Is it easy to open a bank acct in Europe with AmEx travelers checks and then be able to easily withdraw from ?

Question

I'll be traveling thru Europe for a few months and wanted to be able to deposit travelers checks for the purpose of then being able to easily withdraw that money from banks throughout Europe. Is this an easy process for Americans with travelers checks?

Answer 1

You could use your bank card in Europe, I went to Italy and England last year and had no problems!!

Answer 2

If I were you I would just use my credit card to withdraw cash from ATM machines. Here in Italy, travellers checks are not accepted in a lot of places and banks charge a lot to cash them for you.

Answer 3

Travler's checks are the only type of checks as tender over here. They use a voucher system ... the plumber sends a bill and on that bill will be his bank account number. We are obliged to authorize the our bank to draft our account and pay his. No paper checks over here.

You could get a smart card, I guess. But I don't really know. I've read of US tourists using ATMs in Paris.

We're travelling to the states soon. We plan on using PayPal as the best cost solution for as-needed funds.

Answer 4

Leave your money in the bank at home and use your ATM. It's accepted everywhere as long as it has a Visa or MC logo.