redwoodcitymom

First of all, I've had more fun reading & researching on this web site then I could have imagined. So many helpful people!

I'm trying to figure out what is the best way to carry and have access to money. I read somewhere that if I use an ATM in Europe, my pin number should be 4 digits long as the ATMs there have trouble reading more then that. It's these little things that can trip you up when abroad.

I plan on taking travelers checks. Anybody have a favorite Visa company?

I also have to travel for 3 weeks w/ a paper airline ticket. Do I keep it in my suitcase or on my person the whole time?

Thanks for helping this Newbie.

Barbara

mcnyc

I use my ATM card from my bank with no problems. Make sure your PIN doesn't start with a 0 and is 4 digits long.

Paper ticket? This has always baffled me. If you're in a room that has a safe, keep it there. Otherwise, I've always been hesitant to keep it on my person, I would lock it in my suitcase.

Perhaps others will have better ideas.

ellenem

Depending on where you are traveling, it is more and more difficult (and costly) to use travelers checks. Most people just use their ATM card and credit cards.

Dukey

Why do you have to travel with a paper ticket? Please explain.

I wouldn't keep it on my person the whole time.

if you don't trust the room safe then lock it in the hotel's safe.

Ditch the entire travelers checks idea unless there is some reason you cannot use an ATM. TCs are more trouble than they are worth, a lot of places will refuse even to take them, etc., etc.

rachw

I agree that TCs are a pain in the butt, even (?especially) when in the local currency, few businesses accepted them without hassle, and often charged.
I ended up going to local banks (some with sparse hours) and paying to Euro TCs exchanged for TCs, somtimes for additional fees!

eliza3

Don't do the travellers cheques - just use ATM's. I have never been worried a about the paper ticket - what is someone else supposed to do with it after all? Me - I would keep it with all other stuff in hotel room. Have only ever used room safe for large amounts of cash. I have had far more valuable stuff than airline ticket in hotel room without incident.

tcreath

I was issued a paper ticket for my Croatia flight last November, so I understand your concerns. I would just leave it locked in your suitcase or talk to the hotel about a safe. You should be fine.

As far as money is concerned, we use our ATM card on all of our Europe trips and have never had a problem. They work basically just like they do at home, and ATMS are plentiful. I would't use travelers cheques, as I don't believe many places take them anymore so they could be more of a hinderance than helpful.

Tracy

LeeParis

I've used my ATM card for many trips to get cash. It's got a 4 digit PIN with the first digit a zero. I read an earlier post (and I've read it on other posts) that a PIN starting with zero won't work. Have I just been lucky in London, Edinburgh, Paris, Amsterdam, Ireland, etc.?

Leaving for Rome in May. I was in Florence/Venice in 2001 and I think I was using the same ATM card then, too.

It worked last year...has something changed since June 2006?

LeeParis

StCirq

Traveler's checks are a dinosaur and a huge PITA. You'll spend precious moments of your vacation standing in line at banks to cash them and paying a hefty commission. You just don't need them.

Use a debit car linked to your checking account to get cash from ATMs. Yes to the 4-digit PIN. Mine begins with a zero and I've never encountered a problem with that.

I just keep my paper tickets with all my other travel documents. I have one of those zip-up pouches that banks give out to small businesses for cash deposits and it's a perfect size for tickets, passports, copies of hotel confirmations, etc.

Christina

I always carry travelers checks with me for backup, and I get them free at AAA or my bank, so it's no cost to me at all. They have come in handy a few times, why not. I ALWAYS get them in my own currency (USD) which is why they cost me nothing.

So, although they have become a lot more trouble to cash in many places in Europe (but not all), if you do take some, it doesn't matter where you get them, the brand is the same. I mean a Visa TC is a Visa TC, so I'm not following your question on your favorite Visa company. AAA gives out Visa TCs for one thing, my bank still gives out Amex. Those are the only two names I know of. So it doesn't matter where you get them, but if you do carry some, get them wherever you can get them free, is all I'd say. I'd never pay to get them, that's for sure.

chepar

I also carry a couple of TCs with me as emergency backup whenever I travel internationally, but I've never had to use them - no problems using ATMs.

I keep any sort of tickets or passes in one of those zippered plastic pouches that you can insert into a 3 ring binder. I keep the pouch in the interior pocket of my suitcase.

ira

Hi R,

>I plan on taking travelers checks.

Only for emergency backup and only in USD so that you can deposit them when you get home.

Charge everything chargeable an use ATMs for cash.

>I also have to travel for 3 weeks w/ a paper airline ticket. Do I keep it in my suitcase or on my person the whole time?

Whoever steals your ticket can't use it without a picture ID.

However, if it is lost or stolen, you will have trouble getting home.

