money
Jun 8th, 2012, 06:46 AM
#1
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money
Some body can recomend to me whats is better to carry from us to europa,dollars and convert to euro there, convert here, traveling check, what kind of card ,etc, please help on this ,im traveling to spain, france and italy.
Jun 8th, 2012, 07:24 AM
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Check with your bank/credit union for international ATM fees. Some charge a flat fee, some charge a percentage fee. Also, be sure to alert them that you'll be traveling so they don't cut you off after your first transaction.
Check fees on your credit card as well. 3% on foreign transactions is fairly standard. Capital One has cards that don't charge foreign transaction fees.
I generally take a tiny amount of US cash ($100 or less) and then hit the ATM when I land. If one ATM is broken there are generally 15 more just down the way. The only concern with that is your daily ATM limit if you're paying cash for an apartment or such when you get there. If you're going to need a large amount of cash right away then ask to have your daily amount raised for while you're gone.
Check fees on your credit card as well. 3% on foreign transactions is fairly standard. Capital One has cards that don't charge foreign transaction fees.
I generally take a tiny amount of US cash ($100 or less) and then hit the ATM when I land. If one ATM is broken there are generally 15 more just down the way. The only concern with that is your daily ATM limit if you're paying cash for an apartment or such when you get there. If you're going to need a large amount of cash right away then ask to have your daily amount raised for while you're gone.
Jun 8th, 2012, 09:17 AM
#5
I take a combination: USD cash for the first & last parts of the trip and as a back-up that could be changed into local currency; primarily an ATM debit card attached to my home checking account that I withdraw local currency directly; two different charge cards as further back-up.
Jun 8th, 2012, 09:58 AM
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You need credit cards (Visa, MC, AmEx most moderate to upscale places). You pull cash in local currencies from your checking account at the local bank ATMs.
Bringing $ or changing for euros in the US is just shoveling about 5% of your money out the window. And carrying a lot of cash is foolhardy.
NO ONE want travelers checks and it is possible you wouldn't find any place to change them. Certainly no one will accept them in payment.
Bringing $ or changing for euros in the US is just shoveling about 5% of your money out the window. And carrying a lot of cash is foolhardy.
NO ONE want travelers checks and it is possible you wouldn't find any place to change them. Certainly no one will accept them in payment.
Jun 8th, 2012, 10:01 AM
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Hi al,
The best thing to do is to bring an ATM card to get cash and a Credit Card to charge everything you can.
If you don't have a CC, I suggest that you purchase a prepaid credit card. It is more expensive, but you won't have to carry a lot of cash.
Be sure that you can use your PPCC in ATMs.
Enjoy your visit.
The best thing to do is to bring an ATM card to get cash and a Credit Card to charge everything you can.
If you don't have a CC, I suggest that you purchase a prepaid credit card. It is more expensive, but you won't have to carry a lot of cash.
Be sure that you can use your PPCC in ATMs.
Enjoy your visit.
Jun 8th, 2012, 10:16 AM
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We just went through our foreign currency baggies that have piled up from various trips since 1994 It was fun to look at the " useless" lire and French francs, fortunately not more of that stuff than to serve as souvenirs. I was pleased to find R35 which we can use when we get to South Africa in the Fall (maybe enough to buy a soft drink?). But all is evidence that the ATM system works all over the globe. (from St Maarten and Jamaica to China and the Czech Republic)
We try to keep enough £ and € for cab fare for the next trip, as we do tend to go back to the UK and Europe. But it seems there are always ATMs in the airports of our final destination, or close to our first lodging so that we've never had a problem.
Those 1000 lira bills we saved for our kids though, really made me sigh with pleasant memories.
We try to keep enough £ and € for cab fare for the next trip, as we do tend to go back to the UK and Europe. But it seems there are always ATMs in the airports of our final destination, or close to our first lodging so that we've never had a problem.
Those 1000 lira bills we saved for our kids though, really made me sigh with pleasant memories.
