ATM Availability
#7
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We used banks on our first trip and ATMs last year in France, Switzerland, Austria and Germany. The ATM method wins, hands down. Almost every small town has at least one and the transaction charge from my bank was very small, if any (can't quite remember). Be sure your card is good for all machines, however. My sister's card didn't work on Cirrus machines -- and that's what most of them were. We traveled in many out of the way places and never had trouble finding a machine!
#8
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Are there any safety concerns regarding using ATMs? In the United States, one has to be careful about whether it is safe to use an ATM, and I never use them at night unless they are in a store or otherwise secure. Is there a reason to be so concerned in Europe (specifically London, Paris or France)?
#9
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I used ATMs in Switzerland for the past two summers. Safety is not a problem.
Of course I was in small towns, except for Lausanne and Luzern, but it was daylight on a main street when I was drawing out money. However, I feel much safer on a streets in Switzerland than most anywhere in the US of A.
The only slight glitch I had was in Lauterbrunnen in 1998 the very first time I attempted to use a foreign ATM machine. There are two banks along the main (only) street.
One of them accepted only MasterCard type plastic while the other one accepted only Visa type plastic -- as near as I could tell. I had to go to the Visa bank to get my money out. In Luzern, out of curiosity I tried my normal ATM card (non debit card variety)at a large bank near the train station. No problem.
The bank in Lauterbrunnen that took my Visa type check card was the Raiffeisen Bank, so for all subsequent withdrawals I went to a Raiffeisen branch. Pherhaps I would have had no trouble at other banks, but I knew I could be successful at the Raiffeisen Bank so I kept going back.
Of course I was in small towns, except for Lausanne and Luzern, but it was daylight on a main street when I was drawing out money. However, I feel much safer on a streets in Switzerland than most anywhere in the US of A.
The only slight glitch I had was in Lauterbrunnen in 1998 the very first time I attempted to use a foreign ATM machine. There are two banks along the main (only) street.
One of them accepted only MasterCard type plastic while the other one accepted only Visa type plastic -- as near as I could tell. I had to go to the Visa bank to get my money out. In Luzern, out of curiosity I tried my normal ATM card (non debit card variety)at a large bank near the train station. No problem.
The bank in Lauterbrunnen that took my Visa type check card was the Raiffeisen Bank, so for all subsequent withdrawals I went to a Raiffeisen branch. Pherhaps I would have had no trouble at other banks, but I knew I could be successful at the Raiffeisen Bank so I kept going back.
#10
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I've told this ATM story before. In Rome, my husband was withdrawing money in the evening. NOT a good idea. So I was vigilent in keeping a lookout as my husband withdrew the cash. He proudly and safely came to me with it, but when he went for his wallet, it was gone. We had focused on the cash, but the pickpocket went for the cards. My husband now wears a pouch around his neck.
#11
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HEY:
Do not make the same mistake that I did. Make sure you have a "numeric" atm password, no longer than 4 numbers. I have a four letter word that I use(no not a vulgar one!) Whe I went to use the atm in Germany, the keypad only had numbers. Thank God I had remembered that the 1 (one) on the touch pads back home has no letters,(ex. 1, 2abc, 3def, etc) so I figured out my numeric password....had me in a panic for a bit! Also, I was limited to only about $400/Day....
JOHN
Do not make the same mistake that I did. Make sure you have a "numeric" atm password, no longer than 4 numbers. I have a four letter word that I use(no not a vulgar one!) Whe I went to use the atm in Germany, the keypad only had numbers. Thank God I had remembered that the 1 (one) on the touch pads back home has no letters,(ex. 1, 2abc, 3def, etc) so I figured out my numeric password....had me in a panic for a bit! Also, I was limited to only about $400/Day....
JOHN
#12
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Q. ATM fee?
A. Yes, sometimes. Avg is $1-$2 per transaction, in my experience.
Q. Availability?
A. ATM's are everywhere, although not all ATMs' will accept all cards. I have a direct debit card through my bank - not a problem. I also have tried to use my Credit Union ATM card - won't work.
Q. Keypad
A. Agree with John, above. I have found keypads in Europe to be numerical only, no letters.
Q. Safety?
A. Definitely be careful of pickpockets. We had a gang of 5 men follow us from an ATM in Paris. They stuck with us for several blocks, and only left us alone when a friend who had grown up in Paris yelled at them in French.
Q. Limit on withdrawals?
A. Yes, I have been limited to no more than $400/day.
A. Yes, sometimes. Avg is $1-$2 per transaction, in my experience.
Q. Availability?
A. ATM's are everywhere, although not all ATMs' will accept all cards. I have a direct debit card through my bank - not a problem. I also have tried to use my Credit Union ATM card - won't work.
Q. Keypad
A. Agree with John, above. I have found keypads in Europe to be numerical only, no letters.
Q. Safety?
A. Definitely be careful of pickpockets. We had a gang of 5 men follow us from an ATM in Paris. They stuck with us for several blocks, and only left us alone when a friend who had grown up in Paris yelled at them in French.
Q. Limit on withdrawals?
A. Yes, I have been limited to no more than $400/day.
#13
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Ken,
I have used ATM for the last three years when traveling in Europe, the only problem we had was in Munich. We had a hard time finding the machines because we did not recognize the emblem and most were in buildings which required card swipe access (bad news on Sunday)ask for directions before you leave your hotel.
I also have never recieved any charges from any bank except my own and the exchange rate is much better then changing money at a bank.
Make sure you have a back up method in case you loose your card or it becomes de magnitized. I always bring two cards and a little american cash.
I have used ATM for the last three years when traveling in Europe, the only problem we had was in Munich. We had a hard time finding the machines because we did not recognize the emblem and most were in buildings which required card swipe access (bad news on Sunday)ask for directions before you leave your hotel.
I also have never recieved any charges from any bank except my own and the exchange rate is much better then changing money at a bank.
Make sure you have a back up method in case you loose your card or it becomes de magnitized. I always bring two cards and a little american cash.
#14
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Just got home from 3 weeks in Netherlands and found ATMs everywhere. We had our bank statement when we got home - no charges added either there or here and the exchange rate was far better than if we had changed cash. Our card is Star but over there Plus is the sae thing which was available any place we tried, even very small towns.
#18
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We used our ATM card extensively in Germany & Austria last summer and found it to be the best way to get cash. However, my son is going without us this summer, and his card is attached to his savings account. I've heard that some people have had trouble accessing savings accounts from over there. Any comments?