Ann1

At Roma Termini I have found that the older kiosks don't accept US CC's but the newer ones in the front do. I have only had three problems and we travel to Europe a couple of times a year. Once at a kiosk in Caen train station...but the clerk...put it through, once in Roma Termini....but it went through with the newer machines, and once in Ischia renting a car....and quite frankly, I think it was a act so we would pay cash.

DebitNM

I went to the one on Rue de la Verrerie;that must be why we had different experiences.

MaineGG

uhoh - Just curious about which autoroutes accepted your credit card for tolls. We'll be driving Lyon-Chambéry-Annecy-Beaune-Dijon-around Burgundy area-Troyes-Reims in September.

I'm also interested in which credit union offers chip and pin cards.

DebitNM - I'm sure my Franprix experience was just an isolated thing in one store, and it was no big deal at the time. Just hoping that incidents like this continue to be rare.

Ann1

One major thing for new people traveling outside of cities in Europe....Don't expect to use your American Express much. You will also find that some places in and out of cities don't even like credit cards. I think from previous posters you will see the best bet is to always have enough cash. Basically, don't expect to always use your credit cards and especially AMEX. We have been to stores who have the Amex sign up and still don't accept it.

A friend of mine went to a restaurant in Florence just on the other side of the Arno but still in the tourist area and they tried to use a CC. The wife had to sit there while her husband went to get cash from the ATM.

Ann1

What I just posted had nothing to do with my previous post on CC's in machines. It had to do with retailers and restaurants. It's not that they don't work at retailers and restaurants, some just don't accept them.

Michael

<i>I travel to various countries in Europe 2-3 times a year and have never encountered a problem using my credit card anywhere a real person can swipe the card</i>

I did run into a problem in France this June. I do not recall exactly where, but one place had a <b>new</b> hand held machine where it was not possible to swipe the card. I am positive about it because we discussed the issue in French.

Michael

Now I recall where it was: it was in the pottery exhibition hall of La Borne where we purchased a piece of pottery. The sales person was very apologetic about it.

MaineGG

U.S. Bank is offering cards with chip and pin, in addition to magnetic strip and contactless modes.


http://www.pymnts.com/u-s-bank-first...-travelers-br/

spaarne

MaineGG,
Thanks for the link. I received a new USBank Visa FlexPerks travel rewards card a couple of weeks ago. When I noticed that it includes the Visa PayWave feature I decided not to activate it because of that. Even though the terms say that I have zero fraud liability for unauthorized transactions if the card is lost or stolen, the small print also says that USBank must be notified promptly in that event. The problem is that it is possible for criminals to read the card without stealing it due to the radio frequency identification (RFID) chip in the card and I would not know it had been compromised until I received my statement. Before I validate the card I am going to buy an RFID proof wallet. This will also be helpful in protecting my passport information. All USA passports now have the RFID chip.

After reading the USBank release I peeled off the activation sticker. Viola! There is the *spider* as I call it, more commonly known as the chip. This is a breakthrough for American banks.

I've had an account at ABN-AMRO in NL for decades. The ATM card has had a spider for many years. It is handy at times for paying when CCs are not accepted. However I rarely use a credit card in Europe. I use my ATM card at a bank cash machine and pay for everything with cash. People who use CCs for everything are usually paying a minimum 3% premium (foreign transaction fee) and probably more since merchants who accept cards have jacked up their prices to cover the cost of doing business with A, V, and MC. Cash is always welcome. In Europe I stay in 2* hotels and B&Bs and these places rarely accept plastic. Restaurants may or may not accept plastic. I always carry a few hundred euros with me. Losing that would be less traumatic than losing a credit card, though losing that is virtually impossible since I keep it in a pocket of my undershirt.

Back to the OP's link to the NYT article. True to form the NYT has published travel rubbish again. Look at the bio of the author and you'll read <i>Michelle graduated from the George Washington University with a degree in English and Dance. She has performed at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., and Lincoln Center Out of Doors in New York City.</i> She knows as much about travel and credit cards in Europe as I know about the other side of the moon. Does Michelle have a passport? Do people actually waste their time and money on the NYT?

xyz123

spaarne...I beg to differ with you on several matters. I have a credit card that no only doesn't charge an additional foreign transaction fee, it eats the 1% visa foreign transaction fee and even gives me a 2% rebate on everything I buy. I use this credit card everywhere for EVERYTHIN G. I just got back from a week in London. I made a £20 cash withdrawal from an ATM the first day and came home with about £12 ot; everything else was credit carded whether it be topping up my si card, topping up my oyster card, buying theatre tickets, all meals, buying refreshments at groceries for half time at the theatre, my hotel bill, some stuff at a convenience store when I arrived back at the hotel each evening.

By far the best way to travel even if you don't have a card with the 2% rebate; cards from Capital One always waive the foreign traNSACTION FEE AND EAT THE VISA TRANSACTION FEE.

iris1745

Capital One seems to be one of the best CC for not charging foreign transaction fees. However, we have a Starwood AX and a Chase Marriott Visa and the points we receive more that off set the transaction fees with free hotel nights. [Chase's foreigh fees are a nightmare]. This could be a repeat of previous comments, but we always inform the CC companies when on a trip. Also have two ATM visa cards with local banks and inform them of our whereabouts. Recently in Greece, AX was not well received except at major venues, but everywhere took Visa.