We're leaving for France, Germany and Italy tomorrow and after reading several of your posts I am convinced that my primary access to cash should be by ATM card. However, I've only read about the ATMs in airports and I'm wondering if they are prevalent in other areas as well. Is there anything special (signage) I should look for? Thanks

Hi
In cities and large towns there are many, sometimes called Bancomat.
Your hotel can direct you to the nearest one.

In the city centers, you find banks. Banks have automatic teller machines, often enclosed. Paris, Munich, Salzburg, Vienna, Innsbruck, Luzern, Zürich, etc. have banks, and the banks have teller machines.

You know where to find them in the USA do you not??

ATMs are ubiquitous.

How do you think local people get cash ? They don't have to go to the nearest airport to get money!

A word of caution, ATMs are great but we also carry TCs, $100 and €100. A couple years ago we were in Paris, the guys who load the ATMs went on strike and the ATMs quickly ran out of money.

In France look for the words "distributeur automatique" or "caisse automatique" ("caisse," pronounced 'case', means cash). I've never seen the French Canadian term, which is "guichet automatique." In Germany look for "Geldautomat."

Sometimes they are set into the outside wall of the bank. Sometimes, as in North America, you have to enter a lobby. If the door is locked after hours, you can get in using your ATM card.

Hi Fullcount:

Try the VISA web site (www.visa.com) it has an ABM locator option, just pick the city/general area your looking for & it will indicate the address/bank that provides the ABM. That should give you the 'comfort feeling' that ABMs are 'everywhere', as the other postings have pointed out.

Z

You won't have ANY trouble finding them in cities or the smalledr towns..they are typically situated as they are in the US...on the outside of bank buildings and so forth.

I agree that it might be a good idea to take some reserve US cash and some folks like to arrive in a country with a few Euros already rather than waiting to get moeny out of the arrival airport ATM which sometimes isn't working.

I'm sorry but I do not agree that you need travelers checks esp if they are in US funds (vs in Euros)...the exchange rate is just as bad although I guess if you want to take the Amex ones and if you can find an Amex office you might do better...but with ATMs everywhere (I'd take a BACK-UP ATM card if you can...just in case) I wouldn't bother.

Use your moneybelt and also you might call your credit card company's security department and tell them you are going to be in Europe and the dates, etc...

jsmith is correct - they are everywhere. Funny story - we were sitting in a small square in the heart of Arles and I said to my wife,"We better start looking for an ATM machine beacause we are running low on cash." As we sat there I started looking around and actually spotted 3 ATM's from where we were sitting. As we got up and turned around I realized there was another right behind us. We started walking away and right around the corner there was yet another ATM. We did bring about 400 euros with us. I do think that the travelers checks are a waste of time. Many merchant's don't even accept them.
Joe

We use ATMs and they are everywhere.However I found that the ones in smaller towns and villages might limit theamount you can withdraw.Ilike larger amounts as it saves fees and I just put it in my moneybelt.I also think you need TCs for backup.I was in Rome and planned on making a final withdrawal but the entire system was down for some time.TCs saved the day.

We were in Germany and France two weeks ago and had no difficulty finding and using ATMs, even in some smaller towns. However, at least two nicer restaurants in small towns in Germany did not accept credit cards, so I had to make quick runs to nearby ATMs to cover the meal costs. So the suggestions to carry reserve euros certainly make sense.

It is rarely mentioned but if you can't find an ATM or if it isn't working, you can go into a bank and ask for a cash advance. I've never encountered any problem doing this and have never had to pay a fee.

Polite comment: Most of Europe is very similar to the US - Banks, ATMs, Hotels, Motels.....

In Germany they are sometimes called Geld-Automat. Even in Hungary and the Czech Republic, they are virtually everywhere. For example, in Prague, the most convenient location for me was right at the Vlatavska metro station. Most European train stations have them - they are often very close to the money changers.

That said, when you start running low on funds, stop at the first ATM you see, rather than wait until later, just to be safe.

I would not recommend TC. I remember getting them for a trip to Vancouver in 1985, and nobody wanted take them THEN, even in canada.

In France, the Post Office will often have an ATM. At first, I thought they were just for dispensing stamps but eventually I figured out they did dispense cash.

They are not everywhere. Many small towns do not have them at all, unless the small town is a big tourist destination (like Hohenschwangau, for example--very small, but it does have an ATM because of the volume of tourists). So if you are going to head off the beaten path, get your cash first.