First, thanks to Eurotrip for this forum : super stuff. Now to the query-

Being an unfortunate living in a country where I have to apply for a Schengen visa for a visit to Italy/Greece in September 2001, I’d like to hear from anyone who has overcome this problem:

Research shows me that ATMs are the route to go for accessing funds in Europe. My South African bank says my ATM card will work fine there: great …. except that when applying for a Schengen visa my passport needs to be stamped to the effect that I have purchased sufficient foreign currency to keep myself going for the trip. See the problem? The idea is that I don’t want to buy travellers cheques, euros or $s now, instead drawing from ATMs, but I have to if I want a visa. Bang goes the ATM idea it seems.

Any workaround (real experience would be really helpful) on this one please? I don’t want to be stuck on the next plane back out of Rome because of a currency screw-up.

Thanks