I will agree with Christina, I expect charges from my CC and do what I can to minize them. I also know there are certain charges I can control, which is the decision on how I obtain my foreign currency.

It also helps to keep perspective on how small or big these charges are. For example, some banks charge $5 fro a currency withdrawa at an ATM. On a withdrawal of the max (250 euros in some cases) that would be 1.4%. I can live with that, since 250 euros will get me through several days.

I got a Capital One exclusively to use for our upcoming trip. Not only will it not charge me trans fees, but since I'm using it exclusively for my trip, it will allow me to track my expenditures online so I keep within my budget - or know when I've blown it.

But I do have a question, posters have mentioned that an ATM card with a Visa logo will have a transaction fee - but what about just a plain old ATM - one that doesn't have a visa logo but is hooked into the Cirrus/star network - will it still have a transaction fee?

My thoughts exactly,I am not worried about customer service, I just stated a report from CNBC on traveling abroad with a card. And I have not exchanged money before I have left on a trip in over twenty years, I think first timers do it, actually I remember that I was excited to go the bank and get EUROs....I have been living in a third world country for five months and going to the ATM every day to get enough money together to make a major purchase is a pain. DC has a MC logo so it is accepted almost every where and certainly in Europe (just not here), and I agree AE does not benefit the businesses. You can really get whacked on this board sometime too, everything is taken so literally, no room for a bit of humor. Lighten up Christina, I was just asking for advice. From all the post, it appears that Capital One would be a good choice, I value the opinions here more than a report from CNBC.

We've used a Capitol One card while traveling internationally for years. I stopped using my Dinners Club card when I stopped traveling for business. But we've had no problems.

Next year we are planning a long-stay in France, and will set up a bank account with Charles Schwab with a debit card that carries the Visa logo. They not only do not charge for the conversion between dollars and euro, but reimburse you when using an ATM which has a service charge any where in the world (including at home in the US). E Trade has a similar banking service.

We usually stay in Europe for extended periods of time (10 to 12 weeks). We use a credit union debit and credit card, neither of which is charged an extra fee aside from the 1% Visa charge on the credit card conversion. We deposit into our credit union checking account enough money to take care of our ATM transactions and the payments that need to be made while we are gone. We give the credit union the dates of our travels and have them do automatic payments on the credit card bills for those that come due while we are gone. And we live with the fact that some charges cannot be contested because the bill will have been paid.

Thanks for the Charles Schwab tip, and I am calling the CU right now. I am over the DC and their charges.

We use our Capital One card exclusively when traveling in Europe. If you get euros from a bank in the US prior to traveling you will be paying so much more for those Euros than you will pay the credit card companies, even the ones that do charge the foreign transaction fees. We just got home from France and, since we assume we will be traveling to Europe again sometime in the next couple years, brought home about 100 euros so we'd have money on hand when we land the next time. There are some restaurants, small businesses, etc. that do not accept credit cards, or require a minimum
purchase, so it's nice to have a little cash on hand, but for the most part we could just as easily gotten cash from an ATM on landing. But whenever possible, we use the Capital One card rather than paying cash when in Europe.

I guess I'll join the long list of satisfied Capital One customers. I originally got the card several years ago with the intention of using it primarily for international trips but it's since become my primary card, and because I use it to operate my small business as well I run lots of charges through and have had plenty of opportunity to deal with their customer service folks. No complaints whatsoever.

I'd be interested in seeing someone compare the exchange rate from a European ATM versus a CC used in Europe. Charges are one thing, but without the exchange rate...

My last trip I actually used my Amex and Visa at Gatwick on departing with that exact intent, but....

jujubean, in theory ATM cards without the logo won't result in the 1% charge, but check with your bank to be sure. I've had a couple without logo, and they have not charged the 1%.

juubean, the fee for an ATM withdrawal in europe is determined by your bank and probably does not depend on whether the card has the V/MC bug. I think if the bank applies a fee for one type of card, ATM-only or V/MC debit, it probably applies to both. My banks assess ATM withdrawal fees based on the type of accounts I hold, not whether I'm using a Visa-debit card or ATM-only card to tap the accounts. But you'll have to inquire of your bank (and good luck finding someone who even understands the question).

<i>I'd be interested in seeing someone compare the exchange rate from a European ATM versus a CC used in Europe. Charges are one thing, but without the exchange rate...</i>

Easy enough to do, just manipulate http://www.xe.com/ccc/ as if both transactions are credit card transactions. You can then compare the results.

With our credit union credit cards and debit cards, the same 1% percent (over the interbank rate) is taken on every charge/withdrawal in foreign funds. No fee at all for ATM withdrawals.

The problem with Capital One customer service is that when you call their phone number from overseas, they are not open 24-hours a day, 7 days a week, as other cards are. We would have been in a bind in Japan this past May if we didn't have another credit card. When we came back from that trip, we applied for a debit card linked to a checking account through Charles Schwab bank. We used it in England in September and had no fees; they do have a 24/7 customer service number.

Bank of America is now changing the look of the ATM cards; they have turned red and have different logos. If you withdraw cash in France at a BNP (Banque Nationale de Paris) ATM you won't have an extra fee, as Banque Nationale has an agreement with Bank of America.

As for poor Bank of America customer service--I had difficulty with the changeover to the new ATM card and ended up writing to the bank's president about it. Two days later I got a call from someone clearly trained to handle irate customers, and she quickly resolved the situation. Then she sent me a $50 gift card for the inconvenience I had suffered.

Writing to a company's president is the way to go. That's also how I got Sears, Roebuck to send out a technician who actually knew how to fix our dishwasher.

Now, I don't mean an e-mail: I mean a real letter, on paper.

How long will your extended time be? Long enough, perhaps, to open a French bank account? Not easy, I know, but maybe.

I didn't want to open another credit card just for our trip to Europe, so I found out that Charles Schwab checking can issue a debit/credit card with no foreign transactions fees. (just like Capital One, except with good customer service)

IF you go the checking account route, they have no daily balance requirements and no monthly fees.

there are many people here who have opened checking accounts, but they just use primarily for groceries and it take 3 months to open, I have waited so long now to start complaining about this that I just as well not do it. I will be leaving soon for home for holidays. I am going to open the CS account when I get to states in November for our trip to Europe in December and Australia in January. Thanks everyone for your input. I wonder if Wells Fargo Investments has the same offering as CS. Will check that out also.

My understanding is that you CANNOT open a french bank account unless you are a resident and can offer proof thereof.. Is this not so?

BTW...just for one further point of clarification. The two main shared teller networks, Cirrus and Plus are owned and operated by Mastercard and Visa respectively. So on an ATM transaction involving currency conversion, they follow their rules which are the same as credit card rules i.e. they make the exchange at the point the transaction hits their system at the interbank rate at that instant and add 1% fee, same as a credit card. Your bank then can add additional fees whether it be an extra 2% or a flat transaction fee or both. Sone banks don't add flat transaction fees; almost all of them at least pass along the 1% mc/visa fee (even Capital One on its derbit cards)...some banks add transaction fees as much as $5....the regulations of the shared teller networks prohibit the bank of the ATM you use from adding any transaction fees although there are some ATM's in Europe not owned by banks where yu can get nicked for a transaction fee. Avoid them.