Dayenu

On CruiseCritic somebody posted about a problem using ATM-only US card. Debit card has Visa or MasterCard logo, my card has only Cirrus and Maestro on the back of it.

Will I be able to use my ATM-only (not a debit card) for cash, not for purchases? Anybody has ATM-only card that was used?

tom18

We used our ATM-only card when we were in both countries in 2004 without any problem, but we've since changed banks, so I don't know what was on the back. I'd check with your bank.

Dayenu

Sure, I'll check with them before the trip, but if somebody in another country is handling those 800 number calls, sorry, I don't trust them!

I already had a bad experience when a voice with a foreign accent tried to convince me there are no flights from my city when the website had them.

Palenque

I've used my ATM card on several visits to Denmark without problem - in fact i have never ever had a problem getting my card to work in any European country. You will need a 4-digit PIN number and should notify your ATM-issuing bank to alert then to foreign ATM transactions coming in - or they may well block it as a security measure. Ditto with credit cards, about notifying your bank.

Currently my credit cards get a better effective rate of exchange because they charge a flat 3% fee - my ATM withdrawals also cost 3% but my bank puts a flat $5 fee on each ATM transaction (so get you max of about $250/day out rather than five ATM withdrawals of say $50)- these are typical i think but some ATM/charge cards have lower fees but most do not.

Be sure your ATM card has a fairly new magentic strip on it - i did have one card that would not work in some Paris ATMs but would in others - i think the magnetic strip was not intact enough.

Credit cards are widely accepted, even at McDonalds and supermarkets, etc.

Dayenu

Thank you, Pal, I always call ATM and CC banks and tell them "please make a note on my account..." With CC it's easy, they are used to it. ATM sends them into a panic mode, they always put me on long hold, and sometimes another person picks up the phone

They also give me a phone # to dial in case of emergency, specific to the country I'm visiting.

I will have a CC with me, but try not to use it as the US cards get additional charge from the locals.

Palenque

Yes hotels, etc can tack on charges but many places do not - like chain stores and any large commercial enterprise - train stations, etc - any large store but yes that is a good tip - to ask about fees in places like restaurants and hotels before using it.

Dayenu

Oh, you are giving me hope I like to use credit cards to earn points, but with the 3% fee I see on some restaurants' websites it's not worth it!

I will be buying 24hr bus tickets, probably shops - and I know already to warn them I don't have a pin, it should be signature transaction.

Nikki

Some people here have mentioned a few places where ATM only cards would not work, that they had to use debit cards. I did not have a debit card until I read this but I got one and now bring it with me just to be sure. I have encountered ATM machines in Italy and Portugal that would not accept my ATM only card but did accept my debit card. I do not know about Denmark or Norway, but I now always bring a debit card just in case.