Euro Traveler's Checks
Nov 23rd 2004, 5:45 pm
#31
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Euro Traveler's Checks
Hatunen <[email protected]> wrote:
> [email protected] (Miguel Cruz) wrote:
>> The cheapest place to buy them is usually neither a bank nor the Amex
>> office, but some other organization like AAA.
> If all you are looking at is whether a commission is charged. AmEx charges
> no commission; it compensates by charging an excessive exchange rate.
Where did I say that all I am looking at is whether a commission is charged?
I have been preaching about hidden fees with travelers checks longer than
any poster in rec.travel.europe, including you.
>> But I thought Markku was talking about when the traveler sold them in
>> Europe. Maybe I misunderstood.
> It might be well to look at the original question.
The original question was from someone who wanted to know what it was like
to use Euro travelers checks in Euroland, and what sort of fees he'd have to
pay to do so. The answer is that he will not have to pay any fees at an Amex
office in Euroland. He will already have performed the currency exchange
before he left. He specifically wanted to do that because he was exploring
the idea of betting on the dollar dropping between now and his trip.
miguel
--
Hit The Road! Photos from 32 countries on 5 continents: http://travel.u.nu
> [email protected] (Miguel Cruz) wrote:
>> The cheapest place to buy them is usually neither a bank nor the Amex
>> office, but some other organization like AAA.
> If all you are looking at is whether a commission is charged. AmEx charges
> no commission; it compensates by charging an excessive exchange rate.
Where did I say that all I am looking at is whether a commission is charged?
I have been preaching about hidden fees with travelers checks longer than
any poster in rec.travel.europe, including you.
>> But I thought Markku was talking about when the traveler sold them in
>> Europe. Maybe I misunderstood.
> It might be well to look at the original question.
The original question was from someone who wanted to know what it was like
to use Euro travelers checks in Euroland, and what sort of fees he'd have to
pay to do so. The answer is that he will not have to pay any fees at an Amex
office in Euroland. He will already have performed the currency exchange
before he left. He specifically wanted to do that because he was exploring
the idea of betting on the dollar dropping between now and his trip.
miguel
--
Hit The Road! Photos from 32 countries on 5 continents: http://travel.u.nu
Nov 24th 2004, 8:05 am
#32
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Euro Traveler's Checks
On Wed, 24 Nov 2004 00:45:11 -0600, [email protected] (Miguel Cruz)
wrote:
>Hatunen <[email protected]> wrote:
>> [email protected] (Miguel Cruz) wrote:
>>> The cheapest place to buy them is usually neither a bank nor the Amex
>>> office, but some other organization like AAA.
>> If all you are looking at is whether a commission is charged. AmEx charges
>> no commission; it compensates by charging an excessive exchange rate.
>Where did I say that all I am looking at is whether a commission is charged?
>I have been preaching about hidden fees with travelers checks longer than
>any poster in rec.travel.europe, including you.
Is it a contest? Is there a prize? Are you really sure you would
win?
************* DAVE HATUNEN ([email protected]) *************
* Tucson Arizona, out where the cacti grow *
* My typos & mispellings are intentional copyright traps *
wrote:
>Hatunen <[email protected]> wrote:
>> [email protected] (Miguel Cruz) wrote:
>>> The cheapest place to buy them is usually neither a bank nor the Amex
>>> office, but some other organization like AAA.
>> If all you are looking at is whether a commission is charged. AmEx charges
>> no commission; it compensates by charging an excessive exchange rate.
>Where did I say that all I am looking at is whether a commission is charged?
>I have been preaching about hidden fees with travelers checks longer than
>any poster in rec.travel.europe, including you.
Is it a contest? Is there a prize? Are you really sure you would
win?
************* DAVE HATUNEN ([email protected]) *************
* Tucson Arizona, out where the cacti grow *
* My typos & mispellings are intentional copyright traps *
Nov 25th 2004, 7:51 am
#33
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Euro Traveler's Checks
I've always subscribed to the ATM option for cash while
traveling. However, given the sliding dollar, I begin to
wonder if it might not be smart to buy euro travelers
checks, just to get my euro at present exchange rates,
before the dollar drops even further? Can one even OBTAIN
travelers checks in euro rather than dollars, here in the
U.S.? Aside from the additional hassle of finding places to
cash them, rather than simply using an ATM card, are service
charges for doing so likely to wipe out any advantage
getting them at a lower exchange rate might provide?
traveling. However, given the sliding dollar, I begin to
wonder if it might not be smart to buy euro travelers
checks, just to get my euro at present exchange rates,
before the dollar drops even further? Can one even OBTAIN
travelers checks in euro rather than dollars, here in the
U.S.? Aside from the additional hassle of finding places to
cash them, rather than simply using an ATM card, are service
charges for doing so likely to wipe out any advantage
getting them at a lower exchange rate might provide?
