David McGuffin Explores Rome!

David McGuffin Explores Rome!

by | Aug 1, 2020 | Adventures in Tour Guiding, Blog, Destinations, Essential Travel Resources, Experiencing Europe, Weekly Wanders

Piazza Navona
Piazza Navona

Since we cannot travel to Europe right now, I am bringing a bit of Europe to you. I yearn for the day when I can hop on a plane and fly to Europe, but, for now, I’ll have to settle for my memories. So, as much for me, as for you, I’ll share David’s Weekly Wanders in Europe.  

This week, David’s Weekly Wanders in Europe features a video,  David McGuffin Explores Rome! It is the first of several episodes chronicling the experiences and adventures on David’s Best of Italy Tour route. Along with his producer, Abby, and their travel companions, David visits the essential tourist sites in Rome, plus a few off-the-beaten-path destinations..

This video can also be found on my YouTube channel at https://youtu.be/PfQ-_AnpOfQ

Should I Purchase Comprehensive Travel Insurance?

Should I Purchase Comprehensive Travel Insurance?

by | Apr 24, 2019 | Essential Travel Resources

Updated: March 7, 2025

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When booking an Exploring Europe tour, we request a deposit to hold your seat. This deposit is refundable for a certain number of days (see your specific tour departure for details). 

Once signed up for an Exploring Europe tour, you will receive written communication from us confirming your departure. In rare cases, we may ask that you “hold” booking your flights until we’ve assessed the tour departure dates and availability. Once we have confirmed your tour departure, this is the time to consider purchasing a travel insurance policy to protect your travel investment.

Our passengers often insure travel investments in three distinct stages.  

  • Step 1- Insure only your tour deposit.  Most of our Exploring Europe tours require a deposit of $400, so only insure that amount.  Your insurance premium is likely a small amount of $30 or so.
  • Step 2 – Once we confirm your tour, you’ll likely look for and purchase airfare.  Purchase a second insurance policy to cover your flight costs.  Note: Do not buy the insurance from your airline website at checkout!
  • Step 3 – When submitting your final payment (120 days before most of our EE tours), decide if you want to cover the remaining balance. Two types of travel insurance policies are usually available: “Cancel for a covered reason” (CFACR) or “Cancel for any reason” (CFAR).  

NOTE: Deposits, refund policies, and deadlines may differ on our Exploring *Beyond* Europe and specialty tours.

Before making any travel insurance decisions, speaking directly to a qualified insurance agent is a good idea. Consider contacting any of the resources mentioned below.

Exploring Europe does not provide travel insurance, and we can only offer a refund up to the terms specified in your tour agreement. A travel insurance (trip protection) policy is a good idea to cover your travel investment fully.

A comprehensive travel insurance package often includes canceling a tour before it begins, covering a pre-existing condition, and canceling your tour for any reason, along with flight delay, baggage loss, and other benefits.  

To take full advantage of the insurance and to cover pre-existing medical conditions, insurance providers require purchasing a policy within 10-20 days of making your deposit and receiving confirmation of the tour. This “window of opportunity” varies between insurance companies, so confirm with your insurance provider.

Many believe a Comprehensive Travel Insurance Policy (including trip cancellation coverage) becomes increasingly necessary with age.  If you are a 20-year-old with no medical problems, you may skip the comprehensive insurance and tour cancellation feature.  However, if you are getting older, or if you, a family member or a travel partner have medical problems, adding a little “peace of mind” to your travels might not be a bad idea by purchasing comprehensive insurance.

Comprehensive Travel Insurance (Trip Protection) includes at least six types of coverage:

  1. Trip Cancellation – provides reimbursement if you, or a close family member, cannot travel for a covered reason.  Covered reasons vary from insurance company to company. Still, most include full reimbursement if you or a direct family member becomes seriously ill or injured, you lose your job, you or a family member dies, and many other reasons (read the fine print). Cancellation usually comes in two forms:
    1. CFACR – Cancel for a covered reason – Less expensive and more restrictive than CFAR.
    2. CFAR – Cancel for any reason – The most expensive option covering almost any reason for cancellation.
  2. Trip interruption – Provides a limited amount (usually $1000) to pay for a flight home should your tour be interrupted by a catastrophic event affecting you personally or a close family member.
  3. Emergency Medical Coverage – Provides reimbursement and/or medical evacuation should you or a close relative become seriously ill while traveling abroad.
  4. Baggage Loss or Delay – Provides reimbursement should your luggage be lost or delayed.
  5. Trip Delay – Provides reimbursement should you be delayed while traveling to or from your tour abroad.  This covers cases such as missed flight connections, weather delays, etc.
  6. Travel Assistance – Provides 24/7 access to toll-free help and assistance agents dedicated to helping with travel emergencies, bookings, and advice.

