NeoPatrick

Hoopsa, before you call other people's advice "utter nonsense" I suggest you check out your facts.

I know of no banks in the US that charge a 3% charge for using a foreign ATM. The most usual charge is 1%. Bank of America is one of those that charge 1% and some tell us that there are some banks (and credit unions) which charge nothing at all. Perhaps there are a few banks that do charge 3%, but I've never heard of them. It is UTTER NONSENSE (to use your words) to suggest that all of them do that!

Also no one with an American bank's ATM card will EVER be charged one penny by any European bank for using their ATM. The card holder's own bank in the US may charge a fee (usually to a max of $5 for each transaction) but NOT the bank that owns the ATM you took the money from.

Perhaps you are confusing the use of a credit card -- some of which do charge 3% with the use of an ATM/debit card linked to your own bank account.

Now would you like to tell us WHAT Greek bank will cash US Traveler's Cheques at the current inter bank rate? Don't confuse "no fee" with not charging several percent conversion charge. Since your other "facts" are all mixed up, I suspect when you cash one in Greece you don't really know or compare what that day's interbank rate is with the rate you actually got. If you did, I suspect you would be surprised.

sshephard

Have you ever noticed that at some point many Fodor's Europe threads become negative and contentious? Strong words like "rubbish" generally are the cause.

I sense that most people here are well-educated and I also would guess that people who travel extensively are open-minded. So why do we have to use Bill O'Reilly-style bombast? (And I don't mean to offend Fox News lovers - liberal hosts on TV are guilty of the same thing.)

Anyway, I'm done with MY rant.

Has anyone noticed that dixiedee is no longer participating in this discussion?

Dixiedee, if you are watching this, perhaps you should go call Amex and get a list of banks in the places in Greece you will be going that will take the cheques.

dixiedee

Hello All!

I definitely appreciate all who have responded with any and all advice. I will do some more research into getting an ATM. THis forum is a great help to those of us who haven't traveled out of the states in 10 or so years because things have really changed as far as the use of travelers cheques, etc. go. Again, thanks to all who have taken the time to respond!

DixieDee

Christina

"rubbish" is a contentious and bombastic, Bill Reilly-ish word? My stars.

Actually, I agree with the idea of getting them in US $ if you were going to get them and who knows, maybe AlphaBank will exchange them at a low rate. But the fact that the words "no commission" were used when talking about ALpha Bank does suggest that the true cost of exchanging them isn't being considered, as that is the type of terms used by people who really don't understand the financial issues. As well, of course, as the other facts being absolutely wrong (about most US banks charging 3 pct for ATM transactions, foreign ATMs charging a fee, etc.).

I did cash TCs in Greece but it was a long time ago, so really can't say what it would cost nowadays. However, sometimes hotels will actually cash TCs at rates that aren't too bad (although that's usually not that case) and it doesn't pay to search elsewhere. You just have to know the approximate current exchange rate, be good with math, and figure out what it's costing you when you decide where to cash them. I know this isn't Greece, but in Mexico, it is very easy to cash them at very good rates, and I did stay at a Mexican hotel once that had better rates on them than the local bank.

bob_brown

I strongly suggest you have two different charge cards and two ATM/debit cards for your trip.

Why? Because not all cards work in all situations.

I rarely use my debit card, but I had to once to buy gas because the machine at the pump rejected my credit card.

One of my money cards, a Master Card debit card, would not work at all in Switzerland. The issuing institution is clueless as to why not.

So have backup for everything.

I do carry a few traveler's checks, but the ones I currently take along with me have made 5 trans Atlantic trips. I have not used one of those things in 9 years for the reasons cited above.

NeoPatrick

Several years ago a friend went to Europe with Thomas Cook Traveler's Checks -- which used to be a pretty big thing. They couldn't cash them anywhere -- not because they were TC's but because there was a huge problem with counterfeit Thomas Cook ones. I understand Thomas Cook no longer even does their own TC's, but they now sell American Express ones instead.

chatham

dixiedee,

Back before ATMs, I'd get a cash advance on my credit card from a bank. I know it was expensive but I needed some cash. I know one of the banks in Mykonos did this for me a number of times. I don't know now as I go with ATMs and credit cards other than American Express because so many places will not take American Express. Mastercard and Visa.

You are going to love Greece. My first trip I stayed for thirteen years.

sshephard

Christina, what you said is simply rubbish. It's also utter nonsense.

NeoPatrick

Huh? So sshepherd you say that people should NOT check current rates to know what it should be? And they should accept that "no commission" means the bank isn't charging them anything -- even a currency conversion percenatage?

Just what part of what Christina said is nonsense?

sshephard

Sorry, I was being ironic. I realize now that Christina was no doubt being ironic, too, in that I'm sure she sees words and phrases like "rubbish" and "utter nonsense" as inappropriate in friendly discourse.

Hoopsa used them both earlier in this thread and I took issue. Christina took issue with me but, as I've said, I think she was being ironic.

So I apologize. Besides, who am I to try to keep conversation civil on Fodors Europe?