Help: Travelers Checks or

Travelers checks (even if you get them in euro or UK pounds)have pretty much become obsolete in Europe- I believe he would have more trouble finding places that would willingly take them and more trouble (and fees) having to go to banks or exchanges to do so. When my daughter traveled as a high school student I got her a credit card through Capital One- you might check if they still offer them to teens. (He should take two credit cards, in case one doesn't work.)He should also religiously wear a money belt, and take out cash as needed from ATMs for daily spending as you describe. Also, although it costs a little more, I always order some foreigh currency ahead of time- although a lot of people swear by waiting until the airport ATM upon arrival.

Thanks for the tips! I will pass the information along.

I knew there was a better alternative to the travelers checks these days but my brother said some of his friends were bringing them... so I decided to do some research.

I use my credit card (hotel costs usually) when I go overseas and use an ATM card to gain extra cash. Im just not sure what his options are because he is a minor. I'm assuming we would need to check on the age restrictions on a credit card. We just want to keep things relatively hassle free for him.

Thanks again... Patty

I'd definitely vote for the travel card. It makes your brother independent of bank opening hours which vary from country to country, day to day and chain to chain. The "euro-cheque" system was dissolved four years ago because nobody used checks in Europe anyways (we've been doing direct credit or debit for decades) so I wouldn't expect ANY shop to accept travelers checks anymore anyway.

I took a group of high school girls to Europe and the ONLY options I allowed were Debit cards, credit cards and the VisaTravel. I think 90% of them had the Visa card. It had the advantage of allowing the parents to reload it. They used it without any problem, but there is a transaction charge so rather then using it at small vendors, tell him to get cash out of an ATM. (Give him a class first, I had to train my girls at Victoria Station in London, I am amazed we weren't robbed!) Some of my parents who knew thier daughters suffer from "shopping disorders" actually only put a portion of thier avaialble funds on the card at a time to make sure they had money at the end of the trip.