A sliding scale determines the cost of Comprehensive Insurance (Trip Protection) based on the insured’s age, trip cost, and travel duration. It is about 10% -15% of the tour costs, but shop for the best deal to meet your needs.

Consider all the tour elements so you are fully covered, using the abovementioned steps, if desired.

  1. David McGuffin’s Exploring Europe tour cost.
  2. The cost of your airfare.
  3. The duration of your trip from when you take off from home until your return.

REMEMBER: Comprehensive Travel Insurance (Trip Protection) plans must be purchased within 10-20 DAYS of paying a deposit and receiving confirmation from your travel provider for your tour to take advantage of all the policy benefits, especially for pre-existing conditions.  All the insurance companies have slightly different policies on this matter, so be sure to read the fine print.

If you have signed up for an Exploring Europe tour for which the departure is NOT CONFIRMED and we have asked you NOT TO BOOK AIRFARE, read here.

Consider Trip Insurance Consultants for tour and travel insurance trip protection. Their information is below.  

Trip Insurance Consultants – https://www.insuranceconsultantsintl.com/mcguffin

VISIT THE WEBSITE ABOVE, EMAIL – CALLIE AUNKO, or CALL Callie at  1-800-576-2674 Ext. 1.  Tell her you are on one of my tours. She will need the following information. callie@insuranceconsultantsintl.com

  1. Your date of Birth,
  2. The State in which you reside,
  3. Your travel dates,
  4. The total cost of your trip (adding all the elements mentioned above),
  5. The date you made your initial payment for the tour.

Trip Insurance Consultants offers insurance plans from all of the companies mentioned below.  However, should you wish to contact them directly, here is the information.

If you want to do some insurance research, these are reputable organizations, too.

Travel Guard-  www.travelguard.com,  tel. 800-826-4919

Allianz Travel insurance-   www.allianztravelinsurance.com,  tel. 866-884-3556

Travel Insured International-  www.travelinsured.com,  tel. 800-243-3174.

Seven Corners Insurance – https://www.sevencorners.com/

Insuremytrip.com-  www.insuremytrip.com,  tel. 800-487-4722
Also allows you to compare insurance policies and costs among various providers.

 

Honoring Notre Dame

Honoring Notre Dame

by | Apr 19, 2019 | Destinations, Essential Travel Resources, Experiencing Europe

notredame1WEBOn Monday evening, a major fire erupted in the attic of Notre Dame. It blazed for 10 hours, fueled by the Cathedral’s wooden frame. Tourists the world over have shared their memories of visiting Notre Dame and lamented the damage to this jewel at the heart of Paris. But the 800-year-old cathedral still stands, and there is much to be hopeful and thankful for. Find out more about the history of Notre Dame, Monday’s tragedy and the future of this iconic monument.

Un Peu d’Histoire

Notre Dame has dominated the banks of the Seine for over 850 years, standing on the Ile-de-la-Cité. The first stone was laid by Pope Alexander III in 1163, and it would take about 100 years before the Cathedral was complete. It is a textbook example of Gothic architectural style, decorated with numerous stained-glass windows, ornate statuary, flying buttresses, soaring spires and finely detailed carvings. It is no wonder that for many this is considered France’s most famous church.

A Previous Narrow Escape

It is only thanks to Victor Hugo that the Cathedral still stands today. He wrote The Hunchback of Notre Dame in an effort to save the monument, which was in severe disrepair and falling apart. There were talks of demolishing it to build a mall, but the book was so popular that people began to call for its renovation instead, hoping to find traces of Quasimodo and Esmeralda within its walls. As a result, in the nineteenth century, the Cathedral underwent a massive restoration effort. A new spire was added (to replace the 13th-spire that had been destroyed during the French Revolution), and a number of statues were repaired (their heads had been removed by angry revolutionaries). New stained-glass windows were added and others were enlarged.

