Best card for foreign exchange?
Oct 29, 2009 | 9:02 am
#1651
Join Date: Jul 2004
Programs: CO Gold; SPG Gold***; AvisFirst;
Posts: 3,970
I'll be in Stockholm for about a week in a month's time, and I'd like to plan now which credit and/or debit cards to use.
I've prepaid my hotel stay but will surely have lots of meal, museum, and other incidental expenses.
I've been thinking to use mostly debit card(s) to make cash withdrawals. I have debit cards from Chase, USAA and Bank of America, and credit cards from B of A, USAA, and Amex. No Capital One or Schwab cards, and I'd rather not add to my already large collection just for this trip.
If I understand what USAA says correctly, the total charge will be 1% if I use their debit card, plus a possible fee from the ATM owner.
Can anyone verify this?
Also, is anyone familiar with ATM fees in Stockholm?
Thanks,
R.
I've prepaid my hotel stay but will surely have lots of meal, museum, and other incidental expenses.
I've been thinking to use mostly debit card(s) to make cash withdrawals. I have debit cards from Chase, USAA and Bank of America, and credit cards from B of A, USAA, and Amex. No Capital One or Schwab cards, and I'd rather not add to my already large collection just for this trip.
If I understand what USAA says correctly, the total charge will be 1% if I use their debit card, plus a possible fee from the ATM owner.
Can anyone verify this?
Also, is anyone familiar with ATM fees in Stockholm?
Thanks,
R.
Oct 29, 2009 | 9:10 am
#1652
In memoriam
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 4,020
Dear rtom,
Just a reminder that cross-posting is not a good idea. See the Other Credit Card thread http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/other...stockholm.html
It clogs the "arteries." @:-)
Just a reminder that cross-posting is not a good idea. See the Other Credit Card thread http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/other...stockholm.html
It clogs the "arteries." @:-)
Oct 29, 2009 | 10:25 am
#1653
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 30,343
Dear rtom,
Just a reminder that cross-posting is not a good idea. See the Other Credit Card thread http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/other...stockholm.html
It clogs the "arteries." @:-)
Just a reminder that cross-posting is not a good idea. See the Other Credit Card thread http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/other...stockholm.html
It clogs the "arteries." @:-)
All the OP needs is to find out USAA info as the BofA info is readily available on BofA own website, although it requires a bit of work from the OP to find it...
Oct 29, 2009 | 12:49 pm
#1654
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: MSN / ORD
Programs: HHonors Diamond; UA Golod; SPG; Hyatt Diamond; AA PLAT; MR gold
Posts: 77
Capital one has worked well for me - no transaction fee
Oct 29, 2009 | 3:28 pm
#1655
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: DEN
Programs: AA DL UA
Posts: 177
About USAA and reimbursement of ATM fees abroad:
I was told yesterday by a USAA rep that unfortunately they don't reimburse the fee a foreign ATM owner charges.
That said, I'm pleased to hear that some of you have been reimbursed. Maybe USAA reimburses in cases where it's clear what the ATM fee was.
I was told yesterday by a USAA rep that unfortunately they don't reimburse the fee a foreign ATM owner charges.
That said, I'm pleased to hear that some of you have been reimbursed. Maybe USAA reimburses in cases where it's clear what the ATM fee was.
Oct 30, 2009 | 3:11 am
#1656
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: eastern Europe & NC
Posts: 4,528
Is there a site somewhere where all of the ATM owner fees are compiled? That would really be useful. I know when I was travelling in Greece, one of the tourist guidebooks (Let's Go, if memory serves) that set them all out.
It seems like another good class action would be to force all the ATM networks to reveal these charges. I don't care about the payout, I would just like to see some injunctive relief to make them reveal and publicize these.
Plus and Cirrus should be the defendants.
Many British ATM's at banks tell you on the screen that there is no ATM owner charge. Hooray for them.
It seems like another good class action would be to force all the ATM networks to reveal these charges. I don't care about the payout, I would just like to see some injunctive relief to make them reveal and publicize these.
Plus and Cirrus should be the defendants.
Many British ATM's at banks tell you on the screen that there is no ATM owner charge. Hooray for them.
