Exchanging money

One of the things I've always done when I've traveled -- unless I have absolutley NO foreign currency of the country I plan to visit -- is to stop at the nearest ATM machine once I get there. I know banks and agents, such as Thomas Cook, offer their own conversions, and Traveler's Checks are easily bought, I just wondered, in everyone's experience, which is the best and most economical thing to do?

Normally, with an ATM machine, we're charged £1-1.50 fee. I'm sure their "current rate" also takes in some sort of transaction fee as well.

We use our ATM card, too.  We try to take out as much as we're going to need first off, that way we save on any sort of fees that will be assessed.  Just find it's easier.  We did it in Prague, Paris, and we do it when we go to the US.

It's worth opening a Nationwide Flex account, as they don't charge anything for withdrawing from ATM machines abroad. We used this card all the time in Italy last year.