Leaving on Monday!!! AHHHH!!! Must stay calm

Quick answers, based on my habits and experiences:

You don't need enough money for two days, just enough to get you to your hotel, get dinner, etc., on your first day. I use an ATM when I get to my destination for that (one connected to a bank, not a currency exchange).

I do bring a hundred or so in US currency as an emergency backup but have never (repeat NEVER) needed it because of an ATM problem.

When I use the ATM I just put my money in my pocket or purse until I'm in a secure location. There are security cameras everywhere, so I'm not worried about someone hanging around the ATM to rob me. And many ATMs are in booths that you can lock behind you if you are on the street. A normal amount of vigilance is all you need to be safe most places. And if it doesn't feel/look safe to you, wait till you get somewhere that does.

First...relax. If you are a perfectionist you are in deep trouble. As many of us know, no trip goes 100% as planned. Or at least it's very rare.

Don't change money at JFK or any change bureau anywhere. The rates are ridiculous. Bring some extra US dollars in your moneybelt and when you land in London, find a bank ATM and use it. (There are plenty of them.)

When I withdraw money from the ATM, I put it in my pocket and keep very aware of it until I can put it in my moneybelt. It's my next step after getting the money.

Don't withdraw money from the ATM every day. Many banks add on fees for using ATM's. So the notion of keeping emergency euros (which are no good in London anyway since they don't use Euros) is strange since you should keep all your money, except the amount you need that day, in your moneybelt. (A backpack is not a safe place for cash.)

Have you notified your bank(s) regarding your credit cards and debit cards that you are going to Europe? If not, they may not allow your cards to be used for fear of fraudulent use. If you haven't called, do it now. Most are open on weekends.

After we retrieved our luggage, we head to the ATM and each pull our daily maximum. We (you may laugh) stuff the money in our bras and head to the nearest rest room. We each take out enough for our taxi and hotel, etc., and stash the rest in our money belt.

Relax and stay alert. You will be just fine. Enjoy your trip.

Wow, are you a bunch of nerves!!! We leave Monday also. We are completely packed, will spend some time attending to a few small details, have a nice relaxing dinner tonight with son and girl friend. Not sure what we will do tomorrow.

We general take about 150 Euro saved from the last trip. I, personally, think it is good to have a 100+ of local currency when you land. One less thing to worry about. Get it a JFK when you are not pressed for time. You will pay a high fee but at this date that is about all you can do.

We also carry about 200 US dollars for emergency. Two 100 dollar bills. Over the years, have never had to use it.

Of course, you immediately find some place secure and put you money away. I general scout that out prior to getting the money. Most of the time it is a restroom. I have heard of people in the US being mugged at ATMs and I am sure the same could happen in Europe although I have not heard of it in Europe. BUT -- I always use ATMs in high traffic areas, mid-day, and hopefully attached to a bank. Sometimes the ATM is in a small room with locked doors. You use your card to unlock the door, step in and the doors locks behind you.

Relax, most of Europe is probably safer than NY city.

Anneris, when I'm at the ATM, I take my card out of my money belt, withdraw the Euros and put everything (including the Euros) back into the moneybelt there at the ATM. That's where it's safe. No one is going to go into my money belt. My husband, of course, is around me. I also sent you a PM. Have fun on your trip.

As for telling your bank, at least one of mine has a customer service number on the back of the card. I went to my bank in person to inform them, and they just said, "Call the number on your card". The other bank accepted my telling them in person, but there is probably also a number on the card that I could call. I think those numbers are "manned" 24/7.

So, if you haven't yet told your bank, see if they have a number on the card to call.

Anneris,

Relax, everything will be fine. However, as Frank II mentioned, it's a good idea to expect that not everything will go according to plan.

Regarding the money, I normally have funds left over from previous trips, so have £100 / €100 to last me for a day or so. That covers meals, rail or Taxi to the Hotel and other "incidentals". Once I get settled at the Hotel, I find the nearest ATM and get more cash.

As I travel alone, I'd never access my Money Belt "in public" as that would not only reveal it's location but also it's presence. After making a withdrawal at an ATM/Cashpoint, I normally put the cash in a somewhat secure location in an inside pocket until I can get back to the Hotel.

Happy travels!

Relax, relax, relax! I agree with Frank (or is it Frank II, I forget). You can't anticipate and plan for everything. And you don't need to. Just enjoy yourself, and realize that of all the thousands (or is it millions?) of people who travel to Europe every year, for the vast majority, everything goes smoothly, if not exactly the way they may have planned.

And there are infinitely more ATMs in London than there are pick-pockets. Just use the same caution you would use at home.

We returned 2 weeks ago from Ireland. We were advised on various web sights to take some cash; 50 dollar bills minted after 2004 (they say they will be easier to get rid of than 100's since there is so much conterfeiting of US 100's overseas). We exchanged the 50's at major banks for euros for $1.45/euro. On our credit card statement the exchange rate was $1.43/euro plus 1% transaction fee. Our bank statement showed that the ATM rate was $1.42, plus a $1.00 fee for each cash withdrawl, no matter the amount. We checkedtThe exchange rate at PDX and JFK and it was $1.65/euro and at Shannon $1.55/euro. In our experience, not much difference between banks, CC, or ATM; but would definitely stay away from exchange booths in airports if possible. Dan

Breathe. Bon Voyage.