about ATM machines

I think the secret is to have a number of options available. I've had my ATM card refused tons of time - thus the VISA and the Mastercard and the stash of cash for emergencies and the old travellers cheques just in case :) And the other this is never wait till your desperate.

I lived 14 months in the US with my pay check still deposited to my US account. I used the ATM regularly - 5.00 US from my bank and nothing from the UAE bank. I found that my card sometimes didn't work with Islamic banks - but tended to work with most others (whether international or not).

I haven't converted currency since 1999 when I had US hundreds and couldn't find anyone who would exchange them from francs (pre-Euro). Since then I rely mostly on ATMS (I carry two from different banks in case one got eaten) and also a credit card.

I had no problem. The biggest issue was in Lebanon where both our room and our driver were cashed based. I was taking cash out of our account almost every day and was afraid I would get a fraud alert - but it ended up fine.

Take a look at a calendar exult, this is 2007. TCs and soon cash as well, are going the way of the Dodo. Credit card for purchases and Debit card for cash at the ATM are the way to travel these days.

Rorygemwriter, cash those TCs in TODAY!!!! Do you realize that your £800 earning 5% in interest would be £1072 today? That's £272 you've thrown away by holding on to those TCs.

I now just use plastic. The trick is to speak to your bank before you leave and work out what fees and exchange rates they apply. I don't think the local banks also add their charge other than perhaps a small automatic teller machine charge, but maybe I'm naive. The fees from my bank were extortionate - but after considering the TC commission fees and the convenience I went with the plastic.

I would still take a few 100 euro with you - Morocco will certainly have a good street rate for Euros- given the trade with Spain - good clean, new notes are always preferred

Wayworn 1 you are quite correct. It's been a case of my inertia. I need to cash the cheques and invest the money. I might save one but frankly it is almost certainly no longer worth it.

Regards Rory

OP, I fully agree with you re. your reservations. That means that I also prefer to take with me cash and TC. There are still several recently visited countries who are not familiar (at all) with plastic money and where changing cash and / or TC is very common. At some countries, the plastic money I use, is even useless, meaning I am only able to exchange cash and TC.

Take care,

K.

Just a test to see how this message appears when posted.

Ah, it's as I thought. If you click on the little 'reply' icon to the right of a response by someone, then your reply shows as being directed to them.

It isn't very handy though that when you are writing your reply, the response you are responding to is down below the window where you are entering your reply. So you can't look at it as you compose your comments. Nor can you see any of the other comments on the thread at all. NOT GOOD in my opinion.