travellers checks in Italy
 

Has anyone had any trouble using Euro traveller checks in Italy? Do merchants/banks attempt to tack on any fees?

Most stores and restaurants won't accept them at all. You would have to exchange them at a bank and yes, there will be fees. Much better to get your Euro from an ATM machine linked to your checking account.

Traveler's cheques are dinosaurs. As Susan says, no one wants to take them, and banks will charge large commissions to cash them.

Use your debit card to get cash. Put everything else on a credit card.

Banks don't attempt to tack on fees. They succeed.

If you want the comfort of these antiques, bring them in your own currency. You won't use them anyway, so if they're in your own money you won't get ripped off by having to convert them back to dollars or whatever again, after you were already ripped off converting them to euros in the first place.

The last time I used traveler's checks in Italy 10 years ago, the bank added the equivalent of a $5 fee to cash a $20 check. That's when I stopped using traveler's checks.

I agree with SusanP and StCirq. ATM and credit card. never had any problem, and you have the extra advantage of credit card rules with regards to questionable charges. I travel with my ATM, and two credit cards, one I keep with me, one I keep in the hotel safe,in case the first one disappears or has a problem (never experianced either of the above, just like an additional safety net)

It's been said before, but it can't be said enough. Traveler's checks are a thing of the past and no smart traveler uses them in today's world. As Flanner says, if you want to bring a few traveler's as a back-up, then get them in your own currency. At least that way you can re-deposit them into your account without losing a second time on the exchange. Use your ATM or debit card to get cash.

Hi has,

As noted above, the only reason you would bring TC's is as an emergency fund.

Bring about $1000 in USD denominated TCs and deposit them when you get back home.

((I))

Man, ira - you sure travel in a richer neighborhood than I do! $1000 emergency fund? Sometimes $1000 is my whole budget :)

When I do take an emergency stash in $ TCs (which isn't that often any more) it is usually only about $200

We were in Greece this past summer and took credit cards and Traveler's checks.
The ATM machines do not always work and this was a great back up. The hotels that we stayed in were happy to cash them and we had no problems using them.
Even though we did not use all of them, it was very reassuring to know we could always have cash. We had notified the bank card that we were traveling out of the country, but that did not make a difference when the machine was not in service. We learned this lesson two years before in Italy when we were depending on the ATM and it did not work. The worst that can happen is that you bring some unused Traveler's checks home and have them to pay for your trip.
After two trips to Europe with various results, we will continue to take them along as insurance.
AKNIC

Hi J,

>$1000 emergency fund? Sometimes $1000 is my whole budget <

Once upon a time, I had that problem.

I hope that one day you will have more money for travel. :)

((I))