I read this somewhere but only saw it the one time. An article said banks and credit card companies like to see an "arrival withdrawal" at the expected airport. It signals them that foreign charges are according to plan, assuming they were notified.

But I often see people say take enough foreign currency to get to your hotel, etc when feeling jet-lagged. So I wonder if anyone has experience either way - does it matter or not?
I guess it does make sense to me...anything that helps a trip go smoothly.

I have never heard of the idea that you should visit an ATM immediately. Sometimes we do, sometimes we don't.

"<i>I read this somewhere . . . </i>" I've read lots of things lots of places - often totally made up.

I only take foreign currency w/ me if I have some left over from a previous trip. If I need cash at the airport, I'll use an ATM. if I don't, I'll get some later in town . . .

I have never heard this tip, rarely take out cash at the airport, and my card has always worked so I suspect this advice is bunk.

Like janisj, I only take foreign cash if I hvae some lying around. I aim to hit the ATM

... [hit the wrong key] I aim to hit the ATM in the airport, but I have no idea whether it makes my bank happy. I don't remember ever having my ATM card blocked.

Ignore what you have heard VonVan.

Some banks, in some countries, want you to advise them before you travel. Ask your bank.

That's all you need to know.

I've never heard of this advice either. Sometimes I use the ATM at the airport, sometimes not - depends if I have cash left over from a previous trip. I have had my ATM card blocked once, at the airport. I had called WF and let them know I was travelling, but for whatever reason, my card was still blocked. I used my backup ATM card that is attached to a separate account (same bank) and it worked fine. After a call to the bank when I reached my hotel, both cards worked fine the rest of the trip.

>>I had called WF and let them know I was travelling, but for whatever reason, my card was still blocked. <<

Same happened w/ one of my ATM cards . . . I told them I'd be in the UK for 4 weeks starting/ending dates, the whole nine yards. But it was blocked the first time I used it and would never work. This is one of my credit unions and they don't handle their fraud prevention in-house. Seems . . . some yokel on the security side blocked the card . . . Because I told them I'd be in the UK . . . and I had attempted to use the card in Edinburgh (didn't realize Scotland is part of the UK)

Got a personal letter of apology from the bank manager w/ I got home . . .

Luckily I have several cards on several accounts.

Some banks are just better at managing their travel alerts. Credit Unions do seem to be the worst, although often don't charge much, if anything for foreign exchange conversion or withdrawals. I took out Capital One debit and credit cards just for travel and have not had any issues waiting until I got into town to hit the ATM.

I usually do bring a small quantity of USD cash just in case of ATM issues (such as out of cash or in a small town with no working ATM, yes it does happen).

"Because I told them I'd be in the UK . . . and I had attempted to use the card in Edinburgh (didn't realize Scotland is part of the UK)"

Well, it DOES get confusing Actually, my husband asks me clarifying questions about the UK every couple months - and he is pretty smart and reasonably well traveled.

"I usually do bring a small quantity of USD cash just in case of ATM issues (such as out of cash or in a small town with no working ATM, yes it does happen)."

I do that too.

I have never heard this and don't believe it to be true.

November, the issues around the names of 'country' in the UK are the fault of the residents of the UK themselves. While an American may be quite likely to refer to 'England' when talking about the UK, they didn't come up with that idea by themselves.

Brits regularly refer to themselves as Scots, English, Welsh or Irish, not as British. Even in some world events like football(soccor) they have separate teams. Why the other countries put up with that I have no idea.

Many Brits see their island as the known universe. They refer to 'Europe' but don't include their island. They never refer to being on an island either.

On the TV, if you watch BBC England, when a Scot wins an event the commentator will refer to a British win. If the person is from England they will refer to it as a win for England!

I remember a young woman adamantly insisting that she had an English passport. This after I told her that if she looked at a political map of the world, she would not find any country named England. What she would find is a country named the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Island and that England did not issue passports, the UK did.

Of course this is the same young woman who insisted she had no accent at all. Everyone else did, but not her. LOL

The confusion is fostered and perpetuated by the people of the UK themselves.

What's that got to do with using ATMs upon arrival?

Absolutely nothing suze. Why would you ask if it had anything to do with using ATMs upon arrival? Is it not clear enough what it is about? Should I expand or attempt to clarify it for you?

Why don't you two get a room.

I generally hit the airport ATM but not always. Never had an issue with my card. I use a credit union.