Show Me the Money

On my recent trip to Germany, I found myself spending a lot of time looking for ATM machines. I'm normally the money-carrying member of the family, mainly because I own a collection of money belts and pouches that dates back to, well, never mind.

I usually pay cash for food and lodging in Europe, but you'll find that many places do take credit cards. In my experience, though, merchants and innkeepers in smaller towns generally prefer cash - and they don't mean dollars. These days, the easiest way to exchange money in Europe is to use your ATM card.

When you use an ATM card, the machine dispenses local currency. Your account back home is charged in dollars (or pounds, or whatever), and a transaction fee is deducted from your account. Using an ATM card is faster and easier than exchanging travelers checks, and you don't have to worry about finding a bank or communicating with a teller.

Many travelers choose to carry a combination of cash and plastic. Each payment method has its pros and cons, so it's a good idea to consider all your payment options before leaving home.

Photo © Arturo Delfin