A Practical Guide to Managing Your Money While in Europe

by David McGuffin | Oct 23, 2009 | Essential Travel Resources

Updated: November 28, 2015

Natalie LaRosa Kelly – Author of this article

There are many places where you need to use cash (bills or coins) in Europe.  So, you might begin to wonder how are you going to pay for drinks, souvenirs, entrance fee, subway tickets or anything else. The next few paragraphs contain my suggestions to help you spend money in Europe with ease. I’ll discuss using credit cards in Europe as well as debit cards, ATM machines, exchanging money, traveler’s checks and more.

Debit Cards

This is the best way to get cold hard cash while traveling in Europe!  There are ATM machines everywhere and you treat them just like those here in the United States.  Simply insert your card, type in your PIN code, and choose the cash amount. The machine makes some noise and then spits out cash in the currency of that country. Cool right?  A few years ago I traveled to Europe with my family.   My Dad could not get over the fact that all he had to do was put in his debit card (the one he got from his bank in the States) and out came different currency. I’m pretty sure he’s still fascinated about it to this day.

Even though this is the best way to get cash while traveling in Europe there is one drawback to using your debit card at ATM machines… the banks that own the ATM machines are out to make a little profit and usually charge a small fee for using the ATM machine.  It’s just like if you use Bank of America here in the US and got money from an ATM machine at a Wachovia Bank. To minimize the fees I suggest making a few large withdraws instead of a lot of little ones.  Check with your bank to see if they have a partner bank overseas. You can often withdraw money from these ATMs at no charge. Many ATM machines in Europe don’t give you a receipt, so don’t worry too much about that. However, if it is important that you keep a record of your transactions, write down some information or check your transactions online with your bank. By the way, an ATM machine is called Bankomat in most of Europe.

Points to consider when choosing a debit card:

• Make sure it has a hologram logo (Visa is best). People have had trouble with cards that don’t have the hologram. A lot of the time the cards that don’t have the hologram are only ATM cards and not debit cards. You need a debit card! Contact you bank if you’re not sure what type of card you have.
• Often students under the age of eighteen are issued ATM cards by their bank. These often draw money from a savings account. Here in the USA these ATM cards work without a hitch.  But in Europe they seldom work!  Don’t bring such a card to Europe…it will just take up space in your money belt and get you no cash!
• Make photocopies of your debit card as well as your credit card, passport and other important documents. Stick one copy in the bottom of your suitcase or moneybelt and leave another copy at home.
• Try out your debit card at several ATM machines to make sure it works before leaving the country.
• Notify your bank that you will be using your card abroad. Most banks will put a hold on the card until you call to make sure there are no fraudulent charges.

Credit Cards

Credit cards are a good thing to have when you are traveling in Europe. They are easy to carry and most businesses accept them.  Credit cards also provide peace of mind.  If for some reason you don’t have cash your credit card will serve as a back up.

Before you “charge it” there are a few things you should know.

• First of all Visa and MasterCard are the most widely accepted cards in Europe. This is mostly because they have partnered with European companies. If you take another kind of credit card (such as an American Express or Discover) it is a good idea to have a Visa or MasterCard as a backup, just in case.
• Second, you should call your credit card company and notify them that you will be traveling out of your “normal spending region.”  Tell them how long you will be gone and in what countries you plan to visit.  If your credit card shows up in their “system” as being used to make purchases out of your normal spending region the credit card company will call your home telephone.  If the credit card company can’t get in touch with you they will most likely block future charges to the card until they personally speak with you.  They will not take a family member’s word for it that you are somewhere in the Swiss Alps. Last summer I forgot to call my credit card company to tell them I was going to be in Paris. When they called my home to make sure it was me that had just purchased a pair of shoes (that I could not live without, of course) I was not there, I was in Paris!  However they blocked future purchases on that card even though my mom told them I was indeed in Paris.  Luckily, I got an email from my mom telling me what happened and I called the company to straighten everything out.
• If you have never purchased anything with your credit card while traveling abroad it is a good idea to find out how your credit card company assesses fees and converts exchange rates.  Most credit card companies have caught on to the fact that more people are using credit cards while traveling and are beginning to charge a fee or commission. You could call them or look for the information on your credit card company’s website.
• It’s a good idea to make photocopies of your credit cards to leave with someone at home and to keep with you in Europe. If something happens, like your credit card gets stolen, then you’ll have all of the information on the photocopy of the card.
• Maybe most importantly, make sure your credit card is activated and working before you leave the country. Don’t just get it in the mail and stick it in your money belt. Avoid the hassle of trying to deal with that on your tip when you should be having loads of fun.
• You may also want to read David’s article: Credit Cards: What a Necessary Pain and Pre-Paid debit cards and their outrageous fees.

