Good credit card for Europe?

[Duckyiam71]

I just want to thank you for asking the question!! We live in Germany now and I was looking for a Disney cruise but gave up because I knew they did not happen that much! I am so excited now and I will be looking to March 2012 for the pricing! As far as your original question, I know for sure Capitol One does not charge a few. USAA charges us but I am not sure if that is because we live here now or not. We are in the military so we have banks here just for us that do not charge. Thank you so much for the information and I hope you have a great time!!

 

[DVC'96]

What about using your bank atm card to withdraw money at an atm. Will you be able to do that with a card that doesn't have a chip?
Thanks

 

[Duckyiam71]

We do not have chips on our cards. We go to the ATMs all the time. We have been to ones in Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands and Poland and have never had a problem. We do tell the bank when we are traveling. We were told when moving here most places do not take cards. It is somewhat true. You just have to look at the door like you see back in the States. Someone stated earlier it is mom and pop establishments and from what I seen this is true.

 

[jedijill]

What about using your bank atm card to withdraw money at an atm. Will you be able to do that with a card that doesn't have a chip?
Thanks

Yes, you just need a 4 digit pin and be aware of your daily withdrawal limits as you will have to think about the exchange rates.

I've been all over Europe and never had an issue with using my ATM card.

Jill in CO

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

What about using your bank atm card to withdraw money at an atm. Will you be able to do that with a card that doesn't have a chip?
Thanks

I hope so. or maybe we can get some Euros before we leave home? I don't know what's best. I'm a little leary about fraud & having someone being able to tap into our checking acct. At least with a cc, you can deny charges in case your #s are stolen. Not just in Europe but I'm that way at home too.

 

[jedijill]

I hope so. or maybe we can get some Euros before we leave home? I don't know what's best. I'm a little leary about fraud & having someone being able to tap into our checking acct. At least with a cc, you can deny charges in case your #s are stolen. Not just in Europe but I'm that way at home too.

What I do when I go overseas is transfer my vacation money to my Fidelity checking account (no overseas ATM fees). It is separate from my main account. I buy a few Euros ahead of time (order from my bank) although it is more expensive than getting them out of the ATM.

HTH

Jill in CO

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

What I do when I go overseas is transfer my vacation money to my Fidelity checking account (no overseas ATM fees). It is separate from my main account. I buy a few Euros ahead of time (order from my bank) although it is more expensive than getting them out of the ATM.

HTH

Jill in CO

This is really a great idea!

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

What about using your bank atm card to withdraw money at an atm. Will you be able to do that with a card that doesn't have a chip?
Thanks

Yes - not a problem. Be sure and let your bank know that you will be using your card in another country.

When we travel to Europe, we stop at an ATM at the airport for Euros before leaving the airport. No need to pay extra to get Euros beforehand, unless you will need a large amount of cash right away.

 

[sue1013]

A few PP's have said to use atm you need to have a debit card with a 4 digit pin. My debit card has a 6 digit pin will I not be able to use it in Europe?

 

[platamama]

I'm actually looking for a card with no annual fee that correspondingly has no foreign exchange fee as I plan to cancel the Premier soon as it has a $125 annual fee. Was great while it lasted - got enough bonus points for $700 in tix to Florida!

Check out Capital One VentureOne rewards CC. No annual fee. No foreign transaction fees. Earn 1.25% on purchases.

It's the one I'd get if I were travelling out of the states.

 

[Liandro]

A few PP's have said to use atm you need to have a debit card with a 4 digit pin. My debit card has a 6 digit pin will I not be able to use it in Europe?

Good question.
I am able to use y four digit card in the US so hopefully it works the other way around for you.
I would ask my bank and maybe call one of the banks you plan to visit in Europe.

 

[cornflake]

The length of the PIN doesn't/shouldn't matter. I used to have a longer PIN and used it overseas, now have a shorter but... shouldn't make a diff.

I'd just wait til you get wherever and use an ATM there if you want cash, unless there's a really favourable move in the exchange rate before then that you think won't hold.

 

[bumbershoot]

Vice Versa is the same we pay a fee in America.
I just have to warn you that a CC is almost nowhere accepted whiteout a pin code.
In fact the whole CC is very rare accepted. Just be prepared to withdraw cash at an "pin automate" as they call them. Asking for an ATT will get you nowhere.
I certainly would advise to take a Visa card .

Hubby travels often for work, and has not run into that situation at all.

 

[bumbershoot]

A few PP's have said to use atm you need to have a debit card with a 4 digit pin. My debit card has a 6 digit pin will I not be able to use it in Europe?

I think that's the problem. Our debit card has a 4 digit PIN anyway. DH has had no problem pulling cash out of debit or credit card, nor with using theca anywhere he has traveled, apart from not beng able to use his work Amex in every spot.

We have a credit union card, and the charges are not bad at all. Only issue is that he tends to get cash out using the cc, and that is definitey higher than using the debit.

 

[stsomewhere]

Capital One.

Some places will not take credit cards. I was on a med cruise and one of the restaurants we were at my friends credit card would not go through. She ended up having to pay cash, even though she had used it other places.

 

[DVC'96]

Yes - not a problem. Be sure and let your bank know that you will be using your card in another country.

When we travel to Europe, we stop at an ATM at the airport for Euros before leaving the airport. No need to pay extra to get Euros beforehand, unless you will need a large amount of cash right away.

Are you saying that you can get Euros at a US airport before you leave? Tell me more. I see you are from the DC area. We are in Maryland. What airports have Euros in the ATMs?

 

[jedijill]

Are you saying that you can get Euros at a US airport before you leave? Tell me more. I see you are from the DC area. We are in Maryland. What airports have Euros in the ATMs?

I they the PP meant getting Euros from the ATM in the European airport.

Jill in CO

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Are you saying that you can get Euros at a US airport before you leave? Tell me more. I see you are from the DC area. We are in Maryland. What airports have Euros in the ATMs?

Yes, you can get Euros at the airport before leaving. At Dulles and BWI they have Travelex Foreign Currency Exchange where you can get Euros. However, I meant that I get Euros from an ATM at the airport when I arrive in Europe. It is cheaper to get Euros from the ATM. There is no need to worry about having Euros as soon as you land. Just get them at an airport ATM.

Some places will not take credit cards.

Of course this is true. There are many retail establishments and restaurants in the US which do not take credit cards either.

A few PP's have said to use atm you need to have a debit card with a 4 digit pin. My debit card has a 6 digit pin will I not be able to use it in Europe?

The length of the PIN does matter. Most foreign ATM machines will not take a PIN over 4 numbers and it cannot start with zero.

 

[beansmom]

Capital One does not charge a fee.

For a debit card, check with your bank. Because I keep a certain amount in my checking account, all ATM transactions are free on both ends, even in Europe.

exactly why we got a Capital One Venture card last year...no conversion fee. Saved us quite a bit in Italy....and we'll be taking it to Europe next spring as well.

 

[shoes99]

We bought euros with us, but when we were a little short we used our Schwaab One ATM card. They refund any bank fees back to your account. I was on an escorted tour in Germany and the tourguide went with me to an atm to stand by if I needed help. It went smoothly and in the end, no fees.