How to get Euros

I've been a subscriber to an e-mail listserv called "Yanks in Germany" for about the last year and a half or so. It's a mailing list for fans who are heading to Germany for the World Cup.

There's been a thread there discussing the best way to get Euros. Bottom line - take your ATM card and withdraw cash from German ATMs just as if you're taking dollars out of an ATM here in the States.

You'll get the best possible exchange rate. You'll have to pay the fees your bank charges for using an ATM that is not one of their own - in my case, I pay $1.50 for every transaction. However, you will NOT be charged a transaction fee by the German bank.

If you want the best possible exchange rate, use an ATM. As far as I can tell, traveler's checks are a waste of money.

Rick Steves' web site has an excellent article on the subject.