Foreign Currency

How many people use travellers cheques when travelling abroad these days? Are they still being used, or do people just take their cards and go to the cash point every time, to get their Euros?

Do people think that the charges made for foreign currency on cards are fair?

Being in the Euro area, I do not have to worry about exchange rates. When it comes to paying for things in resort, I tend to use the credit card and ATM card. In my view, charges are reasonable and certainly a hell of a lot better than in the past when the banks, both at home and abroad, routinely ripped off tourists with outrageous transaction charges.

I think we had a thread recently about the euro, and some people moaned about the charges applied for using UK bank cards in Europe. However, I am happy to do whatever is easiest for me personally, and that usually involved having about £100 in cash in euros on me when I travel, and taking my ATM card to take more cash out as and when needed, and having the back up of a credit card in case of emregencies or essential purchases. I have to admit I buy my lift pass on credit card, so I can pay for it next month! The charges applied to my account are not significant, although I do understand some banks do apply stiffer charges for using their cards in Europe.
Ideally, I'd like to see UK banks stop charging for this, but they probably wont whilst we are still on sterling as they will n doubt claim there is an admin fee for currency conversion....

When I did my season I had the whole lot of my cash in travellers cheques, got a fantastic rate and most places are happy for you to spend them. Wouldn't take them again, cash is more convenient and the Mastercard is good for big spends.