Foreign Currency or CC?

[tonyfsu21]

We are headed to Rome next Summer on Odyssey and starting to plan for the trip. Does anyone bother with foreign currency these days when traveling or can AMEX/Visa credit cards be used pretty much everywhere? I dont use cash unless I’m at a casino so hoping a cc will be sufficient. 

[smokeybandit]

You should have no problem using a CC for everything unless you're visiting some tiny and/or remote place.

[SMOKEY0202]

Amex isn't widely used across pond.  Other credit cards are fine.  just make sure to have cash if use taxis or being in remote areas.  Even some of quaint shops only take cash.

[cedricmr]

Yes for credit cards.

But amex is not usual in Europe 

[ChessE4]

Get some Euros. You'll want a bottled drink from a street vendor at some point, or need a cash cab or bus.. You can take out some at atm in Rome if you notify your bank in advance about your travel.

[DoomSlayer]

Visa and Mastercard are the two card types mostly used there.  You won't see AMEX or Discover used much outside of hotels and high-end tourist stores and restaurants.  When I lived in Germany and UK years ago, Mastercard seemed more accepted among them all.

[Kelseylovestocruise]

I would recommend cash. Depending on where your cruise goes to some places I visited in Croatia were cash only.  

[teddy]

We just got back from Europe.  We use our debit cards at a Bank atm to get cash.  Make sure to say no when asked if you want the conversion done right then and there. 
 

Our credit union told us this was the cheapest way to get euros.  Just make sure you are using an atm from an actual bank, not a third party one. 
 

 

[Doug_Texas]

31 minutes ago, teddy said:

We just got back from Europe.  We use our debit cards at a Bank atm to get cash.  Make sure to say no when asked if you want the conversion done right then and there. 
 

Our credit union told us this was the cheapest way to get euros.  Just make sure you are using an atm from an actual bank, not a third party one. 
 

 

Agree.  I always have local currency and use cc as much as possible.  Surprising how often a taxi credit card machine doesn’t work.  While I know that is often a ruse I’ve seen the machine not being able to connect.  Recently was a taxi in Paris to the Lourve.  So many smartphones around the museum taxi internet connection failed over and over. 
 

I recently got a debit card from my investment brokerage company that refunds ATM fees and it has worked like a charm in Europe and the UK.

[KJones]

Credit card without foreign transaction fees (some will charge additional 3% on top of conversion) + a few hundred cash from a bank atm once we've landed.

[Mturk]

We did mainly credit card purchases but will always bring some cash with us. You never know when you'll need it. I bring the Euros from home that i get from one of the more reasonable currency exchange bureaus. They always have better rates than the banks and, in fact, it was my bank that told me about the one I went to.

[Zacharius]

I travel for a living and bounce around countries like most people bounce around suburbs. I almost never use cash, unless I am in a place that really demands it (like many third world countries...and even then, it's opening up). Now, I do usually stop and get a little bit of cash to have on hand should I need it, but I just do that at the ATM when I get off. I also usually carry a little bit of USD (and/or EUR if I am outside of the Eurozone) should there be an issue with my ATM card and I need to exchange cash for cash, which is an absolute last case scenario. 

[PhillyLady]

I have been in Rome the past two Summers, and I always bring Euros with me from my bank even before I arrive. That way I can pay the taxi in cash, buy a cold drink, and then be prepared to purchase a small food item or trinket here and there. There are some countries that require a one Euro coin in order to use a public bathroom.

Yes, I also take cash out of ATMS as needed, usually more for shopping than meals and hotels. I love to shop for souvenirs all the time--there are many street vendors in Italy--I can buy one fan for two Euros to use on a hot day. I would NEVER give them a credit card! We also pay all taxis in cash. 

I agree that AmEx is not as readily accepted or used, so I would search out the ATMs in advance. I know that in the entire country of Iceland only one ATM accepts AmEx. I have also seen ATMs run out of cash, so that is why I like to have some in advance to bring with me. 

Last month I was somewhere and all the electricity went out, so people could only pay with cash.  Here in the US in Vermont tourist areas, restaurants now charge you 3-4% extra for using a CC!! Yes, when we go up there skiing the end of the month, we are paying in good old American dollars--no credit cards!

[Pattycruise]

If carrying a credit card and relying on it have a second card on hand for emergencies in case your first card is compromised.  I grew up a cash only family and I always have some sort of cash on hand for emergencies, I definitely take Euro with me for the reasons above and then some extra/just in case.

[MarvinS]

We were in Rome this last summer and just used a debit card at an ATM once we landed.  We definitely used cash at small local vendors as not everyone would take a credit card. 

