EURO TOUR 2012..!!!!!!!

Suziemay wrote:

morello wrote:

Anyone got tips on how to deal with all the different currencies? Travellers cheques? I've not passed through so many different places with different currencies when travelling before & as much as the visa card will be great sometimes you just need cash. Any ideas re the best way to do it for the least fees? TIA.

I don't have a good answer since I'm trying to figure this out myself. I will say if you do end up with travelers cheques, get it in your home country's currency so you don't lose out in exchange rates multiple times if you have unused ones.

Right now, my plan is to bring some Euros/USD with me as my emergency stash, use my Amex as much as I can since mine doesn't have foreign transaction fees, and use my ATM card to get cash in local currency the minute I arrive in each town. I don't like having too much cash on me.

I wouldn't bother with traveller's cheques. They aren't really used anymore - it could be more hassle than it's worth and you have to go looking for banks and all that. Credit card works best in Scandinavia and the same goes for Amsterdam and Berlin - You can use Mastercard and Visa almost everywhere.
If you end up having spare norwegian or sweidsh cash ( ) you can use them in Copenhagen (notes only). You probably won't get the best rates but it's better than not getting them spent at all.

Suziemay wrote:

How bout American Express, Eva?

I can't answer for Scandiniavia but can say in the UK it is hit and miss whether American Express will be accepted. Large chains maybe (although some still refuse it) but elsewhere you may be required to have a minimum spend or be refused. I only know a couple of people who have American Express cards here (to collect airmiles) and whenever I have seen them use it they always ask first before even getting it out of their wallet if it will be accepted and have another card as back up.

I then googled it to see if my experience was correct to find there is even a website in the UK to try and list who will accept AmEx! http://www.whoacceptsamex.co.uk/

Suziemay wrote:

chime wrote:

Suziemay wrote:

How bout American Express, Eva?

I can't answer for Scandiniavia but can say in the UK it is hit and miss whether American Express will be accepted. Large chains maybe (although some still refuse it) but elsewhere you may be required to have a minimum spend or be refused. I only know a couple of people who have American Express cards here (to collect airmiles) and whenever I have seen them use it they always ask first before even getting it out of their wallet if it will be accepted and have another card as back up.

I then googled it to see if my experience was correct to find there is even a website in the UK to try and list who will accept AE! http://www.whoacceptsamex.co.uk/

Yeah, definitely know with the UK it's hit or miss. I seem to remember asking earlier and someone said no problem in Scandinavia but thought I'd get another data point Crucial for me to avoid the foreign transaction fees! I do have a Mastercard but I'd rather not use it.

Do you guys have the option of prepaid currency cards like this for travel? The prepaid Mastercard I'm not sure if it charges transaction fees.

https://www.fairfx.com/cardselection

EDIT: found list of fees

https://www.fairfx.com/whatitcosts

For any UK folks below link should avoid delivery fees if you load up I think around £50 the first time

http://www.fairfx.com/moneysupermarket3 ... ffer&chan=

EDIT: for UK folks travelling this link helps you work out the cheapest way to spend overseas

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/travel ... avel-money

All very confusing. I actually chose my credit card on the basis of having no overseas transaction fees :shock:

as for Prague...

Mastercard and Visa accepted everywhere.
Amex could be tricky. Same as Diner Club.

Doing cash... best exchange office with best rates is to be found just few meters from the Old Town Square at the Franz Kafka museum - http://www.exchange.cz/contact.php . - (Náměstí Franze Kafky 2 - Prague 1). Link just in czech (wtf?)

In some shops (Tesco included) they accept euros ...

Thank for the currency info peeps. I'm still checking things out. I've gto a mastercard debit card I can pre-load curreencies on as well but there seems to be fees for goddam everything so I'm not sure it's worth it. I've e-maield my bank to ask how much to withdraw cash from an ATM in Europe so will see on that as well.

& chime thanks for that re easyjet lugagge costs. I hadn't got that far in the booking so indeed know nothing about that yet. Still surely it'll be like £20-25 max so that still works out cheaper.

So much researching to do!! :?

In Sweden you can use Visa & Mastercard in most shops, restaurants and pub:s. Small shops can deny you on small amounts sometime (eventhou they are not allowed too), amex can be used in some places but diners are often a big nono.

There are lots of ATM in stockholm so there should not be a problem to make a withdraw if you need to but youre probably better of paying with your card most of the time (if not you bank overcharge you and give you a bad exchangerate)!

Henrik

Suziemay wrote:

Eva Copenhagen wrote:

morello wrote:

Anyone got tips on how to deal with all the different currencies? Travellers cheques? I've not passed through so many different places with different currencies when travelling before & as much as the visa card will be great sometimes you just need cash. Any ideas re the best way to do it for the least fees? TIA.

I wouldn't bother with traveller's cheques. They aren't really used anymore - it could be more hassle than it's worth and you have to go looking for banks and all that. Credit card works best in Scandinavia and the same goes for Amsterdam and Berlin - You can use Mastercard and Visa almost everywhere.
If you end up having spare norwegian or sweidsh cash ( ) you can use them in Copenhagen (notes only). You probably won't get the best rates but it's better than not getting them spent at all.

How bout American Express, Eva?

I'm not sure about American Express. Mastercard and Visa are definetely the best, but I'll try and keep an eye on the Am-ex logo.

Eva Copenhagen wrote:

Suziemay wrote:

Eva Copenhagen wrote:

I wouldn't bother with traveller's cheques. They aren't really used anymore - it could be more hassle than it's worth and you have to go looking for banks and all that. Credit card works best in Scandinavia and the same goes for Amsterdam and Berlin - You can use Mastercard and Visa almost everywhere.
If you end up having spare norwegian or sweidsh cash ( ) you can use them in Copenhagen (notes only). You probably won't get the best rates but it's better than not getting them spent at all.

How bout American Express, Eva?

I'm not sure about American Express. Mastercard and Visa are definetely the best, but I'll try and keep an eye on the Am-ex logo.

Thanks Eva I suspect it's similar to the UK, in that it's hit or miss but if you happen to see it around that would be good to know!

One of these days I'll head over the pond to a Euro show.

Enjoy everyone!!!

Ok, I googled all the places I'm stopping by and got the scoop on Amex. I know I care about this, not sure if anyone else does but click on the link to learn about other money-related stuff.

In summary: Amex is widely accepted in Sweden and Norway. Denmark and Prague not so much, mostly Visa/Mastercard. Germany is mostly cash-based. Locals, feel free to dispute any of this

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/czech-repub ... oney-costs
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/germany/ber ... oney-costs
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/sweden/prac ... oney-costs
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/denmark/pra ... oney-costs
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/norway/prac ... oney-costs