Gonzi24

Check with your bank if they have a partner bank where you are travelling. For example Bank of America customers pay a $5 withdrawal fee unless they withdraw money from a bank within the Global ATM Alliance: Barclays (United Kingdom), BNP Paribas (France), China Construction Bank (China), Deutsche Bank (Germany), Santander Serfin (Mexico), Scotiabank (Canada), Westpac. You pay no fees just like if you used your banks ATM in the US. Check with your bank to see if they have partner banks.

suze

katiekate~~
You need to cash Travelers Checks these days, not try to spend them directly (like to pay for a meal or purchase). Either by going to a regular bank wtih your passport, or sometimes at your hotel front desk. I'm not saying they are ideal, but if you choose to carry them, that's how you need to cash them.

suze

gonzi24~~
good tip on partner banks. but practically speaking unless i have researched and know ahead of time one is close to where i will be, it's not worth saving the $5 fee to traipse all over the city seeking out a correct bank partner ATM.

bcirish

If you are a AAA member and used to travelers checks then this may be a good alternative for you - we have used it for the last two years where ever we travel and are taking to Europe next month - they have a AAA travel credit card which is guaranteed, looks like a credit card and can be used as a credit or debit card but you put in the amount of money you want in it and you can add money on line from your own bank account two additional times when you want. You can put in anywhere from 250 to 9,999 on the card. I am not sure it there is a daily limit - have not run into that as of yet. It is safe and personally less worries if it is lost - does not leave your personal account exposed ( had a close call with our personal ATM card attached to our checking account while in Hawaii last month - we were locked out because someone tried to access the account - we had used it for dinner the previous night - were closed out til we contacted the bank - not bad from Hawaii - from Europe - more of a problem. My husband and I will each carry our own AAA Travel card and if there is money left on it when we get home we put it in our travel drawer til the next trip. Just something to think about. By the way - AAA is phasing out travelers checks too. Good luck and happy travels!

kayd

Before taking advantage of the "benefits" of that AAA card, do read the recent thread entitled AAA Travel Card so you are fully informed about the costs of the card -- that 7% is worth thinking about.

kayd

Here's a link to that thread
http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...amp;dirtyBit=1

NeoPatrick

bcirish, are you aware that the AAA Travel Card charges a 7% charge for every foreign purchase as well as every ATM withdrawal you use it for?

See the just topped thread titled AAA Travel Cards for some facts that would surprise a lot of users.

NeoPatrick

Ah, kayd and I were posting at the same time -- and kayd is also the person who topped that other thread.

It's no wonder AAA is phasing out Traveler's Checks -- they didn't make a full 7% plus other fees on them like they do on the Travel Card.

janisj

If you are Stateside the AAA (or similar amex version) isn't so bad. No hits on the exchange. But it still has all sorts of fees/costs associated w/ it.

But for overseas travel it is IMHO a terrible idea. Not only are there fees to top it up, close it out, etc -- they nail you on the exchange. I love AAA and have been a member for years and years. But the main reason they are getting out of the TC business is because there is more profit w/ the travel cards . . . . .

kayd

Oops, my link is not good -- just click on my name to pull up the thread that has all the info Neo found and reported on the travel cards.

bcirish

Thanks for the heads up - have used it stateside and in the islands and there were no exchanges involved. I personally do not like using something that is linked to my personal money when I am out of the country especially with all of the horror stories of stealing and pickpockets - the 12 lock out ( because of time differences ) we had in Hawaii not knowing why our account was locked was nasty - no indication if someone had drained our account to the max allowed for two days or what - with that in mind I would not want to raise my daily limit - gotta understand - someone had our number ( we think from the restaurant two nights before) and tried to access money from an ATM. We did not realize it for more than 24 hours - that could have been two days of limits. Can't use a credit card for cash - that's mucho dollars too . If I were taking my computer I would feel more confident with my ATM but without being able to monitor the accounts and move money as needed I would really have liked a better solution so oh well.. hmmm. The more I plan my trip and read, the more discouraged I get, but I guess it is better to know now rather than later. This is frustrating. There must be something that is as safe as travelers checks - thought I had found it- oh well - at least someone else did not get sucked in - sorry for the bad info. Good luck I may just stuff money in my bra- I will look so deformed all of the pick pockets will run the other way - : ) just kidding Thanks again - this site is awesome!

