Before the COVID-19 Pandemic, Europeans tended to use cash for their day-to-day spending much more than Americans did. Back in the early 2000’s Europeans carried lots of cash in their pockets on a daily basis. Even as recent as 2019, I would deal mostly in cash when making purchases less than €50. But, that has all changed with “social distancing” and the Covid-19 Pandemic panic.
In 2022, CONTACTLESS payments are the way to go.
Either TAP your contactless credit/debit card to the MACHINE or your WRISTWATCH to the machine. However, you must set this contactless system up with your bank and credit card provider before leaving home. ApplePay and GooglePay have similar systems for phones and portable devices.
And, by the way, the MACHINE is portable. It comes to the table at a restaurant, and your credit card never leaves your hand.
If you need CASH, use a BANK ATM Machine
Using your debit card from your local back home is still the best way to get cash while traveling in Europe. There are ATMs (often called Bankomats) everywhere, and you treat them like those in the United States. Insert your card, type in your PIN code, and choose the cash amount. The machine makes noise and then spits out cash in the local currency.
AVOID EURONET ATM MACHINES! – These machines have popped up all over Europe in the last year. The machines are typically in storefronts and advertise “free cash withdrawals.” Those traveling with me have reported high fees and exorbitant exchange rates combined into 20% or more markups.
If you have cash to spend, get to know the currency, both notes, and coins.
Bank NOTES
Paper currency (notes) are very easy to identify in all European countries. They all have a number in the corners denoting the value of the note. To make it even easier, European notes have different sizes and colors for each denomination. A €50 note is larger than a €5 note and is a different color. This holds whether you’re spending UK Sterling, the EU euro, or any other currency. Other than it looks like Monopoly money, you should have no trouble working with paper currency.
I still carry a small daily supply of banknotes in my front pocket, secured with a money clip. Each morning I take inventory of my banknotes and load up with what I think I might need to spend during the day.
The remainder of my stash of cash (and passport and credit cards) goes in my money belt tucked neatly and safely inside my pants. Now, of course, I know this is not living like a local, but it does give a peace of mind knowing that in unfamiliar circumstances, I don’t have to worry about my important stuff being taken from me.
COINS
You’ll likely use a few coins in Europe, like for doing laundry. It’s a good idea to do a little homework before your trip and study the different coin denominations, colors, and sizes. Here are some hints:
I like to lay all the coins out and do a mental and physical quiz each time I arrive in a new country.
Here is how I begin this quiz in the European Union.
Here is how I begin this quiz in the United Kingdom.
I like to use two pockets to sort out my coins; one for small coins under €1/£1 and another for large coins over €1/£1.
Before going into a shop, I take inventory of the coins in my pocket so that when the merchant gives me the total, I’ll know if I have enough coins to make the purchase or need to pay will bank notes.
Gone unchecked, coins can be overwhelming. It is a good idea to use many coins as you can on a daily basis.
After your trip, spend or cash in the coins before leaving the airport. Since many European coins are high-value, it can be expensive to fly home with a pocket full of change. Before heading home, spend them, trade them in or give them away.
Plastic Credit Cards
Europeans don’t make a distinction between credit cards and debit cards. I don’t believe I’ve ever had anyone ask “debit or credit.” I use my plastic (credit card) for larger purchases such as hotel bills, airline tickets, car rentals, and other big-ticket items. It makes perfect sense to use a credit card for online and telephone purchases. Credit cards also come in handy for purchases at unattended self-service machines in train and bus stations and at those unmanned European gas stations. Unfortunately, you’ll most likely need a chip-and-pin card for these. See my chip-and-pin card article for more information.
American credit cards work throughout Europe and are widely accepted at major hotels, stores, and attractions, especially in tourist-oriented areas. In smaller towns and mom-and-pop operations, credit cards may not be accepted because the merchant must pay the credit card company a hefty fee for the “privilege” of accepting credit cards. Visa and MasterCard are widely accepted. The American Express card, although a well-known name in the travel industry, is often not accepted due to the higher transaction fees the merchants must pay American Express.
Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC) is a service offered to credit cardholders that offers to convert a foreign transaction at the point of sale into the home currency of the cardholder. This is never a good idea for the consumer because it comes with inflated exchange rates that benefit the merchant. An unsuspecting cardholder can lose up to 7% by opting into this feature. Since DCC works against the purchaser, never say you would like your purchases to be converted to dollars.
