$$$

[John Volz]

Brian

Use a money machine, traveler's checks are a pain in the tush and oftem
difficult to cash.  Get your money from the wall!  Most medium size Spanish
towns have several ATMs.  Banks in Spain have very, very restricted hours,
it is often hard to find one open.  Get your Euros from the Money machine,
but get enough for a coulpe of days so that you can pass through the smaller
ATMless towns.  You will be receving a substantially better exchange rate
through the bank than with traveler's checks in addition  the convenience.
If your card doesn't work in one ATM, try the one across the street. (This
happened to us in Leon, where there were many, many ATMs).

John Volz
Santa rosa CA

PS: This is also the recommendation of Rick Steeves of PBS travel in Europe
fame.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Brian Barger" <bargerb04aNETZERO.NET>
To: <GOCAMINOaPETE.URI.EDU>
Sent: Monday, March 08, 2004 2:40 PM
Subject: $$$


> I read that you should have about E16 or 10 francs a day of travel in
> Spain. With about a month of travel that would be about E480, so lets say
> E600.  Would it be wise to open an account once you arrive? Since a wad of
> traveler's cheques in $20's sounds like a hassle and I don't want to do
the
> credit card thing I know I am making it difficult.  Another thing is
Should
> I purchase a small tent incase the refugios are full? Insurance too, since
> it is a fool's folly to think you're going to wander through Spain on foot
> and might not need medical attention.  As you may have noticed, this is my
> first time and any help would be greatly appreciated.
>