Travelers checks or plastic

Definitely not traveler's checks - they're on their way out if they're not already gone, and the exchange fee is hideous anyway. If your credit card has international usage fees (check with your cc company to find out), it's best to use it sparingly or for large purchases. Capital One has no international fees. I bring some local currency with me and use an ATM card for cash. For credit, I bring my Capital One Visa card and another card for backup.

Sarah's spot on with her response. TC's are now dinosaurs. Buon viaggio.

Without question -- cash with a debit card. Check around to find cards that do not charge currency conversion fees that can be as high as 3%. Europe is more cash oriented than the US and you will often receive a discount for using cash especially at hotels. 5% discount for cash is not uncommon.

It's a slam-dunk: NO traveler's checks, YES to plastic! In addition to what others have already mentioned, understand that American Express is not as widely accepted - you'll want to stick with MasterCard and Visa.

In 2003 all my money was in travelers checks and no one would cash them. Finally found a bank way into the trip that cashed them but they took a picture of my passport and would not cash all of them, never used them since. Definitely plastic, I prefer debit, but make sure you notify your bank/credit union of your trip. I've had that shut off too.

Glen, As the others have mentioned, Traveller's Cheques are not a good idea. Even if you could find someplace to cash them, the fees would be horrendous. In my case, I've cashed my last Traveller's Cheque! The best method for obtaining cash is with an ATM card. One thing to note is that your travel funds must usually be in a chequing account with a four-number PIN. I would highly recommend taking along a "backup" ATM card, in case of any problems with the primary card (I know that from personal experience). At least one credit card, either Visa or MasterCard is also a good idea for "unexpected expenses" or whatever. One other thing to consider is packing along some travel funds in the destination currency, to use during the trip until you get settled in your first location. Happy travels!

My boyfriend's mom flew down to Florida from Rhode Island last year to visit us. We were at a nice & expensive restaurant. She asks the server, "do you take travelers checks?". The server replies, "what is a travelers check?". In my 6 years of European travel, I have never seen anyone use them.

The only thing I would change about Sarah's response is traveler's checks aren't "on their way out", they are gone. They are so hard to use, I can't imagine anyone choosing them. Credit cards will cover a lot of your transportation, big hotels, shopping at big stores, etc. Credit card fees are set by your bank. Some are pretty exhorbitant and others are quite reasonable. We use a Capital One card for traveling because of it's fee structure (but I reshop fees before every international trip because they can change any time). For small businesses (e.g. cafes, corner stands, small hotels, etc.) be ready to pay cash. A debit card with a Visa/MC logo will allow you to use virtually any ATM in Europe (and they are everywhere). Your daily limit is set by your bank. Normally it's $500 per day (about $350 Euros, depending on the current exchange rate). The daily limit normally resets at midnite at your bank's headquarters (not midnite local in Europe). ATM fees are also set by your bank - bank ATM's in Europe don't charge a fee like you see here in the US. Depending on your bank, your fees can be exhorbitant or reasonable. Our bank was taken over by Wells Fargo so we inherited their awful fees - and opened a travel account with USAA so we could use ATM's more reasonably.

FORGET traveler's checks. If you find a place to cash them the process can take 45 minutes to an hour. Use an ATM card at a bank for cash as you need it. I only use it at a bank during business hours, so if there is a problem I can go inside for help. Generally, we use credit cards for our hotels and nothing else. Buon viaggio,

Well, it sounds like travelers checks would be safer. You can't use them, a thief can't use them-you'll just end up bringing them back home. That's pretty safe!

We have always found ATM, debit or visacards easiest in Italy. Keep in mind that like everything in Italy, the ATMs can be quirky, sometimes they'll only give you 50 at a time. Make sure your ATM or debit card works in Europe, check with your bank, we had one card that we couldn't use at all.

Brad, your mom sounds like a handful LOL! Between the luggage issues, the Diner's club 'attempt' (kudos - very sneaky!), and now (because I just know she's reading this now - "Hi, Mom!"), travelers checks!!! Good luck...;-) Glen - has everybody answered your question LOL?!? I'll just add: to reiterate, take VISA and MC as opposed to relying solely on AMEX - not as widely accepted in Europe. Take two ATM/debit cards; occasionally one just won't work and one will, even if both are on the same account...Be Sure to let your banks know when and where you'll be in Europe; otherwise, none of your cards will work! Re-check with your banks 1 week before your departure date...just trust me on that one...Make large withdrawals every few days as opposed to several small ones - it'll cost you less in fees. Carry that extra 'deep storage' cash in your moneybelt (along with your credit cards) and keep a day's spending money in your wallet.

On the lighter side, my mom would probably bring traveler's checks. I'm convinced it's her way to keep from paying. We were out to lunch with a group once. My mom offered to pick up the tab. When it came time to pay she asked, "Do you take Diner's Club?" which of course is almost never accepted in Europe. I ended up paying. To this day I swear it's her way of not picking up the check but she swears it isn't. I laugh about it every time I think about it, so I guess it was a good investment. And yes, for security you probably can't beat traveler's checks - not even thieves will take them.

On my last three trips to Italy, we used cash, cash, cash. The exchange rate wasn't as bad and we got discounts for using cash at the hotels.
Do notify your bank or credit union and provide them with the dates of your travel for both debit/atm cards and also for all credit cards. It is also a good idea to make a copy of both sides of all cards that you will be bringing with you and leaving the copy at home with someone. Bring a list of the cards with you with the customer service number in case you lose your card.

Brad, I thought you were talking about my mother in law, who is long gone. Except her card of choice was the Discover Card. We once took her on vacation for a week -- airfare, rental car, and house rental -- and she brought along $20.00. So, we ended up buying all her food, too. Charles Schwab has a debit card that refunds all foreign transaction fees. You have to open a money market to get the card. I keep this card and use it only for foreign travel. (Of course, I use a card that gives me miles all the rest of the year!)