Travelex or AAA Card?

Use neither.

I wouldn't use either one, but I especially wouldn't use Travelex.

Neither -- search this site. There was a long discussion here within the past month. Fees are in the range of 8 to 10% -- many hidden so that you really don't see the fees. The cheapest, safest, and most convenient way to obtain currency is the use of a debit card at an ATM EVEN if your card charges you the standard 3% fee and much better if it is less.

AAA charges 3% for foreign currency transactions plus a $3.00 international ATM withdrawal fee. Other fees are avoidable. That beats Wells Fargo's 3% plus $5.00 withdrawal fee. However, AAA may charge up to $14.95 for the card with no reload fees, adding 1.5% to a $1000 card. I did not test my local club's claim that they charged nothing for the card. What does your local club charge? http://www.aaa.com/AAA/999/sycs/TMVTMTerms.pdf If I had to choose one of the cards I would choose AAA. Here is a link to a recent Travelex thread: http://www.ricksteves.com/graffiti/helpline/index.cfm/rurl/topic/58732/travelex-prepaid-debit.html

"AAA charges 3% for foreign currency transactions plus a $3.00 international ATM withdrawal fee." If you withdraw $500 at a time, that's 3.6%. "AAA may charge up to $14.95 for the card with no reload fees, adding 1.5%" Now we are up to 5.1%. Wells Fargo's 3% + $5 is about 4%. MY Wells Fargo account gives me two free European ATM withdrawals a month. My Firstbank account charges me 1.4% per ATM withdrawal. What does AAA Travelex card charge?

My AAA club charges $4 for the Visa debit card. At $3 plus 3% international ATM withdrawal, it is even with Wells Fargo's $5 plus 3% after two withdrawals.

Why do people still use these ridiculous prepaid travel cards??? Get an ATM card from your local credit union and put money in the account. It just can't get an simpler.