to pay for anything! And no, I wouldn't "expect" anyone to accept them either, but it is true that some people who won't take credit cards will take TC's.

All I did was suggest that if you DO use them as suggested by one person for the specific purpose mentioned above, then by all means do them in euro rather than dollars to save a bunch of money and to know what your exchange rate will be.

I think we have convinced Votkuta that TCs aren't a very good idea - but to say &quot;<i>do them in euro rather than dollars to save a bunch of money</i>&quot; Is misleading.

The cost of &euro; TCs in the States is very high. Even &quot;no fee&quot; TCs will have a ridiculously bad exchange rate.

But as most of us have said, paying cash won't be a problem so don't bother w/ TCs - $ OR &euro;

janis, you missed my point. Any way you use TCs will cost you money, that's for sure. Which is why they are not a good idea, I agree.

But if you buy euro TCs in the states in advance you KNOW what rate you pay. At AAA it may be something like an extra 5%. Yes, that's horrible. But once you get to Europe, and you pay for something with them (if you find someone who takes them) they take them at face value. If you owe the hotel 500 euro and you give them 500 euro in TCs, you're even and the whole thing has only cost you the 5% you spent when you bought them.

But if you've ever looked at posted &quot;today's exchange rates&quot; in small hotels, you may see that they will charge as much as 10 or even 15% to exchange currency. And it may be even worse if they don't even post exchange rates. So if you hand them US dollar TC's, then they may easily add that kind of percentage extra, or anything they want to add. That's far worse than the rate you pay getting them in advance. I would not want to be left to the mercy of the &quot;merchant&quot; who has the right to tell you how many US dollar ones we wants for the right amount of euros.

I wasn't talking about the &quot;know what your exchange rate will be&quot; bit.

I was only commenting about &quot;save a bunch of money&quot;. As you know, TCs are a big money waster in general - but buying them in foreign currency in the States is even worse . . . .

We aren't disagreeing - I just didn't want the OP or anyone else to mis-read what you said and think euro TC will save them money.

Oh, YES, that would be a major misreading. I certainly didn't mean save a bunch of money compared to using cash or other method. I just meant using euro TCs would save you a bunch of money over using US dollar TCs in this case.

Thank you for the helpful replies. Since several posters have mentioned that it's normal to pay the bill upon departure in hotels which don't accept credit cards (rather than, as with hotels that do accept credit cards, to give an imprint of your card upon arrival), we will withdraw cash from a nearby ATM as needed, just before leaving the hotel.

Hi
Just wanted to let you know ATM machines are all over Berlin. TC's are outdated and most places wont accept them. It's easier to go to an ATM Usually Bankomatics and get what you want. I haven't used a TC in years, just an ATM. Berlins a great city, enjoy your trip.

Thanks, aeiger. We're looking forward to the trip and are glad of your encouragement and enthusiasm.

Concerning ATMs, make sure that your ATM card has a four-digit PIN. Otherwise it won't work.

I'm wondering if you will be expected to pay -up front- for your stay if paying with cash. Otherwise, the hotel has no recourse should a customer decide to 'move on' suddenly.

Travelnut, yes that does sound logical -- but I've been amazed at even renting a couple of apartments without any credit card, no deposit, and the owner in no hurry after our arrival to collect the money -- in fact it wasn't until the last day we were there and then we had to track her down and give it to her. And we've been in many small European hotels where there is no mention at all of paying until we check out. A different mind set!

You expect people not to steal from you, that's all.

Definitely a different mind set - and a refreshing one at that. It is one of the things that really impressed me about Germany. There seems to be a lot less theft and people are more careful with other people's property.

Besides, the hotel will make you fill in a form that asks for name, address and passport number upon arrival.

We're back from Berlin.

It turned out (despite numerous assurances in their e-mails that they accept only cash), that the hotel accepted just about every credit card except American Express. So, panic was unnecessary. I guess it's a case of the right hand (whoever mans the e-mail station) and the left hand (whoever runs the check-out desk) not communicating.

Name, address and passport number wouldn't get you any money if someone skipped out on the bill.

Anyway, it's kind of odd that whoever answered the emails didn't know such a basic thing about the hotel they worked for.