Oct 30, 2009 | 6:19 am
#1657
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: SNA/LAX
Programs: Hertz PC, Hilton DMD, IHG Spire Amb, Bonvoy Titanium Elite & WoH Globalist
Posts: 8,132
Nov 4, 2009 | 12:30 pm
#1658
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Cambridge, MA
Programs: AA EXP, UA1k, AmEx Plat, Global Entry & Pre✓
Posts: 852
E*Trade does not allow you to use ATMs in "Southeast Asia". They publish no list of what qualifies as "Southeast Asia" but the manager on the phone said to look for a Visa+ logo and hope, but no guarantee E*Trade will let you make the withdrawal.
Just wanted to add this to the FT community.
Does Schwab have the same restriction?
Finally, can someone recommend a bank to get currency before I leave from the USA? Somewhere with good rates (euro and Thai baht).
Thanks!
Just wanted to add this to the FT community.
Does Schwab have the same restriction?
Finally, can someone recommend a bank to get currency before I leave from the USA? Somewhere with good rates (euro and Thai baht).
Thanks!
Nov 4, 2009 | 1:52 pm
#1659
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: NYC
Posts: 8,688
I'm not aware of any restrictions with Schwab, and a friend used a Schwab ATM card in Thailand in February without incident.
If you have a corporate or private banking (or a "premier" or "gold" or whatever) relationship with one of the big international banks (Citi, HSBC, maybe BofA or Chase), I'd try them. Otherwise, you're probably going to get screwed trying to get foreign currency in the US.
Finally, can someone recommend a bank to get currency before I leave from the USA? Somewhere with good rates (euro and Thai baht).
Nov 4, 2009 | 2:12 pm
#1660
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Cambridge, MA
Programs: AA EXP, UA1k, AmEx Plat, Global Entry & Pre✓
Posts: 852
I use first republic for my banking. I'm a "premier" customer or whatever. I am waiting for a call back from the forex rep there.
Are there any decent services out there in case their rates are not too good?
Are there any decent services out there in case their rates are not too good?
Nov 5, 2009 | 1:53 pm
#1661
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: eastern Europe & NC
Posts: 4,528
Dec 26, 2009 | 5:12 pm
#1662
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Orlando, Florida, USA
Posts: 3,020
In the wiki, for State Farm Bank, under ATM Fee, someone put "0% + $10 handling charge". As far as I know, there is no $10 handling charge whatsoever. Who put that information there?
Dec 26, 2009 | 5:34 pm
#1663
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Atlanta, GA, USA
Programs: DL estranged 1MMer and lifetime gold, F9/CO/NW/UA/AA once gold/plat now dust, Spirit RIP
Posts: 42,226
State Farm Bank has definitely been the best of the bunch for me, and I've never had a handling charge.
The situation in Thailand is really bad, though when I was there last (in August), Bangkok Bank wasn't charging anything for Visa cash advances done over the counter. My credit union doesn't charge any upfront fees on those (try getting THAT from a bank), so it worked out. Generally, though, will need a much heavier mix of traveler's checks.
The situation in Thailand is really bad, though when I was there last (in August), Bangkok Bank wasn't charging anything for Visa cash advances done over the counter. My credit union doesn't charge any upfront fees on those (try getting THAT from a bank), so it worked out. Generally, though, will need a much heavier mix of traveler's checks.
Dec 29, 2009 | 5:16 pm
#1664
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 79
HSBC Premier World MasterCard
Wouldn't the HSBC Premier World MasterCard be considered a potential best?
-No foreign transaction fees made in a foreign currency
-No preset spending limit
-No annual fee or over-limit fees
-Points
http://www.us.hsbc.com/1/2/3/hsbcpremier/privileges
-No foreign transaction fees made in a foreign currency
-No preset spending limit
-No annual fee or over-limit fees
-Points
http://www.us.hsbc.com/1/2/3/hsbcpremier/privileges
Dec 29, 2009 | 10:09 pm
#1665
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Denver CO
Posts: 3,686
Wouldn't the HSBC Premier World MasterCard be considered a potential best?
-No foreign transaction fees made in a foreign currency
-No preset spending limit
-No annual fee or over-limit fees
-Points
http://www.us.hsbc.com/1/2/3/hsbcpremier/privileges
-No foreign transaction fees made in a foreign currency
-No preset spending limit
-No annual fee or over-limit fees
-Points
http://www.us.hsbc.com/1/2/3/hsbcpremier/privileges
I had high hopes for HSBC when they made all the acquisitions around the world a while back. It seemed they were looking to move banking services above the bumps that often show up as you cross borders/oceans. Maybe they do but when I checked back then, they looked to be in the same old "high fees but we'll waive them if you give us big deposits" game that's been a benchmark of banking for, say, 100 years or so.