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Holiday to Greece
cerbera - 19/7/13 at 06:51 AM

Off to the sunny isle of Kos shortly and instead of taking travel money I ususally just take cash out of the ATM.

Just thinking about the finantial crisis that's going on over there at the moment, is not taking cash / travellers cheques a silly idea or have people been recently and been okay withdrawing from ATMs?

TimC - 19/7/13 at 07:14 AM

Good Question. Booked to go last night.

Mr Whippy - 19/7/13 at 07:30 AM

The most important thing is to remember to bring a collapsible wheel barrow to carry the cash for your loaf of bread

r1_pete - 19/7/13 at 08:09 AM

No problems with Cash machines in Corfu last month, hopefully none in Zakynthos in Sept.

I found prices had dropped quite a lot from 2012.

If you generally use credit cards in restraunts, be careful as a lot have stopped accepting them, no prizes for guessing why.....

Smoking Frog - 19/7/13 at 08:16 AM

Maybe I'm missing something but the euro will still buy you the same on the day (which may well have been less the day before) weather you take it with you or get cash withdrawals. I would take a few euros with me (300) and use the ATM's. Nice place I liked it, although a bit hot for me.

loggyboy - 19/7/13 at 08:31 AM

Dont most banks charge for using ATMs abroad, and usually offer worse rates? Better off taking the majority of cash with you and sticking it a safe in the room. If you take too much, some places offer buy back at identical rates for a very small charge (£3 IIRC).

cerbera - 19/7/13 at 08:46 AM

Thanks for the answers guys.

quote:
Originally posted by loggyboy
Dont most banks charge for using ATMs abroad, and usually offer worse rates? Better off taking the majority of cash with you and sticking it a safe in the room. If you take too much, some places offer buy back at identical rates for a very small charge (£3 IIRC).


I use the Halifax clarity card and they don't charge for cash withdrawals abroad although they do charge interest on cash withdrawals from the day of withdrawal. That said, I pay my bill as soon as I get home and usually only get charged a couple of quid interest. Plus you get bank exchange rates instead of travellers which is, according to Martin Lewis, better.

[Edited on 19/7/13 by cerbera]

cryoman1965 - 19/7/13 at 10:10 AM

I have a pre load card. FX Card. You pre load the card with euros before you go so the rate is already paid. We never got charged at an atm although it was in Tenerife. Other pre pay cards are available. Google top ten prepay for what's around. Getting one is a quick process. Hth Nigel

olimarler - 19/7/13 at 10:20 AM

quote:
Originally posted by r1_pete
No problems with Cash machines in Corfu last month, hopefully none in Zakynthos in Sept.

I found prices had dropped quite a lot from 2012.

If you generally use credit cards in restraunts, be careful as a lot have stopped accepting them, no prizes for guessing why.....


I'm out in Zakynthos at my mates place.

Got cash out no problem at all.

If you want any recommendations where to go drop me a PM

Have a fun one

Agriv8 - 19/7/13 at 12:33 PM

quote:
Originally posted by cryoman1965
I have a pre load card. FX Card. You pre load the card with euros before you go so the rate is already paid. We never got charged at an atm although it was in Tenerife. Other pre pay cards are available. Google top ten prepay for what's around. Getting one is a quick process. Hth Nigel


Another fan here of this method but edit to add you can top up online after SWMBO has decided to hit the shops ! We did bet charged with this in france last year at supermarket cash machines.


ATB agriv8

David Jenkins - 21/7/13 at 09:07 AM

I'm off to Italy at the end of the week - looking at a few currency exchange sites they're warning that traveller's cheques aren't welcome in several European countries, including Italy. Can't remember the others, but it's a fair bet that it'll be those that are in financial difficulty at the moment (Italy, Spain, Greece, etc.)

cerbera - 25/7/13 at 10:47 AM

Now in sunny Kos and can confirm no problems in using the ATM's, thankfully or else I'd have no money
The ATM's just seem to few and far between at the moment.