We keep our important travel documents in a travel wallet under our clothes.

janisj

When I have a paper ticket - It is in my money belt. Sure, no one else can use it - but if it is lost/stolen -- neither can I. A paper ticket is one of the things I'd never leave in a suitcase.

LeeParis: &quot;<i>It worked last year...has something changed since June 2006?</i>&quot;

Nope - years ago many European ATMs could not deal w/ leading zero's in a PIN, nor PINs longer that 4 digits. But that hasn't been the case for a long while now. ( though I still keep a 4 digit pin &quot;just in case&quot; )

Michel_Paris

By paper ticket, am I right in assuming it is the printout of an e-ticket? If so, I would write down flight info, confirmation # and store somewhere apart from the ticket.

ATMs yes. I'm a convert. For &quot;justin case&quot; I would get some euros in cash, not traveller's cheques. Why...say you land at airpot with nothing but ATM card and credit cards and TCs....and the ATM machine is out of order/it's late ( o banks open) there is along line up at the money change booth..I would not want to depend on the taxi, shuttle bus, public transit cashier taking a TC...they may not...so if I have cash, I'm always king (or queen).
So I recommend having enough cash to get you to your hotel.

Enjoy your trip

Mike

janisj

No - not an e-ticket print out. That would be no problem at all. Many flights/airlines still require the regular old-fashioned paper tickets . . . . .

kayd

There are still some airlines/airports that are not equipped for e-tickets, so if your trip includes a segment involving one of those (smaller, very few) airports, you'll get a paper ticket for the entire trip.

Ahmed

I have been using my HSBC ATM card with 6 digits in all of Europe, US , Canada, Bahrain and UAE without any problem. Since last year I have been using my NBB (National Bank of Bahrain) mastercard debit/ATM card with 4 digits in Germany and Switzerland without any problem. Therefore, it seems whether 4 or 6 digits both work in Europe and other places.

I do take with me AE travellers cheques in $ just as security. Since my AE credit card is in $, then at the end of my travels I credit my AE credit card with Amex travellers cheques. Actually here in Bahrain the best $ rate to pay for AE cards in $ is to purchase AE Travellers Cheques in $ and then I go to next door to pay for my AE credit card. It is much better than if I pay in BD (Bahrain Dinars) for my $ credit card. I do have AE credit card in BD but i only used it in Bahrain, due to exchange rate. If I am abroad I used the $ credit card. This summer will be going to Germany and then Switzerland. Since Germany is in Euro i have just obtained ATM/Debit Card in Euro from my other bank in Isle of Man &quot;Fairbairn Private Bank&quot;. I have not use it yet. But i believe since i have Euro in my bank account, then I will not be charged exchange rates when i be spending in Euro. I think if all the world have just one currency then the banks probably will not make much money as they do now. Though some bankers will ge upset for not getting enough bonuses!

LoveItaly

Hi redwoodcitymom, forget getting TC's and if you read enough posts here on Fodor's you will see that almost all Fodorites agree on that subject.

Personally I like having some money for the area I am flying into..but that is just me. Many people I know in my life feel the same way. I also make sure I have some US money also so that I have it when I return back to my home airport. Others just depend on using the ATM at airports.

I haven't had a paper ticket in ages but back when I did I would put in in the hotel safe (not the room safe) until I checked out of the hotel. I know some people are afraid of forgetting to retrieve whatever they have put in the hotel safe but I can honestly say I never have.

Years ago it was said that at least in Italy pin's could not start with a zero. As I understand it that is no longer true. I have always had a 4 digit pin. But I have always found one can only access their money from checking a/c's including money market checking a/c's versus saving a/c's.

redwoodcitymom

Wow!
Thanks for all the great advice. As you can see it's been a long time since I was in Europe (1985?) when we always used TC. So if I use my ATM, will I get Euros back? How is the exchange rate figured. Are there any hidden costs? (I'm such a newbie)

When I asked about using a visa, I guess some companies like CitiBank charge 3% everytime you use it. I didn't know if that is what you'll pay or if you've found an inexpensive Visa company.

My paper ticket is for a flight from Paris to Nuremberg. (Day 12 of out trip) It was cheeper to fly then to take the train. My first search for airfare came up w/ $700 tickets, but on a whim, I tried Orbitz and found tickets on Air Berlin for $70 each.

The down side is I have a paper ticket. When I said I'd carry it on my person, I meant in my money belt, but that is such a hassel.

Again, I love this site!

MikeT

Redwoodcitymom:

The issue of ATMs has been discussed ad nauseum. Put ATM in the search box at the top of the screen and you will get more info than you ever wanted, as well as discussion of credit cards

No need to reinvent the wheel.