Starbucks card in Europe
 

May I take my new US Starbucks card to Europe and use it with no problems?
The Starbucks website assures that I can but wonder if anyone had experience?
Website indicates no foreign transaction fee.

Also, thought this card may be a good place to stash small leftover Euro amounts at vacation's end. (I do bring larger bills home for next time.) Thank you.

Don't know anything about the card, but it probably will work if they say it will. But the question is, why would you even think about going to a Starbuck's in France?

I have never heard of this card. But then again, I have never set foot in Starbucks anywhere in the world yet.

It worked in some, not in others. I think it has to do with franchise vs ownership of the branch???It doesnt work in some airports in the USA either.

Don't know if the card will work in Europe, but just as an aside, I tried using mine in China. The staff had never heard of the card, and were just fascinated by it.

We used our Canadian dollar Starbucks card in London this year without any real problem—but it was confusing to figure out how much the coffee actually cost. I don't think we'd go that route again.

Wow, my husband goes to Starbucks everyday here in the US. and sadly, everyday in Paris (against my advice, see my T/R). We didn't try to use a Starbucks card and we also found that the employees at the location across from the Odeon metro stop were so great to help him figure out how to say his usual order (not on the menu there) in French everyday.

This trip, I am planning to ween him off the Starbucks
'teet'. I was horrified last trip, at his insistence, that we had to go everyday. But, it gave me a place to have my Gerard Mulot pain au chocolat! I also have my American vices, no coffee, but I can't live without diet coke!!!!

Just back and can affirm the US loaded card still works in London and Paris. In Amsterdam did not work and the staff informed it is because those are franchise/licensed locations rather than corporate.

Say what you will, mea culpa ,but one super hot day in the 6th arr, the airconditioned upstairs lounge at Starbucks was BLISS.
Denisea, we too have found employees are always friendly and super helpful-- in Paris, London, Edinburgh(and USA) etc.And there are always CLEAN and available loos.

I NEVER go to Starbuck in the US!!

...but there is one 15 meters from our preferred hotel in Paris where we can get takeout coffee easily to bring back to our room with pastry bought at the equally-nearby patisserie and fruit from the twice-weekly market across the street in Place Baudoyer.

We really had trouble finding a convenient take-out coffee place in Paris. Qik and similar places were not very convenient or good IMHO, and we assumed cafes were for sit-down only. (Maybe it was our lack of experience, though we've been to Paris five times.) So we tried Starbucks and continued with it.

SS

Earlier this summer my Starbucks card was not accepted at the location on either Rue de Seine or Rue de Buci a blk or so off Blvd St. German. Interesting that people seem to love french coffee -- me, not so much. Italian, Spanish absolutely, but never found fr coffee that I love.

denisea-the mere mention of Gerard Mulot makes my mouth water. They had the most delicious cherry pistachio muffin...The muffin was actually pistachio colored and like nothing I had ever tasted. GM was our go to place from our apt each morning also.

Ssander, the French are gradually accepting the idea of takeaway coffee, but it's still a rarity. Less so now, and not as often considered totally declasse to ask.
During a trip to Paris in 2002, i shocked my friends by asking for one--drinking coffee while walking down the street just wasnt done, mon cher!

We have used the Costco Starbucks card in London and Paris. I think the last time we used one was at the Starbucks across from the Versailles train station.

CaliNurse...

"...the French are gradually accepting the idea of takeaway coffee, but it's still a rarity."

Yes, we suspected that, which is why we have been reluctant to try...didn't want to be too outrageously American. :-)

SS

<b>CaliNurse and Seamus</b> - you're right about the difference in card acceptance being licensed vs. corporate. I phoned Starbucks for more information and the guy explained that standalone Starbucks are corporate and licensed Starbucks are those in other establishments - stores, hotels, etc. Thanks to all who took time to respond.

(He also said US card won't work in Asia - there you must buy "country-specific" cards.)

Don't know if it's as cut & dried as your Starbucks guy describes.
Today at a Target store, I asked the barista and she said Starbucks cards can be used anywhere in US except Barnes & Noble. (Didn't venture to ask about Europe.)

Good info. Thanks!

Hi, if you go to www.starbucks.fr the website mentions the Starbucks rewards, the best thing to do is to call customer service and double check.

If you don't want to be forced into patronizing Starbucks, almost all cafes and many boulangeries do serve coffee "a emporter".
Just go to the counter and order a single or double espresso, cafe allonge, noisette, cafe creme - the prices are usually cheaper than if you sit down, too.
But for anything fancier, or for iced coffee, you must go to Starbucks.

I tried using it in Great Britain in May and was not able to. It depends on where you load the card. If it's loaded in dollars, it will not convert to euros. I have never been able to use my U.S. dollar loaded card in Europe.