I am traveling to Ireland in May and plan on using a credit card and my debit card for most purchases. My bank offers something called a chip and pin card, which they call a cash passport card. They stated that some places in Europe have trouble reading the magnetic strip on the back of the credit card and that card is a better option. Has anyone used one of these chip and pin cards?

Search the Europe forum for "chip pin" - there are probably a few dozen threads on the subject posted over the last year or two.

I can't imagine why they're calling it a cash passport card, but yes, you want chip and pin. A basic search on this forum will turn up multiple threads explaining in exhaustive detail why.

Oh, and why are you using a debit card? Or do you mean ATM card?

Have you checked to see what, if any, fees your bank will charge for using your cards abroad?

Go to www.cashpassport.com to see how the card works. It's essentially a pre-paid credit card on which you can load one or more currencies. It has a chip and pin. You gotta read the fine print as to the various fees and charges associated with the card. They could really add up. Whether such a card makes sense for you, the cost notwithstanding, depends on whether you're likely to need a true chip and pin card. For instance, are you driving in Ireland such that you might need gas from an unattended gas station?

Some places have even more problem accepting the cards promoted by your bank. Just Google search "cash passport card problem" and you will see in how many different ways this card benefits the issuers and not you.

I use CHIP and PIN credit cards, but not this card. I have real CHIP and PIN credit cards without these kind of numerous after the fact gotchas.