Conversations about money

[dancerjodi]

This post http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2009/02/23/outside-looking-in-how-others-view-our-spending/ gets into discussions with friends about money and the 'you can't have it all' idea.

We have now paid for our Italy trip in full. How do you traveler's decide what to bring for spending/meals/entertainment? Some of our meals and tickets are included in the package, though not all of them are.

Comments

[fidgetmonster.livejournal.com]

Check with your credit & debit card companies about their fees on international currency purchases. some use the daily exchange rate, some tack on a percentage. and if you think you already know, check again; that's one of the new ways they're recouping money is by upping those fees. if none of your cards offer anything reasonable, then shop around for a better alternative. travelers checks are a little antiquated, but they still work. i'm wondering if the pre-paid amex card has a transaction fee--i'd look at what they offer anyway--they try to keep up on convenient options for travelers, and if you have problems there is usually a store in a foreign city that you can go in. (like you lose the card). there is another alternative to traveler's checks--something new--but i'm drawing a blank right now. maybe someone else will suggest it, or i'll remember later.

I have no idea how this works, but I used to go into a bank, hand the teller my debit card and ask for X amount of money from it. I never got charged transaction fees that way. YMMV by bank.