How do you handle money while in Europe?

I usually just use my ATM card rather than deal with exchanging currency or using travelers checks. But my friend is now telling me that there is a steep fee for doing this, but I don't remember ever incurring a fee before? I thought the ATM was the best way to go... now I'm confused and I'm leaving for Paris in a week. Anyone know about this?

Re: How do you handle money while in Europe?

i think you actually get a better exchange rate.

Re: How do you handle money while in Europe?

Check with your bank before you go. My bank charged less for ATM fees (or comparable) to travelers checks. There was no fee to use my debit or CC. So we charged what we could and got money from the ATMs the rest of the time.

Re: How do you handle money while in Europe?

use the ATM's...you get the best rate that way, however your bank might charge you a fee. Also, credit cards in stores.

Re: How do you handle money while in Europe?

We found if we had to use our ATM in Europe that the fees were high, but check with your bank. You will get a better exchange rate by using them. Also, try to use your credit card for most things.

Re: How do you handle money while in Europe?

We've used CC - better exchange rate.

I would think the only fees you would incur by using your ATM card would be from your bank. Check with them.

Re: How do you handle money while in Europe?

We just got back from Europe last week. We go abroad a few times a year and never thought to do any research on this.

Before this trip, I called our banks and CCs and got the lowdown.

-Amex had a 2% fee... that was it. That was the best choice.
-Both Visa and Mastercard had a 3% fee
-One of our banks had a $5 international fee to w/d PLUS the "outside of network ATM" fee which was $2
-The other bank just charged us the $2 fee for not using their atm. We w/d cash from that.

All of the exchange rates for cards are obviously better than the places you go in person to exchange.

I dont know anyone that uses travelers checks anymore, they seem ancient!

Message edited 9/27/2007 10:21:39 AM.

Re: How do you handle money while in Europe?

I always use my atm card to take money out of my account when I get there..... Well most of the time anyway. I'm lucky enough that my in-laws are dual citizens in Greece and we also give them cash sometimes , they put it in their account , and give us the Euro.... But for any other normal person, atm is the way to go!!!!

PS.... be prepared ... the dollar just recently lost even more value... This past summer, I turned in $1000.00 and only got back 700 euro . It is insane!!!!!

Re: How do you handle money while in Europe?

if you have an amex card you can go to amex travel services and get some euro before you go.. you should have a few euro (or whatever currency where you are gonig) when you land, just in case.

I did get a few amex travel checques in euro as well, mostly used the cc to get the best exchange rate.

Re: How do you handle money while in Europe?

I usually CC as much as possible. I used ATMs too. It was cheaper than going to those exchange booth.

Be careful with an Amex CC. They are not taken every where. Less than in the US. I would stick to Visa or Mastercard.