traveler's checks

Oh yes, I will definitely notify the banks ahead of time. However, I am hearing more and more people complaining about their cards being rejected in Europe even AFTER notifying the banks.

No, they don't. You would have great difficulty just finding anywhere willing to take them. ATM's - always. Have more than one card. Be sure you know the pass-codes, and notify each card company before you depart. Even if you do, it is possible that they may put a hold on your card by accident (due to foreign charges) so be prepared to call them and chew them out if you have to. But we have used our cards in machines all over Europe and very rarely encounter any trouble.

The last time I used Traveler's Checks in Europe was 2000. They were in US Dollars, and I had to find banks to cash them. One bank, in a small town, charged my 4% plus a flat fee. The other bank, in Berchtesgaden, charged me 6% plus a fee. I also had with me some Checks in German Mark. The Pension took them, but they cost me 6% to get (5% foreign exch plus 1% for Am Ex). Since then I've used ATMs exclusively. ATMs are everywhere, and it costs me 1%-3%, sometimes nothing.

Just curious. . . if your cell phone doesn't work in Europe, do you call the bank in the U.S. from your hotel? I haven't had to call anyone from Europe at all, so I guess that's what I'd have to do.

For a one-time type of call, get a prepaid calling card from the European version of a convenience store and use a pay phone. They are getting harder to find, but they are still around.

There's a good chance that any business or lodging that is anxiously waiting for your credit card to be accepted would be happy to let you use their phone. Also - on a RS tour you would have access to a phone from the tour guide as well as several of the other travelers who either have the right kind of phone plans or have Skype.

TC's aren't worth the paper they are printed on anymore and yes FAR easier to obtain cash from ATM'S. Did you purchase the RS book on Europe? Many of the answers to your posts are addressed in his practical and informational prose. Curious why are you calling your bank from Europe? You should be calling them before your depart to let them know your are traveling.

Barbara, I agree with the others - Traveller's Cheques are an antiquated relic of the past, and not something I'd recommend these days. You'd likely find it difficult cashing them and as Lee mentioned there would be substantial fees charged for the "privilege". Using ATM's is by far the easiest method. You'll have to check with your financial institution to determine whether your Cards will be accepted in Europe, and also what fees you'll be paying. Check the back of your ATM card to find out which "partner Banks" are listed (ie: Cirrus, Maestro, etc.). One other point to note is that your travel funds must usually be in a chequing account with a four-number PIN. You may find it helpful to watch This Short Video on the subject. It's a bit "dated", but still relevant. As I may have mentioned, I would highly recommend packing along a "backup" ATM card, preferably on a different account or a different Bank. If you're not able to phone your Bank when in Europe, you may want to arrange for a trusted family member or friend to transfer funds for you if necessary (ie: from an account that you find doesn't work to one that does work in Europe). Also take at least one credit card. If you take two credit cards, you could "pre-load" one with funds so you wouldn't have to pay expensive "cash advance" charges. Visa and MasterCard are the most widely accepted. Cheers!

I am chiming in with the others to say that traveller's checks are antiquated and using the ATM is a much better solution, and raising you a personal anecdote: Three years ago my mother, aunt and cousin were in Paris for a couple of days when my husband and I were there. We ran into them by chance one morning as they were on their way to Versailles. My cousin had just left my mother and aunt at a cafe while he "ran to American Express to cash in a few old traveler's checks." He expected to be about 30 minutes. My husband and I went on our way. About 4 hours later we were back on the Rue de Rivoli, and were shocked to see my mother and aunt - at a different cafe - nursing yet another expensive cafe creme and still waiting for my cousin to return! Long story short - the first Amex office he went to was closed. He went to an internet cafe and googled some other places to cash the checks. The second one he tried was closed. The third one had discontinued that service. In dispair, he went to a big department store and attempted to make a purchase and get the change for the largest check in cash. He was basically laughed out of the joint. Now it was 4 hours later, he had walked miles, and they never made it to Versailles. Yes, horrible planning on my cousin's part, but also a cautionary tale. :-)

Oh Kira,, how terrible .. Barbara, I used ATMs with no issue. In France I purchased a prepaid phone card, it was 7.5 euros for so many minutes, don't remember how many, but more then enough for me. On the tour I used the phone at the hotel in Wengen, something everyone warns you not to do because it will be so expensive. It cost me 6 euros to call home and chat very briefly.. not so bad I thought for a hotel call. Travellers checks,, last time I used them was in Hawaii ,, in 1995.

Traveler's Checks: not since about 1990 in Hawaii. We go to Europe every summer and use a DEBIT card tied to a CHECKING ACCOUNT at a local credit union plus another debit card from another financial institution as a back up, only having to use the back up once in the last ten years.
Be sure to tell your debit card institution the dates of your travel and the places you will be visiting, before you go.

My mother still uses Travellers Checks. In both 2009 and 2011, she cashed them at banks in Germany, Vienna and Budapest. Maybe she has the luck of the Irish, but each time, she was able to cash them at the first bank she walked into. Personally I would never bother with them; ATMs are so much easier and convenient.
But, if YOU prefer travellers checks, you will be able to cash them.

My bank doesn't even sell them anymore! I askded because I was trying to send a deposit for an apartment.

I cashed my last travelers check in 1991. It was possible then to use a bank card with cirrus or plus to get cash from foreign ATM's.

Barbara, If your itinerary includes going to Munich and seeing or staying in the area of the Viktualienmarkt, a Thomas Cook office is located there where your traveler's checks can be cashed. I haven't used a traveler's check since 1992 but still have them with me when traveling.

Banks in Germany will not cash Travelers Checks any more. The only place to cash them are the money exchanges located at the airport and some large train stations. One will pay a hefty fee for this, plus get a crappy exchange rate.

That's not entirely accurate. Reisebank (German)continues to offer and cash American Express Travellers Checks.

Reisebank is not a bank, these are the Money Exchanges, located in the airport, train stations and a few other locations.

I agree that Traveler's checks are worthless; I assume they'll be gone in a few more years. A few years ago I had bought 100 Euros in Amex checks to send to France for a deposit, then wound up not sending them. So while in France I tried to use them to pay for something, and no one wanted them. So I went to a bank, but they said they would only take them for an existing customer, but suggested I try the post office. They did cash them, for a significant fee.

@Barbara,
You asked what to do if you have a problem with one of your cards. Before my trip, I ALWAYS get the number for AT&T USA Direct for the country I'm going to (using their website). This is a toll-free number connecting you to a live English-speaking operator. Then, you make a collect call to your card, using the non-800 number on the back. These numbers are specifically for this purpose (being reached from outside the US) and have a policy of accepting collect calls. This is also why I have a record, separate from the cards themselves, of the non-800 numbers; if the card is lost, I can call the bank or credit card company. Nowadays, I program the relevant numbers into my cell phone. Of course, just like in the US, the toll-free numbers are not free from a cell phone, but use minutes, so it's better to use a land line. Having these numbers ready to use is especially important now that we're all so dependent on our credit and debit cards. I only actually had to do it once, when I arrived in Spain to realize I had forgotten to call all my card companies before my trip. Luckily, they didn't block my first ATM withdrawal, and then I called them before I needed other transactions. Note that the AT&T USA Direct program will also allow you to make non-collect calls, but these cost a fortune compared to other methods.