Nov 25th 2004, 8:31 am
#34
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Euro Traveler's Checks
In news:[email protected],
EvelynVogtGamble(Divamanque) <[email protected]> typed:
> I've always subscribed to the ATM option for cash while
> traveling. However, given the sliding dollar, I begin to
> wonder if it might not be smart to buy euro travelers
> checks, just to get my euro at present exchange rates,
> before the dollar drops even further? Can one even OBTAIN
> travelers checks in euro rather than dollars, here in the
> U.S.? Aside from the additional hassle of finding places to
> cash them, rather than simply using an ATM card, are service
> charges for doing so likely to wipe out any advantage
> getting them at a lower exchange rate might provide?
I started this thread a week or so ago, asking almost exactly the
same question. I got convinced not to try to do this, by almost
everyone who replied. You might want to read the previous
messages in the thread.
--
Ken Blake
Please reply to the newsgroup
EvelynVogtGamble(Divamanque) <[email protected]> typed:
> I've always subscribed to the ATM option for cash while
> traveling. However, given the sliding dollar, I begin to
> wonder if it might not be smart to buy euro travelers
> checks, just to get my euro at present exchange rates,
> before the dollar drops even further? Can one even OBTAIN
> travelers checks in euro rather than dollars, here in the
> U.S.? Aside from the additional hassle of finding places to
> cash them, rather than simply using an ATM card, are service
> charges for doing so likely to wipe out any advantage
> getting them at a lower exchange rate might provide?
I started this thread a week or so ago, asking almost exactly the
same question. I got convinced not to try to do this, by almost
everyone who replied. You might want to read the previous
messages in the thread.
--
Ken Blake
Please reply to the newsgroup
Nov 26th 2004, 7:27 am
#35
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Euro Traveler's Checks
Ken Blake wrote:
> In news:[email protected],
> EvelynVogtGamble(Divamanque) <[email protected]> typed:
>
>
>>I've always subscribed to the ATM option for cash while
>>traveling. However, given the sliding dollar, I begin to
>>wonder if it might not be smart to buy euro travelers
>>checks, just to get my euro at present exchange rates,
>>before the dollar drops even further? Can one even OBTAIN
>>travelers checks in euro rather than dollars, here in the
>>U.S.? Aside from the additional hassle of finding places to
>>cash them, rather than simply using an ATM card, are service
>>charges for doing so likely to wipe out any advantage
>>getting them at a lower exchange rate might provide?
>
>
> I started this thread a week or so ago, asking almost exactly the
> same question. I got convinced not to try to do this, by almost
> everyone who replied. You might want to read the previous
> messages in the thread.
Sorry - when I'm away from the computer for a couple of days
at a time, the number of messages to download become so
unwieldly that I often succumb to the temptation to "Mark
all read", rather than attempt to wade through them.
> In news:[email protected],
> EvelynVogtGamble(Divamanque) <[email protected]> typed:
>
>
>>I've always subscribed to the ATM option for cash while
>>traveling. However, given the sliding dollar, I begin to
>>wonder if it might not be smart to buy euro travelers
>>checks, just to get my euro at present exchange rates,
>>before the dollar drops even further? Can one even OBTAIN
>>travelers checks in euro rather than dollars, here in the
>>U.S.? Aside from the additional hassle of finding places to
>>cash them, rather than simply using an ATM card, are service
>>charges for doing so likely to wipe out any advantage
>>getting them at a lower exchange rate might provide?
>
>
> I started this thread a week or so ago, asking almost exactly the
> same question. I got convinced not to try to do this, by almost
> everyone who replied. You might want to read the previous
> messages in the thread.
Sorry - when I'm away from the computer for a couple of days
at a time, the number of messages to download become so
unwieldly that I often succumb to the temptation to "Mark
all read", rather than attempt to wade through them.
Nov 26th 2004, 8:26 am
#36
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Euro Traveler's Checks
In news:[email protected],
EvelynVogtGamble(Divamanque) <[email protected]> typed:
> Ken Blake wrote:
>> In news:[email protected],
>> EvelynVogtGamble(Divamanque) <[email protected]> typed:
>>>I've always subscribed to the ATM option for cash while
>>>traveling. However, given the sliding dollar, I begin to
>>>wonder if it might not be smart to buy euro travelers
>>>checks, just to get my euro at present exchange rates,
>>>before the dollar drops even further? Can one even OBTAIN
>>>travelers checks in euro rather than dollars, here in the
>>>U.S.? Aside from the additional hassle of finding places to
>>>cash them, rather than simply using an ATM card, are service
>>>charges for doing so likely to wipe out any advantage
>>>getting them at a lower exchange rate might provide?
