Cards

There just wasn't enough time in yesterday. One of the reasons was spending an hour on hold so I could talk to a human at my credit card company. Since I only use this card with the EU student tour I've forgotten the PIN and needed them to send it to me. It takes about 10 days so I've left barely enough time for a repeat request if something goes wrong. While I had them on the phone I also notified them of the dates and countries I'll be in on the trip. That way the card won't be flagged as stolen and locked. Nothing worse than not being able to get cash when you need or want it. 

So, here are credit/debit the tips:

Before you go:

• Inform your bank of your travel dates in Europe.
• European ATMs will take funds only from checking accounts — not savings — so make sure your checking account balance is high enough before you go.
• If possible bring one debit card and one credit card, ideally with a Visa or MasterCard logo.
• Make sure you have a four-digit PIN number (no letters) for all of your cards, even your credit card. Request a PIN if you don’t know it (allow time for your bank to mail it).

When making a withdrawal:

• Try to use ATMs at banks during banking hours. If there’s a problem, someone in the bank can probably help.
• Avoid non-bank ATMs. "Independent" ATMs charge outrageous fees.
• Grab your cash and card quickly; some ATMs suck back the cash after 30 seconds.
• Take out large amounts at one time to avoid frequent ATM trips and repeated withdrawal fees.
• Don’t use your credit card to withdraw cash unless it’s an emergency; you’ll be charged a high cash-advance interest rate.

If your card doesn’t work:

• Try a different ATM. (Do not re-enter your PIN if the ATM eats your card.)
• Try a lower amount; the ATM may have a withdrawal limit.
• Try later. Your card’s 24-hour withdrawal maximum is based on US time, or your bank’s network may be temporarily down.