Ordering foreign currency via AAA motor club.

My experience with the Prepaid Vise card is 10% over the exchange rate. That is not a good rate. I doubt if the other services are any better.

No one uses travelers checks anymore, and I wouldn't be interested in the prepaid VISA either because of the fees. I'd also be suspicious of extra fees in ordering money from them, too, even though I am a AAA member.

I checked out AAA a several years ago. Frank's right, their VISA check card is not a good deal. Euro from them is a little more than from Wells Fargo here in Denver, but it was close. If AAA were nearby, I think I would go with them. However, everything changes. Compare their rates for Euro. If you are thinking about their card, READ THE FINE PRINT FIRST. I think you will find that their conversion rates are unbelievable high.

The best way to get local currency is bring your debit card and get cash at an ATM in the airport. I usually pull larger amounts so the fees aren't as bad as a lot of small withdrawals.

You really won't need cash ahead of time and travelers checks are more trouble than they are worth.

The AUto Club is a rip. They do not offer competitive rates and they have this so called "Tip Pack" which is outrageous.

YOu're better off opening a "clean" account with your local credit union and load that account with money dedicated just for traveling.

At the CU YOu get a better rate, can pull out money just like you would with any other bank, and you are also able to access the information online to check on your purchases. If your card is lost/stolen, you call the credit union and the money lost won't affect your primary personal account.

Brad, THE best way to get money is to bring it back from your last trip. But, if you have never been there before, you do not know for sure if your card will work, so it is a good idea to have some local money in your pocket when you land.

BTW, as bank continue to increase their exchange rates and other charges, ATMs are becoming only marginally less expensive than having the cash with you, and in terms of convenience, not as good.

That depends entirely on your bank, Lee. My small local credit union has never charged me anything in addition to the exchange rate on the day I took withdrawals from foreign ATMs. It pays to shop around for a bank/credit union with lower or no fees. I usually take a small amount of euros or whatever with me, but have never had trouble with an ATM card anywhere.

People DO still use Traveler's Checks - when we went to China last year we were advised to buy some as they're accepted when nothing else is. They came in handy, but the interesting thing was we could get better bargains at some places paying in American $ than in Chinese RMB. Also, all the guides wanted their gratuities in American $1 bills.

It does pay to shop around, but I have found that usually bank employees don't know/won't tell what the bank charges. If you really press them, they should be able to find a printout of charges on their intranet. Biggest thing is whether the bank deals in foreign currency. If they don't, the have to accept the 1% the network charges for the transaction, including currency exchange. If they do deal in foreign currency, they will pay the network in Euro, charge you a lesser transaction fee (0.6%), then add their own currency conversion fee of 3% or more.

And, in the past I HAVE had trouble with cards over there. Last trip the first two didn't work when I arrived. Fortunately I had a third (how many people do?). Also, intelligently, I always start with some cash, just in case?

According to a recent article in The Seattle Times, the AAA card is not the way to go:

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/travel/2003907603_pucci30.html

or http://tinyurl.com/yrsjkz