Changing money in Europe

Taking United States Dollars or traveler’s checks and exchanging them for local currency is a thing of the past.  Don’t do it!  It is time consuming and expensive! But, if you really want to do it this way be sure you go to a bank, not a currency exchange place in the airport or on the street.  Rates are usually posted on the outside window or at the teller’s window.  There is one rate if you are buying their money (the higher of the two posted rates) and one rate listed if you are selling them your money (the lower of the two rates).  As a rule of thumb, the actual “official” exchange rate is considered to be halfway between the two figures.   If you choose this method you will get the worst exchange rate and be charged a commission to boot!  Don’t do it, but if you must…go to a bank.  Banks usually charge flat fees or fees ranging anywhere from 2% to 10%.

Traveler’s Checks

Once upon a time, before ATM machines,  traveler’s checks were probably the safest and best way to get local currency in Europe. However today they are a hassle and most people carry them only in case of an emergency. You can get them at your local bank, AAA and a few other places.  Traveler’s checks have bad exchange rates along with high fees. Like I mentioned before, the ATM machine and debit card combinations are the best!

Often we are asked, “should I get some euros or local currency before I go on the tour?”  It is not a necessity and I usually don’t because the dollar is weaker than the Euro, your bank at home will charge a fee and commission to order the foreign currency and the exchange rate is never good. Wait until you get to Europe, then get your cash from an ATM machine and go celebrate!

You can look up current currency exchange rates on the web at: http://www.oanda.com/.

I hope this addressed everything you need to know about spending money in Europe.  If not, please send David an email at: david@davidmcguffin.com.

-Natalie LaRosa Kelly
a former Exploring Europe guide

Prepaid Debit Cards and European Travel

by David McGuffin | Oct 22, 2009 | Essential Travel Resources

UPDATED: November 3, 2016 by David McGuffin

Prepaid debit cards are available everywhere!  Go to any Walmart, Walgreens, Target or even the neighborhood gas station and you will see displays for these seemingly savvy debit cards. They all promise basically the same thing: the convenience of a debit card without age restrictions and a credit check. Simply preload the card with cash and use it anywhere a credit or debit card is accepted.

All of this sounds smart, but there are some drawbacks that could cost you a bit of money. All of these cards come loaded with fine-print contracts imposing charges and fees for each use. There are often fees associated with each ATM withdrawal, each credit transaction, each reload of funds, and even each balance inquiry. Furthermore, the issuing bank will charge a markup percentage for each transaction made in a foreign country.  So with all this negative cash flow, what makes the card appealing for the European traveler?

A prepaid debit card may be the logical choice for a student under the age of 18 traveling to Europe. Most financial institutions will not issue a true debit card to persons under 18 years of age. They will usually issue an ATM card instead. These ATM cards do not carry the VISA or MASTERCARD logo and always draw funds from a savings account, not a checking account. However,  ATM machines in Europe only accept debit cards which draw funds from a checking account and have a four-digit PIN number associated with it.

#1 CHOICE

The best bet for getting cash from an ATM machine in Europe is a debit card issued from your local bank that draws funds from your checking account. This transaction entitles you to the best bank-to-bank exchange rates and normally has no ATM withdrawal fees issued from your bank. If you have a debit card that you use regularly in the United States, take it to Europe with you and use it to make purchases and to get cash from an ATM machine. Leave your credit cards, traveler’s checks and US dollars at home.

#2 CHOICE

The second alternative would be to invest in a prepaid debit card such as Visa Buxx, which can be found at https://usa.visa.com/pay-with-visa/cards/prepaid-card.  This card comes with all the benefits and drawbacks I mentioned above.  If you must travel with cash or traveler’s checks instead of an ATM Debit card, then you can look into getting a prepaid debit card.

SUMMARY

The bottom line is to make sure you are well prepared to travel financially.  Heading off on a trip with a credit card, cash and traveler’s checks is a sure way to lose money!  Save yourself time, effort, and plenty of headaches by getting an ATM debit card before your next trip.  You’ll enjoy a better exchange rate, fewer fees, and the security of knowing how much money you are spending on your trip.

