I've heard that there are EURO travel checks out there that can save you money when you get to europe. We last went in 2005, bought Americian Express checks, but got charged whenever we cashed them a small fee. We have a credit card, but only use it for emergencies, and I dont even have a pin number so havent ever used an ATM... Any help will be appreciated
Posted by
nyc, ny, usa
25 posts
NOT a good idea. We spent two weeks in Spain and had great difficulty getting our Euro TCs cashed.
Posted by
Minneapolis, MN, USA
8700 posts
Use a credit card for major purchases and get cash from ATMs for everything else. Do NOT use your credit card to get a cash advance. You wll pay an immediate high rate of interest on your withdrawal. Get a debit card with a PIN connected to your checking account. Read this article by Rick Steves: www.ricksteves.com/plan/tips/moneytip.htm.
Posted by
Bloomington, IL, USA
9363 posts
Get an ATM card tied to your checking account (or a separate checking account that you use just for the trip) and learn to use it. It is so much more convenient than trying to cash traveler's checks! You'll need to have a 4-digit PIN and perhaps check with the bank to see if they can raise your daily withdrawal limit while you are gone. You'll find ATMs everywhere.
Posted by
victoria, Canada
11507 posts
Look this is too easy. Go to your bank. Either open a chequeing account with the money you want assess to while in Europe and get an ATM card, or get an ATM card for an existing chequeing account . It should take about 15 minutes and it is dead easy. When you want money you just go to an ATM, put card in, put in you PIN ( which you create so easy to remember) punch in how much money you want, and viola it appears, already in the currency of what every country you are in.
ATM cards are the way to go, no one likes or used Travels Cheques anymore. I started using my ATM card over 10 yrs ago in Europe, how conveinent. /