Has anyone had any bad experiences with American Express Travelers Cheques?

My parents and others i know used travelers checks for many years and they never had any problems with them.

The only problem I had was that I had to pay to get the cheques over here in my home town,and then I had to pay over 900 euro to get them cashed, as with the other poster I had trouble finding somewhere to change them in future I always take cash in a money belt.

Yes - I had problems cashing them in some countries. Now always use Thomas Cook`s cheques.

Used them in Europe for many years without any problem, but we always take some "real" money as well just in case we have problems.

I didn't have any problems with them in Australia. I did exchanged some of the checks for their money just in case of a mom and pop shop was uneasy about the checks. Traveler's Checks are there for your protection. If for some reason you've been robbed or lost the checks along with your lost luggage, the person who finds it can't use it (it needs a second signature) and the money can be replaced unlike cash. It's best to keep a list of all your check numbers and carry it with you in your wallet or purse in case something happens. Most recently, pre-credit cards like Simon's have been starting to replace traveler's checks but some shops do not except credit cards. All in all, both are good to use while vacationing.