Travellers' cheques are one of the safest ways of carrying your money, as they're insured. Worldwide, travellers' cheques are available from almost any major bank (whether you have an account there or not), and from special American Express or Thomas Cook offices, usually for a service charge of one to two percent. Check with your own bank first, as they may offer cheques free of charge provided you meet certain conditions. It pays to get a selection of denominations. Make sure to keep the purchase agreement and a record of the cheque serial numbers safe and separate from the cheques themselves. In the event that cheques are lost or stolen, the issuing company will expect you to report the loss immediately; most companies claim to replace lost or stolen cheques within 24 hours.The most widely recognized brands are Visa and American Express, which most banks and bureaux de change will change. American Express travellers' cheques can also be cashed at post offices. You might consider getting euro traveller cheques rather than your own national currency: they're increasingly accepted as cash in larger establishments and you should get the face value of the cheques when you change them, so commission is only paid on purchase. Banks being banks, however, this is not always the case.
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