kayd

bcirish: the ATM route is the easiest and safest. Why not open a new account in a different bank for your travel expenses so there's no link to your principal accounts? Then use the ATM card (ATM-only, not a general debit card that can be used for purchases without a PIN)for that account on your travels. I don't see how anyone could empty your account even if the card is lost or stolen because the thief would not have your PIN. But take the ATM card for your regular bank as an emergency back-up.

Another thought --- if you don't want an ATM-only card, have the bank set a very low limit for non-PIN transactions on your debit card and use it only for ATM withdrawals.

luvtotravel

I carry a small amount of travelers checks with me. Once in France the people who deliver money to ATMs went on strike. Many ATM were out of money. I was told that many locals were running tabs with merchants they frequent. Travelers checks came in handy for small items I didn't want to charge. The strike lasted about a week. I'm heading to Paris again soon and I can't wait to see who is on strike this time!

gracejoan3

I'm not sure if anyone mentioned to you that you need to be susre that you call the credit card companies for the cards that you will be taking with you to advise them of where and the dates. If you do not, chances are your cards will be blocked..for your security!

For a great many years I have taken "free" travel checks as an emergency use only. Always just re-deposit them upon return home.

Otherwise, what works for me is 1000 to 2000 euros (depending on the length of my trip and 3 - 4 credit cards, I take an ATM...only used it once, and that was only to see if it did work in case I should need it. I prefer the cash and credit cards. That way I never have to find an ATM. I put excess cash in room safe and carry about 200 with me at all times along with credit cards.

This is my way, and is the way that I will continue to do...........

amwosu

I have a VISA debit card and another VISA that is a completely separate credit only account which I use on vacations.

I call the number on the back of each card within the week of international travel to let them know I will be using the cards in another country so they don't freeze my account for questionable transactions.

mary09

Gracie, your way is exactly what I plan to do for Italy in May. Not to start a whole other debate, but how do you carry your money/credit cards during the day? Money belt? And do you feel the hotel room safes, where you leave all that money, are actually safe?

gracejoan3

I carry the credit cards, and 200 euros or so with me daily in a purse. It is a shoulder bag but easily held against my body..never had a problem. No money belts or those fanny packs etc.
Never had a problem with hotel safes or with leaving whatever in an apartment.

kimbolina

Is there a difference between using a debit, credit or ATM card when traveling abroad? I'm going to Spain next week and I only have a VISA debit card. Luckily, the PIN number is already only 4 digits. The first one is a 0 but from reading the other posts, it sounds like I should be okay. Well, at least at ATMs. Will I be required to punch in my PIN if I buy something in a store with the debit card? And will the leading 0 affect transactions in stores?

I just want to be sure that I'll be able to access my money cause I'll be there for a week. I got 100 euros from my bank earlier this week but if my card gets eaten overseas, that's definitely not going to last me the whole trip.

kayd

All will probably be fine, but you are taking a chance with only a single debit card. You'd be a lot safer having another ATM card, a credit card or two, a wad of dollars to exchange (at a not very favorable exchange rate), a traveling companion with some of the above. What will you do if an ATM eats the card?

aliced

ATMs are the way to go, ours has a 4-digit password. BUT call your bank cust. serv. as well as your credit card companies to advise of your travel. They appreciate this info, and without it, might hold your account in an effort at loss prevention. Do not believe advice from tellers that you need not do it, my husband's card was declined in Rome (but mine wasnt) and he had to call the 800 number from there to clear up. Leave the paperticket in your room or hotel safe along with your passport; carry only a photocopy of passpost and picture id which is sometimes requested as deposit for headsets, etc, at museums, rentals, etc.