Before I went to Europe for a tourist visa, I had to buy a traveler’s cheque as a proof of funds because I did not have a three-month bank flow. However, when I arrived in Europe, I found that traveler’s cheques were difficult to use. If I didn’t understand the market, I would be defrauded of 15%-20% handling fees. This blog records the pits and Tips we found in redeeming traveler’s checks!
[scode type="info"]**Experience One**: **Do not use** traveler’s checks if possible[/scode]
[scode type="info"]**Experience Two**: The **minimum handling fee** for travel exchange is around 4%[/scode]
> If you don't want to see the experience, you can directly transfer to the Tips where you can redeem traveler's cheques at the end of the article!
## My experience
During the Christmas holiday, I went to Europe with my roommates and a group of four on a DIY trip to 5 cities in Italy and Austria. Since the UK bank card has not been used for three months, it is not possible to apply for a visa by printing the record, so we chose another method-buying American Express's Euro traveler's cheque. As everyone knows, exchanging and using traveler's checks is really a big pit.
According to the official website of traveler’s cheques, traveler’s cheques can be used directly in shops in many European cities. In this way, it’s definitely more cost-effective to spend it when traveling than to exchange it back in British pounds after returning to the UK. The British pound process requires a loss of 8%). Ran goose, we found through reading other people's travel notes before departure that many stores in Europe cannot directly spend traveler's checks (according to our actual travel situation later, we only saw the traveler's check logo in several stores in Venice), so we When I decided to go, I changed all of them to Euros at the Red Marked Change at the airport.
But after I found the red Change at the first stop in Rome (pictured), I found that 700 euros could only give us more than 590 euros. This is really not the slightest loss. My subject checked the phone number of American Express on the spot. I called it and found that there is no location in Italy, but the other party suggested to change to the bank, saying that there is no loss (note that this is also a pit,,,). Since two people have already exchanged them, in order to stop the loss, we decided not to exchange the 700 Euro traveler's cheques of the remaining two people, and kept them to the bank for exchange.
On the third day, we went to the Vatican to play. By the way, we went to the bank recommended by the staff of American Express nearby. We also called the Bank of China, but we were all told not to accept travel. How can this be neat?
At this time, I just found a bunch of changes around the Vatican, so I asked for a quote again. One of them originally only reported more than 590, but we heard that the other offered us a student discount of more than 610, and then it was a good deal and reported a 640. This is great, we are beginning to discover the doorway inside: there are actually no discounts, but I want to find an excuse to attract you. These changes are all profitable. You give them your travel, and they sell them to American Express elsewhere. There may be a little tax in the middle, but as long as they charge you at a lower price than the tax deducted If you buy it here, he will definitely make a profit (generally, he will make a lot of money), but it's just the difference between earning more and less. And there are several changes in the local area. We mainly found the one with red change and the one with blue. If this family thinks that you are demanding and unacceptable, then the money will be made by others.
Therefore, at this time, if we want to get a higher offer, we have to pinpoint what is acceptable to others (it’s really too cruel to cut off people’s wealth, then it’s okay), and then let them have a sense of crisis. Increase the offer. You can ask a few companies first to see how much they generally give, and then tell him how much other companies give me a price. Next, this person may start to call the above to see what a higher price can be offered, and after a bunch of them, they will give you a slightly higher price. Haha, if you are not satisfied, you can ask another one. Ask (but be careful, if it is a different store in the same store, be careful, after all, there may be one person above them, maybe I will remember you). Generally speaking, if you say that the tax may be two or three percent, then you still have to earn a 20 or 30 pounds. (Of course, you can try to chop and chop again, but it may be more difficult. Big).
So our last two transactions were 640 Euros and 645 Euros respectively (645 Euros were replaced by a similar method).
## Tips
- There are not too many places in Italy for travel and consumption. Among the Rome, Florence, and Venice we go to, there are only a few in Venice;
- If you want to exchange for Euro travel in Italy, you can only change it at the place marked with the change sign (Of course, some changes do not accept travel, but very few). There should be no direct exchange points for American Express, at least in Italy, so there is no way to exchange them without loss. But there are indeed many changes in Italy, especially near the Vatican;
- Don't meet a family, if he quotes a very low price, you will accept it, and don't believe him too much. You must know that this is probably because you don't know the inside story;
- You can ask two families first to find out the situation. A rough estimate. If the tax may be two or three percent, then you still have to make people earn 20 or 30 pounds. First ask them for their quotation. You can say that the price is given to you by another family. Ask if they can give you a higher price. Of course, if you have a thin skin and are embarrassed to talk nonsense, you can just give them the price of this one when the price is lower than that of others.
## to sum up
The above is all the personal experiences and small tips about the exchange of travel expenses. Of course, these are just some things summarized based on our personal experience, we still need to analyze the specific situation. If you want to go out and play, you still want to walk around more to see how you feel. Therefore, it is not recommended that you waste too much time on this matter when economic conditions permit, as long as you feel that it is almost acceptable. Finally, I still want to say that if you don't need traveler's checks to play in Italy, you should not use it. After all, it is really troublesome and there are pits everywhere!