I will also second the fact that several public restrooms (at least in most of the places in Italy we visited) will usually require a one euro coin to use them.  I soon bought a few small things with some of my newly obtained euro cash to get a few coins so that the "need a restroom now" issue never became a problem.

[Momof4crazytocruise]

I pre-ordered foreign currency from my bank fairly easily. I did it online and they FedEx'd me the cash free of charge. It was really nice to set foot on the ground with some pocket money already in my pocket and not to be stressed about finding an ATM. The exchange rate was about as good as it gets as well. The only down side is that I had to order a minimum of $200 USD worth - but we easily blew threw that quickly. 

[Atlantix2000]

12 hours ago, MarvinS said:

We definitely used cash at small local vendors as not everyone would take a credit card.

While there are some vendors that truly are cash only, there are also plenty that will claim to be cash only but will take one when pressed or if they think they are going to lose the sale because you start to walk out.  They are just hoping to increase their profits by not having to pay the card fees.

[Mike n Ky]

I was using a Chase travel CC in Europe this summer and noticed that I was being charged a foreign transaction fee. I immediately changed my card use to one that didn't charge that fee.

[cruisellama]

CC works all over.  Ensure you have one without foreign transaction fees.   We will use the CC to two get Euros from an airport ATM when we arrive for tips and small purchases along the way.  

[Atlantix2000]

2 hours ago, Mike n Ky said:

I was using a Chase travel CC in Europe this summer and noticed that I was being charged a foreign transaction fee. I immediately changed my card use to one that didn't charge that fee.

There's a Chase Travel Card that actually has a foreign transaction fee?  Let us know which one so we can avoid it.  That totally defeats the point of a travel card!

[mk-ultra]

I always carry around $100 USD in the local currency for surprises when a credit card won't suffice.  If you use a credit card and are given a choice whether to be charged in the local currency or your native currency -- always pick local.  If the local payment processor does the converion (vs. your bank) I've seen outrageous conversion rates... like 6%.  If your bank offers one, get a travel-focused card with no foreign transaction fees.

[mk-ultra]

On 10/29/2024 at 3:41 PM, Pattycruise said:

If carrying a credit card and relying on it have a second card on hand for emergencies in case your first card is compromised.  I grew up a cash only family and I always have some sort of cash on hand for emergencies, I definitely take Euro with me for the reasons above and then some extra/just in case.

This.  I split one credit card to separate from my others in my wallet and carry in my day pack.  No single point of failure if someone steals either of them.  Natch, the DL isn't going to let you travel internationally, but it helps if you need a passport replacement from a consulate.

[JasonOasis]

What I do when I travel to Europe is I have a little bit of cash in my pocket for tips and those really small mom and pop stores and restaurants/ street vendors that don't accept CC. 

Other than that I use my CC and I have 3 an AMEX (not widely accepted in Europe) a Visa and a Mastercard.  Check to be sure your current credit card does not charge foreign transaction fees if they do you may want to switch over to one that does not. 

I saw some people stating they brought their debit card, I would caution against brining your debit card in fact I leave mine at home.  Debit card that's your money a credit card is the banks money.  God forbid but if your wallet/purse is stollen is easier and quicker for the bank to get their money back than for the bank to give you back your money.  Take a small amount of cash but leave your debit card (your money) safe at home.

[MarvinS]

5 hours ago, JasonOasis said:

I saw some people stating they brought their debit card, I would caution against brining your debit card in fact I leave mine at home.  Debit card that's your money a credit card is the banks money.  God forbid but if your wallet/purse is stollen is easier and quicker for the bank to get their money back than for the bank to give you back your money.  Take a small amount of cash but leave your debit card (your money) safe at home.

The debit card I take is one that is tied loosely to an investment account.  I can transfer funds to my debit card account (and check my card balance instantly) with a simple app on my phone, and only put money on the debit card as I planned on using it (like while I'm standing at the ATM).  This worked well to transfer USD onto the debit card (using my phone app) and then use a bank ATM at a European airport to pull cash out in euros very easily.   The foreign bank ATMs usually had reasonably low fees, and allowed my investment account to deal with the currency exchange.  I also keep my credit cards (and one debit card) in an RFID shielded wallet.  If the card was ever stolen or compromised, the most they could get off my debit card would be usually less than $10. This worked extremely well for our two weeks we were in Europe this last summer.

[Mike n Ky]

12 hours ago, Atlantix2000 said:

There's a Chase Travel Card that actually has a foreign transaction fee?  Let us know which one so we can avoid it.  That totally defeats the point of a travel card!

Southwest.