Discover Cards accepted in Europe?
#1
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Discover Cards accepted in Europe?
My boyfriend and I will be traveling across Europe this summer -- primarily the UK and France. We had planned on using our Discover Cards rather than our Visa or Mastercards because of the cash-back bonus and also, Discover has given us better conversion rates. However, we have heard from several people that Discover is not widely accepted in the UK and we may have trouble finding places that will take it. Has anyone found this to be the case before? I'd hate to find ourselves over there when our cards either don't work or won't be accepted. (Although, we will be taking backup cards!)
Many thanks,
Heather
Many thanks,
Heather
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I've never seen Discover accepted anywhere in Europe. Visa and Mastercard are accepted widely, American Express is accepted in heavily touristed areas, and Diner's Club... well it seems to pop up in strange places.
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Ditto. Leave home without the Discover Card.
Visa seems to be accepted everywhere, as others have said. Master Card pretty well accepted, some AmEx.
Interestingly, we have several times used our personal checks in England (for fairly large-ticket items, several hundred dollars and up). The merchants preferred the checks, and didn't even ask for ID. The first time it happened (at the Silver Vaults in London, probably 15 or so years ago), we asked why they didn't need ID and were told that they'd never been stiffed with a check from the US.
Interesting. (But, of course, I wouldn't count on being able to use personal checks either! Take that Visa card - and your ATM card.)
Gaye
Visa seems to be accepted everywhere, as others have said. Master Card pretty well accepted, some AmEx.
Interestingly, we have several times used our personal checks in England (for fairly large-ticket items, several hundred dollars and up). The merchants preferred the checks, and didn't even ask for ID. The first time it happened (at the Silver Vaults in London, probably 15 or so years ago), we asked why they didn't need ID and were told that they'd never been stiffed with a check from the US.
Interesting. (But, of course, I wouldn't count on being able to use personal checks either! Take that Visa card - and your ATM card.)
Gaye
#11
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Thanks everyone for your responses! It looks like our Discover Cards will be gathering dust this summer. We'll have a Visa and a Mastercard between the two of us, and with our ATM cards, I think we'll be okay. Now, I just hope the ATM cards work!
Thanks again,
Heather
Thanks again,
Heather
#13
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Thanks, smalti! We each have a 4-digit PIN, so I think that we'll be fine in that regard.
And thanks for the good wishes -- first time abroad for us both, and we're very excited! And I'm much less stressed now that it's starting to come together!
And thanks for the good wishes -- first time abroad for us both, and we're very excited! And I'm much less stressed now that it's starting to come together!
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Jun 10th, 2013 04:33 AM