You’ll not get beyond the check-in counter at the airport without a valid passport… if your destination is outside the United States of America. Americans are even required to show their passport when traveling to Canada, Mexico, or the Caribbean. Applying for a US Passport is the most important item to consider once a decision to travel has been made. The US also issues a “passport card,” which is about the size of a credit card. This card can only be used to re-enter the United States at land border crossing and sea ports of entry from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda. It cannot be used for international air travel, so we’ll not discuss this option any further here.
If you have a passport, it must be valid for six (6) months after your travel is complete, that is, the day of your return to the USA. Rules differ by country, but for European countries, this is the case. Additionally, your air carrier will not allow boarding for an international flight unless your passport is valid for six (6) months beyond your travel dates.
I have witnessed several passport-related events that have caused stress and even canceled trips. I recall a young lady signing up and paying to travel to Europe with her French teacher and friends. She (and her mother) waited a long time to apply for her passport and then worried daily when checking the mail, hoping it would arrive shortly. Unfortunately, her passport did not arrive before her travel date, and she had to stay behind and watch her friends go to Europe without her. On another occasion, a friend realized his passport would expire during his scheduled trip to Europe. To make matters even worse, he realized this only a couple of days before his trip was to begin. Thankfully, he called the National Passport Information Center, made an appointment, and drove 500 miles to renew his passport in person.
Applying for a new US Passport
Applying for and obtaining a US Passport, or even renewing an old one, can take some time. The average standard delivery time is 4 to 6 weeks. For an adult (18 years or older), the application and service fee is $165 for a passport with a validity period of 10 years. Children under 16 are only eligible for a passport with a validity period of 5 years, and the application fee is only $130. Forms and Information are available at: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports.html
When applying for a new passport, it must be done in person at an Acceptable Facility or US Passport Agency. Applicants must complete Form DS-11 and bring it with an approved original document showing evidence of US citizenship, a photo identification document, and two recent passport-sized photos. Full details and online printable forms can be found at: https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/passports.html.
There are many agencies where you can apply for a passport. Some include:
Federal, state, and probate courts,
Clerk of the Court Offices,
Post offices, and
Some public libraries.
For a complete list, search here.
When applying for or renewing a passport, why not asked for extra pages? You can request 52 pages instead of the usual 28, and it won’t cost a dime. This can only happen when requesting a new passport. See the details here.
Renewing a US Passport
If you have a current passport no older than 15 years, you can renew it by mail without having to visit an agency in person. You will need to complete Form DS-82, pay the application fee ($130), include two recent passport photos, and send it by mail to the passport agency. There are restrictions to this process, so it is a good idea to read all the applicable information at: https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/passports/renew.html
Faster Service on the Application
For an extra $60, passport renewal or a new application can be expedited. See the websites mentioned above for rates and details.
You have your passport, so now what?
Once you have received your passport, there are a few things you should consider.
Make copies of the first couple of pages of your passport. Give one copy to someone at home and bring another copy with you on tour stuffed in an inner pocket of your suitcase.
It is also a good idea to keep two extra original passport-sized photos on hand with you when traveling.
When traveling, keep your passport with you at all times. The safest and best way to do this is to keep it in your moneybelt. I put mine in a small plastic sandwich bag to keep it dry. Keeping your passport safe is very important. If it is lost while out of the country, you’ll be stuck for several days trying to get a replacement. Replacing lost passports requires a trip to the U.S. Embassy, which will take precious time away from your tour experience.
Many countries, especially outside of Western Europe, require a VISA. A VISA is an official document attached to one of your passport pages. It takes some time to apply for and receive a VISA, and it requires that you send in your passport to have the VISA officially attached to your passport. This means that your passport will not be in your possession for some time. Be sure to do your homework, check the US Department of State to find out if you need a VISA, and leave yourself plenty of time to complete the VISA process before your departure date.
Be frugal with your blank passport pages. Often an immigration office will open a passport to the first blank page he encounters and stamp it. This is ok if you seldom travel and have plenty of blank pages. But for frequent travelers, this wastes a lot of useful passport “real estate.” Consider placing sticky notes on blank pages to help direct the agent away from the useful blank pages.