>> I started this thread a week or so ago, asking almost exactly
>> the
>> same question. I got convinced not to try to do this, by
>> almost
>> everyone who replied. You might want to read the previous
>> messages in the thread.
> Sorry - when I'm away from the computer for a couple of days
> at a time, the number of messages to download become so
> unwieldly that I often succumb to the temptation to "Mark
> all read", rather than attempt to wade through them.
No need to apologize. I didn't mean the above as a complaint,
just as advice. You might find something of interest in the
previous messages.
And I well understand marking all as read after being away for I
while. I do the same; newsgroups with as many messages as this
one leave you with little other practical choice.
--
Ken Blake
Please reply to the newsgroup
EvelynVogtGamble(Divamanque) <[email protected]> typed:
> Ken Blake wrote:
>> In news:[email protected],
>> EvelynVogtGamble(Divamanque) <[email protected]> typed:
>>>I've always subscribed to the ATM option for cash while
>>>traveling. However, given the sliding dollar, I begin to
>>>wonder if it might not be smart to buy euro travelers
>>>checks, just to get my euro at present exchange rates,
>>>before the dollar drops even further? Can one even OBTAIN
>>>travelers checks in euro rather than dollars, here in the
>>>U.S.? Aside from the additional hassle of finding places to
>>>cash them, rather than simply using an ATM card, are service
>>>charges for doing so likely to wipe out any advantage
>>>getting them at a lower exchange rate might provide?
>> I started this thread a week or so ago, asking almost exactly
>> the
>> same question. I got convinced not to try to do this, by
>> almost
>> everyone who replied. You might want to read the previous
>> messages in the thread.
> Sorry - when I'm away from the computer for a couple of days
> at a time, the number of messages to download become so
> unwieldly that I often succumb to the temptation to "Mark
> all read", rather than attempt to wade through them.
No need to apologize. I didn't mean the above as a complaint,
just as advice. You might find something of interest in the
previous messages.
And I well understand marking all as read after being away for I
while. I do the same; newsgroups with as many messages as this
one leave you with little other practical choice.
--
Ken Blake
Please reply to the newsgroup
Nov 30th 2004, 3:52 am
#37
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Euro Traveler's Checks
Hatunen <[email protected]> wrote:
> [email protected] (Miguel Cruz) wrote:
>> Hatunen <[email protected]> wrote:
>>> [email protected] (Miguel Cruz) wrote:
>>>> The cheapest place to buy them is usually neither a bank nor the Amex
>>>> office, but some other organization like AAA.
>>> If all you are looking at is whether a commission is charged. AmEx charges
>>> no commission; it compensates by charging an excessive exchange rate.
>> Where did I say that all I am looking at is whether a commission is charged?
>> I have been preaching about hidden fees with travelers checks longer than
>> any poster in rec.travel.europe, including you.
> Is it a contest?
Yes.
> Is there a prize?
Yes.
> Are you really sure you would win?
You haven't been reading the newsletter, have you? The reason I'm not vexing
rec.travel.europe with my nonsense these days is because I'm in the middle
of the all-expenses-paid trip to Amsterdam I already won for "excellence in
the field of preaching about hidden fees with travelers checks longer than
other people."
Anyway, I just found it weird that you would spend so much time berating me
to make a point that you know full well I've been making for years.
miguel
--
Hit The Road! Photos from 32 countries on 5 continents: http://travel.u.nu
> [email protected] (Miguel Cruz) wrote:
>> Hatunen <[email protected]> wrote:
>>> [email protected] (Miguel Cruz) wrote:
>>>> The cheapest place to buy them is usually neither a bank nor the Amex
>>>> office, but some other organization like AAA.
>>> If all you are looking at is whether a commission is charged. AmEx charges
>>> no commission; it compensates by charging an excessive exchange rate.
>> Where did I say that all I am looking at is whether a commission is charged?
>> I have been preaching about hidden fees with travelers checks longer than
>> any poster in rec.travel.europe, including you.
> Is it a contest?
Yes.
> Is there a prize?
Yes.
> Are you really sure you would win?
