Using only credit card in Europe?
Apr 2, 2019, 6:42 pm
#17
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I suggest that you will need some cash. An ATM will give you the best exchange rate and cash is very useful for small purchases. At the end of each country you can pay your hotel bill with your remaining cash then settle the balance with your credit card or you can exchange your remaining cash for the next currency you need at the airport and accept that the exchange rate won't be the best. If you keep a photo album or scrapbook of your trip a small note makes a good addition to the photos.
By the way, Sweden continues its move away from cash. An increasing number of places don't accept cash and I believe the main IKEA store will go cashless this year.
Enjoy your trip. (I just wrote some Stockholm visit suggestions in the Nordic forum.)
By the way, Sweden continues its move away from cash. An increasing number of places don't accept cash and I believe the main IKEA store will go cashless this year.
Enjoy your trip. (I just wrote some Stockholm visit suggestions in the Nordic forum.)
Apr 2, 2019, 8:18 pm
#19
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I have 3 contactless cards. I think I'll take out maybe $100 worth of currency to use in each country I'll be visiting and the rest will be on my card when possible.
Apr 3, 2019, 6:20 am
#20
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You can even change your leftover £ into € or Kr at the next destination - not the best rates, but you won't accumulate small amounts of different currencies. The is what I do when I visit multiple countries in Asia - get some ¥ (usually too much 
) then change the remainder into ₩ or $ or whichever is my next destination.
) then change the remainder into ₩ or $ or whichever is my next destination.
Apr 4, 2019, 5:58 am
#21
Join Date: May 2018
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Underground and buses in London can be paid contactless. In fact, on London buses, it's pretty much the only way now. On the underground it's almost always the cheapest way. You can use a card in London taxis as well. An increasing number of buses outside London also accept contactless.
Some smaller merchants still get awkward about accepting cards for transactions less than £5, even though legally in the EU they're not allowed to discriminate by payment method any more.
British ATMs generally all dispense £10 and £20 notes.
Some smaller merchants still get awkward about accepting cards for transactions less than £5, even though legally in the EU they're not allowed to discriminate by payment method any more.
British ATMs generally all dispense £10 and £20 notes.
Last edited by DeeGee26.2; Apr 4, 2019 at 6:05 am Reason: extra info
Jun 22, 2019, 6:55 pm
#23
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During my last trip to Denmark and Sweden, the leftover cash was used a partial hotel payment. The rest was paid with my credit card.
In Copenhagen I walked to the train station and in Sweden I used uber so did not need any extra cash once I checked out of the hotel.
I think I used $20 worth of of local money in cash during the 3 day stay in each city.
Credit is king.
In Copenhagen I walked to the train station and in Sweden I used uber so did not need any extra cash once I checked out of the hotel.
I think I used $20 worth of of local money in cash during the 3 day stay in each city.
Credit is king.
Jun 24, 2019, 2:09 pm
#24
Join Date: Nov 2008
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This mirrors my exact experience. I've done all cities listed (most multiple times) except Brussels with no cash at all... and easily.
Last edited by MissJ; Jun 24, 2019 at 3:26 pm
Jun 27, 2019, 3:14 am
#25
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I just returned from Copenhagen, it seems that CC transactions also require a PIN--which most US CCs don' havet. I tried purchasing a 3 day transportation pass from a kiosk, after inserting my CC it asked for my PIN--I wound up using my ATM card instead.
[From Casino promos I have lots of VISA gift cards, when I use them in supermarket self-service check out lines I am prompted to enter my PIN, I just hit ENTER and the transaction is finalized--maybe doing the same for my transportation pass would have worked.]
[From Casino promos I have lots of VISA gift cards, when I use them in supermarket self-service check out lines I am prompted to enter my PIN, I just hit ENTER and the transaction is finalized--maybe doing the same for my transportation pass would have worked.]
Jun 27, 2019, 4:08 am
#26
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I just returned from Copenhagen, it seems that CC transactions also require a PIN--which most US CCs don' havet. I tried purchasing a 3 day transportation pass from a kiosk, after inserting my CC it asked for my PIN--I wound up using my ATM card instead.
[From Casino promos I have lots of VISA gift cards, when I use them in supermarket self-service check out lines I am prompted to enter my PIN, I just hit ENTER and the transaction is finalized--maybe doing the same for my transportation pass would have worked.]
[From Casino promos I have lots of VISA gift cards, when I use them in supermarket self-service check out lines I am prompted to enter my PIN, I just hit ENTER and the transaction is finalized--maybe doing the same for my transportation pass would have worked.]
Are you able to withdraw money from an ATM with a CC without a PIN in the US?
Jun 27, 2019, 5:25 am
#27
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: DEL
Posts: 1,056
I just returned from Copenhagen, it seems that CC transactions also require a PIN--which most US CCs don' havet. I tried purchasing a 3 day transportation pass from a kiosk, after inserting my CC it asked for my PIN--I wound up using my ATM card instead.
[From Casino promos I have lots of VISA gift cards, when I use them in supermarket self-service check out lines I am prompted to enter my PIN, I just hit ENTER and the transaction is finalized--maybe doing the same for my transportation pass would have worked.]
[From Casino promos I have lots of VISA gift cards, when I use them in supermarket self-service check out lines I am prompted to enter my PIN, I just hit ENTER and the transaction is finalized--maybe doing the same for my transportation pass would have worked.]
No, but no one in their right mind takes cash advances with credit cards so the PIN is useless in the US. It's also a separate system, so even though you may know your cash advance PIN your card often doesn't support EMV PIN for purchases.
Jun 27, 2019, 6:08 am
#28
Join Date: May 2018
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I believe that some European cards are being printed without a signature strip now, so it's unusable for ID verification. Would those be refused in the States? Can't say I felt that my signature was very closely scrutinised over there.
Jun 27, 2019, 7:06 am
#29
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: DEL
Posts: 1,056
Absolutely understand that. It's the same PIN for everything in Europe, you're sent your pin when you're sent your card (in a different envelope at a different time, naturally). I'm interested to know, are you able to request a PIN for purchases?
I believe that some European cards are being printed without a signature strip now, so it's unusable for ID verification. Would those be refused in the States? Can't say I felt that my signature was very closely scrutinised over there.
I believe that some European cards are being printed without a signature strip now, so it's unusable for ID verification. Would those be refused in the States? Can't say I felt that my signature was very closely scrutinised over there.
The signature requirement is gone in the US as of last year, though a lot of systems still print signature slips or ask for signatures on the terminal. I doubt anyone would notice if the card had no signature strip.
Jun 27, 2019, 7:42 am
#30
Join Date: May 2018
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