European Train Travel Hints

by David McGuffin | Apr 19, 2009 | Essential Travel Resources

Updated: November 25, 2022

I love to travel by train; it is relaxing, stress-free, convenient and comfortable.  In Europe, there are always easy train connections to zip from one locale to the next.  Over the last eighty years or so Europe has refined train travel repeatedly.  Today, travelers can enjoy a network of high-speed trains that provide lightning quick transportation across hundreds of miles in a just a few hours.  There is also a network of “inter-city” trains, that don’t go quite as fast, but are the workhorses of public transportation all over Europe.  I hope to persuade you to “try the train” when traveling in Europe.  I am convinced that once you do, you will be hooked.

THE BIGGEST MISTAKES
Novice train travelers often make simple mistakes that can raise their blood pressure and bring them to tears.  With a little education, most of these mistakes are preventable.  My purpose here is to help prevent stress through education.  In the next few paragraphs I’ll try to “talk you through” every stage of train travel.  Here are the top four mistakes made by travelers:

• bringing too much luggage,
• arriving at the departure station late,
• lack of knowledge of the processes involved in reading the schedule board and related train information,
• not knowing how to find the correct train, car and seat, and
• The onset of panic when things don’t go according to plan.

Sensible Luggage

OVER PACKING complicates any travel.  I preach packing light all the time, but it is even more important when traveling by train.  Not a trip goes by that I don’t encounter red-faced people rushing to get on a train with “coffin-size” suitcases, multiple handbags and flimsy shopping bags loaded with souvenirs.  Traveling with too much luggage is the single most stress-producing element of any trip.

Trains complicate matters because there is no opportunity to “check” your baggage like there is on an airplane.  On the train, you have to tote all your luggage along with you.  That means through the station, down the platform, up the train car’s steep steps, down the train car’s aisle, and finally up on the overhead rack above your seat.

The train car’s steps…let me describe that.  The vertical distance from the boarding platform to the train car’s floor level is often at least three feet.  In order to get into the train car one must step across the gap between the platform and the train car, navigate three very steep and narrow steps, open a door, and enter a small vestibule on the train car.  Then you have to open another door, walk down the aisle and locate your assigned seat.  Without luggage, it is a rather simple process, with more than one carry-on sized bag it is a stressful and physically challenging experience.  Packing light is the key to a pleasant train travel experience.  (See my articles on packing light by searching the topic on this blog).

Self-Service Ticket Machines

ARRIVE AT THE STATION EARLY to scout out the “lay of the land.”  Every train station in Europe has a similar layout.  There is a central area often containing ticket offices, automatic ticket dispensing machines, restaurants, to-go food shops, department stores, specialty shops, and a waiting area.  Scout this area and observe the locals purchasing their tickets and going about “life” in the station.

Guard your belongings and beware of thieves and pickpockets.  Do not ever leave your stuff unattended, not even for a moment.  Wear your moneybelt.  Keep necessary cash and a credit cards handy and out of your moneybelt to purchase train tickets and supplies.  Do not dig around in your moneybelt while in the station!  Train travel and stations are safe and there is no need to worry about violent crime.  However, the stations are loaded with pickpockets and thieves just waiting for some unsuspecting tourist to drop their guard and become their victim.

LEARN THE PROCEDURE of finding your train by watching the locals.  Somewhere in the central area is a TV monitor or big display board listing arriving and departing trains.  Large train stations often have a huge monitor placed high overhead in a prominent location.  Smaller stations have TV-type monitors displaying the same information.  Find this display and keep an eye on it.  It is the key to getting to the correct train track and your train. Normally the arrivals and departures appear on the displays thirty to forty-five minutes before the schedule departure/arrival time.  Don’t panic if your train is not listed on the display.  Just be patient, it will appear sometime before your scheduled departure time.

The monitors contain valuable information such as:

• Departure or Arrival time listed in descending chronological order,
• The track number of train arrivals or departures,
• The train number and what type of train it is (such as Eurostar, Intercity, Regional, etc.),
• Destination and intermediate stops.

You will find lots of information printed on your train ticket or reservation stub.  Look for the departure city and the destination city, the departure and arrival time, the train car number and your seat number.  Watch the display board or TV monitor.  When your train number, destination and departure time show up on the display, it is time to start moving.  Armed with the information on your ticket and the information presented on the display monitor you can venture out of the central area and onto the boarding platforms.