If you are a frequent traveler, consider applying for Global Entry. This is a program for US citizens to expedite their re-entry back home at a US airport. There are fees and an extensive application process, but if you travel a lot, it is worth the effort.
Enroll in the S.T.E.P. program, an acronym for Smart Traveler Enrollment Program. This is a free service for US citizens traveling abroad to enroll their trip with the nearest US Embassy or Consulate. Their motto is “stay informed, stay connected, stay safe!” Enrollment is a simple process. Each time you leave the USA on a trip, visit the S.T.E.P. website and register your trip, destination, and duration. Should a problem arise, you’ll be contacted by the Embassy in your destination country. Additionally, the Embassy will contact you or family members in an emergency, whether natural disaster, civil unrest, or family emergency.
Traveling Americans and Passports
There are about 340 million people in the USA, and according to the US Department of State, there are 149,359,051 American citizens who possess valid passports. That’s only about 48% which means there are a whopping 52% of us that have never left the USA! Just imagine the cultural shift if those numbers bumped up to 75% or more. We might have a better understanding of other people groups and a more tolerant outlook on the varied cultures in the world today.
If your Spouse or Travel Partner has a Passport… you should too!
Recently, we were touring with a group around London, and one of our passengers became so sick he had to be admitted to the hospital. This gentleman had a US Passport (obviously) and travel insurance. The hospital wanted to keep him for several days. We contacted his wife at home in the USA and suggested she take advantage of the travel insurance feature and fly to London to be with her husband. To our shock, she informed us she could not fly over because she did not have a passport. Luckily, the gentleman was in good care at the hospital and flew home in a few days.
Summary
A passport is essential to travel outside the USA, and it takes a bit of work to jump through all the hoops to get one. Apply for or renew a passport as soon as you think you might travel internationally. Passports must remain valid for at least six months beyond your travel period. For a fee, expedited service can get your passport issued in as little as 2-3 days. It is a good idea for all US citizens to hold a valid passport just in case an emergency arises. Unfortunately, only about 37% of us do. Once you have a passport, keep it in a safe place, make several copies, never carry it in your back pocket, and consider getting extra pages with your application.
The Musée du Louvre is the world’s largest and oldest museum. It houses famous works of art such as The Mona Lisa, Winged Victory, Venus de Milo, and countless world-famous paintings dating up to the mid-1800s. It is overwhelming, crowded, and impossible to see everything in one visit. Over the years, I’ve developed a route visiting what I deem to be the “best of the best” the Louvre has to offer. Tonight, I’ll share this route and the works of art along the way. Also, I’ll include a new audio-guided walking tour, available for download, and a printed companion to the art.
There are many more of my Travel Talk Tuesday episodes in the archives. If you are looking for more information, videos, or advice about European travel, check here https://davidmcguffin.com/ttt
I’ve visited the Lauterbrunnen Valley in Switzerland many times, but I’ve never gone to the “Top of Europe” until my last trip. The Jungfrau (Mountain) soars high above the valley and surrounding peaks. The Jungfraujoch (mountain pass, literally yolk)) sits at 3454 meters (11,332 feet), capped with an observatory, restaurants, gift shops, and exhibits. Outdoors, it is cold, and snow and ice are guaranteed 365 days a year. The Aletsch Glacier flows peacefully down its southern slope towards Italy.
There are many more of my Travel Talk Tuesday episodes in the archives. If you are looking for more information, videos, or advice about European travel, check here https://davidmcguffin.com/ttt
David takes you on a walk inside Siena’s Cathedral. The Cathedral, known as the Duomo, was mostly built in the 13th century and is a fine example of the Gothic/Romanesque architectural style. Inside are finely-crafted inlaid mosaic floors and sculptures by great artists such as Donatello, Pisano, Bernini, and Michelangelo. Finally, the Piccolomini Library houses fine examples of “Gregorian” chant “hymnals” illuminated with richly colored graphics and 15th-century frescos chronicling local boy Aeneas Piccolomini, who became Pope Pius II in October 1405.
There are a lot more of my Travel Talk Tuesday episodes in the archives. If you are looking for more information, videos, or advice about European travel, check here https://davidmcguffin.com/ttt
Either TAP your contactless credit/debit card to the MACHINE or your WRISTWATCH to the machine. However, you must set this contactless system up with your bank and credit card provider before leaving home. ApplePay and GooglePay have similar systems for phones and portable devices.
