Money!!!!Money!!!Money!!! - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

janderson · 04-16-2007, 12:52 PM

What is the best way to go about handling money when going into europe??? Is it best to take cash(for example the dollar) over and exchange when you arrive. Or is it better to Pull out cash at the atm??? I was wondering too...the same thing for when exchanging Pounds for Euro, and when going into other countries such as czech and switzerland??? Does this make sense???....

**Canadian Bacon** · 04-16-2007, 04:03 PM

I did both... took our some pounds and euros in advance, but only some.

I took out money from the ATM mostly, not in huge amounts in case u get robbed, but large enough so ATM fees don't also rob me.

I even took a few US travellers cheques in my money belt... so all methods are good.

Just keep ur money hidden most of the time in ur moneybelt, and put what u need in ur wallet.

CB

janderson · 04-16-2007, 11:29 PM

Is a money belt a must or can you get by with keeping cash in your front pockets??

HEWSINATOR · 04-17-2007, 12:13 AM

Most people seem to think of money belts only as protection from pickpockets, but it also serves the other purpose (less likely of course) of letting one keep an amount to satisfy a stick up man in a wallet. You always want to be able to give a guy enough to make him happy to get away fast and not enough to cripple you. So, long story short, I think you want a belt to wear when you first took out that 500 Euros, but may not need to use it when you are down to 100.

**marc873** · 04-17-2007, 06:46 AM

I always take some of the local currency with me for arrival, then just use the ATM's as I go. Firm believer in a moneybelt, passport,airticks (all in a ziplock), most of the ATM money, and then I carry a bullshit wallet with expired credit cards, about 20 in mixed bills, that if need be i would be willing to lose. Don't ever plan on having to use it though

**Canadian Bacon** · 04-17-2007, 09:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HEWSINATOR

So, long story short, I think you want a belt to wear when you first took out that 500 Euros, but may not need to use it when you are down to 100.

EXACTOMUNDO! Yeah Moneybelt is a good idea... especially when those professional gypsie kids can unzip your cargopants take our your mony and zip it back up in like 1 second...

**Canadian Bacon** · 04-17-2007, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HEWSINATOR

So, long story short, I think you want a belt to wear when you first took out that 500 Euros, but may not need to use it when you are down to 100.

EXACTOMUNDO!

Yeah Moneybelt is a good idea... especially when those professional gypsie kids can unzip your cargopants take our your mony and zip it back up in like 1 second...

**DC_Jessica** · 04-17-2007, 11:31 AM

I rely on my money belt to ensure that I'm the only thing I need. So if anything else gets stolen, bag, clothes (, what have you, my return ticket, passport, spare cash is strapped to my body. (Please do yourself the favor that I didn't, however, and try not to make it look like your midsection is bulge-y if you're traveling through security checkpoints - yoy!)

And I ALWAYS use the ATM. Money-changers are the dregs of the earth!!

Article:
The Misworn Money Belt: Or, What Not to Do on Your Summer Vacation
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...041300642.html