Originally Posted by ksandness

I never stayed in the kinds of hotels that accepted them (I've been a budget traveler all my life), and the banks always made a big production number out of cashing them.

First, you had to go to the foreign exchange department of a Foreign Exchange Bank, and you couldn't go to the bank too early in the morning, or else you'd have to wait around till the day's exchange rates were posted.

Then you filled out a form, signed your checks, and sat and waited. In banks with open offices, you could see the little plastic tray being passed from desk to desk so that the form and the checks could be stamped. After everyone who needed to stamp things had done so, you were given a voucher and directed to take it down to the main teller lobby.

There you sat on one of the comfy chairs and waited till the one of the tellers called for you in her best Minnie Mouse voice. Only then did you receive your cash.