You haven't been reading the newsletter, have you? The reason I'm not vexing
rec.travel.europe with my nonsense these days is because I'm in the middle
of the all-expenses-paid trip to Amsterdam I already won for "excellence in
the field of preaching about hidden fees with travelers checks longer than
other people."
Anyway, I just found it weird that you would spend so much time berating me
to make a point that you know full well I've been making for years.
miguel
--
Hit The Road! Photos from 32 countries on 5 continents: http://travel.u.nu
Nov 30th 2004, 3:54 am
#38
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Euro Traveler's Checks
EvelynVogtGamble(Divamanque) <[email protected]> wrote:
> I've always subscribed to the ATM option for cash while
> traveling. However, given the sliding dollar, I begin to
> wonder if it might not be smart to buy euro travelers
> checks, just to get my euro at present exchange rates,
> before the dollar drops even further? Can one even OBTAIN
> travelers checks in euro rather than dollars, here in the
> U.S.?
Yes, easily.
If you think that the additional cost of procuring the checks (there will be
no additional cost incurred when exchanging them for Euro cash at a European
American express office) will be offset by a continued drop in the value of
the dollar, then it could make sense to buy the checks now.
You could also just hedge by opening up a Euro-denominated account at your
bank.
miguel
--
Hit The Road! Photos from 32 countries on 5 continents: http://travel.u.nu
> I've always subscribed to the ATM option for cash while
> traveling. However, given the sliding dollar, I begin to
> wonder if it might not be smart to buy euro travelers
> checks, just to get my euro at present exchange rates,
> before the dollar drops even further? Can one even OBTAIN
> travelers checks in euro rather than dollars, here in the
> U.S.?
Yes, easily.
If you think that the additional cost of procuring the checks (there will be
no additional cost incurred when exchanging them for Euro cash at a European
American express office) will be offset by a continued drop in the value of
the dollar, then it could make sense to buy the checks now.
You could also just hedge by opening up a Euro-denominated account at your
bank.
miguel
--
Hit The Road! Photos from 32 countries on 5 continents: http://travel.u.nu
Nov 30th 2004, 6:41 am
#39
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Euro Traveler's Checks
On Tue, 30 Nov 2004 10:52:21 -0600, [email protected] (Miguel Cruz)
wrote:
>Hatunen <[email protected]> wrote:
>> [email protected] (Miguel Cruz) wrote:
>>> Hatunen <[email protected]> wrote:
>>>> [email protected] (Miguel Cruz) wrote:
>>>>> The cheapest place to buy them is usually neither a bank nor the Amex
>>>>> office, but some other organization like AAA.
>>>> If all you are looking at is whether a commission is charged. AmEx charges
>>>> no commission; it compensates by charging an excessive exchange rate.
>>> Where did I say that all I am looking at is whether a commission is charged?
>>> I have been preaching about hidden fees with travelers checks longer than
>>> any poster in rec.travel.europe, including you.
>> Is it a contest?
>Yes.
>> Is there a prize?
>Yes.
>> Are you really sure you would win?
>You haven't been reading the newsletter, have you? The reason I'm not vexing
>rec.travel.europe with my nonsense these days is because I'm in the middle
>of the all-expenses-paid trip to Amsterdam I already won for "excellence in
>the field of preaching about hidden fees with travelers checks longer than
>other people."
>Anyway, I just found it weird that you would spend so much time berating me
>to make a point that you know full well I've been making for years.
Tou-bloody-chez!!!
---
DFM
wrote:
>Hatunen <[email protected]> wrote:
>> [email protected] (Miguel Cruz) wrote:
>>> Hatunen <[email protected]> wrote:
>>>> [email protected] (Miguel Cruz) wrote:
>>>>> The cheapest place to buy them is usually neither a bank nor the Amex
>>>>> office, but some other organization like AAA.
>>>> If all you are looking at is whether a commission is charged. AmEx charges
>>>> no commission; it compensates by charging an excessive exchange rate.
>>> Where did I say that all I am looking at is whether a commission is charged?
>>> I have been preaching about hidden fees with travelers checks longer than
>>> any poster in rec.travel.europe, including you.
>> Is it a contest?
>Yes.
>> Is there a prize?
>Yes.
>> Are you really sure you would win?
>You haven't been reading the newsletter, have you? The reason I'm not vexing
>rec.travel.europe with my nonsense these days is because I'm in the middle
>of the all-expenses-paid trip to Amsterdam I already won for "excellence in
>the field of preaching about hidden fees with travelers checks longer than
>other people."
>Anyway, I just found it weird that you would spend so much time berating me
>to make a point that you know full well I've been making for years.
Tou-bloody-chez!!!
---
DFM