Once on the boarding platform area you will see many train tracks, some with trains in a stopped position, others will be empty.  At smaller stations there may even be trains racing at high speeds through the stations.  Never mind all that.  Right now, your job is to find the TRACK NUMBER (it was displayed on the monitor) for your train.  If you are traveling in a country where you do not speak the language, it is a good idea to write down your train information on a “cue card” in case you need to ask an attendant.  Instead of bumbling through the local language simply show your “cue card,” point to the train and say yes or no in a questioning manner. Be sure to use the local language for courtesy words such as please, thank you, hello, and goodbye.  Here is an example for train #1351 departing at 2:25 p.m. from Milan to Venice.

MILANO →→VENEZIA
TRENO # 1351    14:25

Some train stations have a security checkpoint at the boarding platforms.  These checkpoints are similar to those at airports but with normally much less wait time.  If your station has a security checkpoint, plan to arrive on the platform earlier to allow ample time to clear security.

Once you find the correct TRACK NUMBER be sure to verify the train number and departure time on the  monitor at the track.

Now that you have identified the correct train, you need to find the correct TRAIN CAR and your assigned seat.  On your ticket or reservation stub find a word meaning TRAIN CAR.  Let’s say it is TRAIN CAR # 4.  In this case, you should begin walking alongside the train, looking at the doors to each car for a sign designating the TRAIN CAR number.  Continue walking until you find your TRAIN CAR number on the door.

(You will also see large numbers 1 and 2 that designate first- class and second-class cars.  Normally the first-class cars are near the front of the train, but in the station, you often don’t know which is the front of the train).

Notice the HIGH Steps

Now climb the steep steps.  You will have no problem if you packed light, otherwise enlist  someone to help hoist your bags up the steps.  Enter the small vestibule and go through another door into the train cabin.  Walk down the aisle looking for your assigned seat (seats are laid out logically in ascending or descending chronological order depending on which end of the train car you entered).  Once you find your seat, stow your luggage on the rack above or in between the seats, sit down and relax.

STRESS AND PANIC can set in at any point.  For me, I always have my doubts.  Even though I’ve doubled checked my ticket, the train, the train car and my seat number I always seem to have this nagging thought…”Am I on the right train?”  I have the right car and seat; is it possible this train is going to Munich instead of Venice?”  It’s at that time I always calm myself by thinking, “I’ve got everything correct… the right train number, destination, car, and seat.  No one here wants my seat, so I must be on the right train and the right seat.  HOWEVER, if you still need assurance, ask someone nearby who speaks the local language to confirm the destination.  Most everyone in Europe speaks enough English to confirm this for you.

Another source of panic might occur if your itinerary calls for a change of trains before reaching your final destination.  Transfers happen often, and believe it or not, the European train system calculates, to the minute, the amount of time needed by the average traveler to change from one train to another.  If your itinerary contains a “transfer”, try following these rules:

• Review your transfer train number, departure time and destination before entering the “transfer” station.
• Several minutes before your stop, begin collecting your luggage and moving to the vestibule.
• Get off the train as quickly as possible.
• Once on the platform, begin looking for TV monitors for arrival/departure information.
• If no TV monitor is in sight, look for a 4’x8′ foot poster or billboard (listed as “Arrivals” and “Departures” ) and locate the hour, train, and track.
• From the monitor or “Departures” board, determine what track your connecting train is on.
• Do not delay.  Proceed immediately to the track and verify with an attendant or the monitor that this is indeed the train to your destination.

The procedure described above seems simple, but believe me, it can be a big point of stress.  Keep your head clear, plan your route ahead of time and know in your “mind’s eye” what the logical steps are to get to the next train.  Once you do it a couple of times, it will become an adventure, not a stress.

Relax and Enjoy the Ride!

FINAL CONSIDERATIONS

Watch your belongings while on the train.  There are thieves here too just waiting for you turn your back so they can take everything you own.  If traveling alone consider attaching your luggage to the overhead rack with a zip tie or cable lock.

Shop for picnic suppliers at the train station and plan to “picnic” while riding the train.  This is perfectly acceptable and everyone does it.  It’s ok to bring your own food, drinks, wine, and beer.

Know the name of your destination train station.  Many cities have several train stations, so getting off when your hear the city mentioned may put you out in the boondocks, far away from your actual destination.

Don’t fall asleep and miss your stop!  Your ticket and the monitor information should give you a pretty good idea of the arrival time at your station.  About twenty minutes before arrival time, begin to watch the locals, collect your bags when they do, and head for the door with them.

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