VISA or Master Card?
 

Are there any problem with the Master Card in Europe (we already have it and do not know if we should have a VISA, if it is, we'll take it, but it must be pais, if not, we'll bring Master Card). We'd like to visit France, Belgium, The Netherlands, Germany and Denmark. <BR>Oh, by the way, some friends are visiting Eastern countries (Czech Republic and Hungary, and maybe they'll stop in Slovakia), are there any problems with credit cards in those countries (in the capitals and outside them)

I'd be very suprised if any Western European business accepted Visa *or* MC but not both (i.e anyone accepting Visa will accept MC). Usually the question is whether they take Amex or not (few do). <BR> <BR>Just remember, if you're relying solely on your MC and there's a problem with it (becomes lost, bank blocks account) then you're stuck (happened to me recently).

In Europe, I have one brand of card and my wife has the other. Two separate accounts at separate banks. <BR>The only time there was a question about Visa versus Master Card came about in a little Swiss town. There were two banks with ATM's. I went to one bank and it took only MC check cards for cash withdrawal; the other bank took only Visa check cards for cash withdrawal. <BR>I got my money at the Visa bank. <BR>In Luzern at a very large bank, my regular ATM card worked fine. <BR>Not to tout the Wachovia Bank, but it will issue both a Visa and a Master Card to a customer, both cards on the same account. Convenient.

Visa is most widely used..trust me!

Does anyone know if you can use your interac card in Italy. I'll be living there for three months do you sugest I use my bank card(interac) or cash?

To answer the part about central and eastern Europe (the Czechs prefer to think of themselves as part of Central Europe, by the way), you will not have a problem paying with plastic in the larger cities and in most hotels even in smaller places, although stores and restaurants, especially outside of the capital cities, may not always take them.

the only difference I have found is that in Ireland, MC covers the insurance and visa doesn't