The Fire Rages

Shortly before the Cathedral closed on Monday, the fire alarm went off and worshipers were ushered out of the building, but no fire was detected. Twenty minutes later when a second alarm sounded, the fire was already spreading out of control. It was located in “the Forest”, the Cathedral’s wooden frame which separates the ceiling and the roof. Most of the beams dated back to the 12th century and provided dry kindling for the fire. In a matter of minutes, the entire frame inside the 750-ton spire had caught fire and could no longer hold the weight, sending it crashing into the Cathedral below. Within a few hours, the entire roof was ablaze. Nearly 500 firefighters worked tirelessly through the night and were finally able to fully extinguish the fire by 10 AM the next morning.

The fire spread incredibly quickly, fueled by a cross work of 1,300 wooden beams. The oak trees used in the construction of the Forest covered 21 hectares. Although firefighters arrived on site within 10 minutes, it took longer for some of the larger trucks and machinery to navigate the narrow Parisian streets, as Notre Dame sits in the oldest part of Paris. There were no modern firewalls or sprinkler systems in place so as not to alter the original frame, a controversial decision that will no doubt be reviewed in the wake of this tragedy. As a result, the fire spread throughout the 100-meter long attic unimpeded. It was also impossible to dump water from the sky because of the fragile nature of the stone structure below the roof.

A Race to Save Priceless Artifacts

The firefighters of Paris train for these situations. In fact, they had conducted two drills at Notre Dame just last year. So they were able to leap into action right away to save many of the precious artifacts within. They formed a chain of 100 people, led by the fire department’s chaplain, to recover as many pieces as they could. Thanks to their heroic efforts, many priceless items were saved from destruction, including the crown of thorns.

Inspectors have still not been able to enter the unstable building, but they suspect the fire was caused by an accident related to the restoration work that was being done on site. Experts are still working to secure the structural integrity of the building, and a number of statues have been removed to lessen the weight.

A Close Call

When it became clear that the fire might spread to the bell towers, firefighters entered the building at great personal risk to fight the fire from within. If the largest bell, Emmanuelle, had crashed through the stone of the bell tower, it would have had a domino effect on the entire Cathedral. According to the Deputy Minister of the Interior, firefighters had a window of only 30 minutes to prevent that catastrophe. They also fought to keep the flames away from the north rose window, which contains original stained-glass from the 13th century.

Damaged but Defiant

The fire on the roof looked horrific and many people feared the worst, but the ceiling remained mostly intact and the interior was protected from the worst of the blaze.

  • Many of the relics stored within the Cathedral were saved by firemen, including the crown of thorns and the Blessed Sacrament from the tabernacle.
  • Several paintings have been sent to the Louvre to be treated for smoke damage.
  • Just days before the fire, the 16 bronze statues on the spire had been removed as part of the restoration efforts.
  • All three rose windows survived, although the lead that holds the glass in place may need to be redone after suffering such intense heat.
  • The 15th-century organ was spared by the flames but may have taken some water damage.
  • The gold cross and statues surrounding the altar appear relatively untouched.
  • The bells and bell towers remain intact.
  • Three beehives sheltering 180,000 bees located on the roof survived. The bees were only put to sleep by the smoke!

Looking to the Future

President Macron has called for Notre Dame to be restored within five years, and approximately 1 billion euros have already been donated to that cause by large and small donors around the world. In the meantime, the Mayor of Paris has approved plans to build a temporary wooden cathedral on the esplanade in front of Notre Dame where its congregation can meet until it reopens.

Dynamic Currency Conversion… Just Say No!

Dynamic Currency Conversion… Just Say No!

by | Sep 13, 2016 | Blog, Essential Travel Resources

Dynamic Currency Conversion… Just Say No!

 
 
Have you ever been asked “Would you like that in dollars or euros?”  Or perhaps a “yes” or “no” box pops up on the point of sale machine asking if you would like to choose your home currency.  This is called Dynamic Currency Conversion or DCC and it is becoming the norm in many countries worldwide.  At first, it sounds like a good idea, but for the consumer it is very expensive and should be avoided at all costs!
 
On the other hand, it is very good for the merchant because they make a huge commission for offering this service.  In most cases the cardholder will be hit with a 7% markup above the current bank exchange rate. Take a look at this UK MasterCard website promoting DCC for its merchants.  Here you can clearly see that DCC benefits the merchant, and MasterCard makes up some lame reasons as to how it benefits customers.
 
photo credit: http://howtogeek.com
Often the choice of accepting DCC is presented in a matter-of-fact manner, giving no indication that it is a bad (or good) idea.  But don’t blame the cashier, unless they are the owner of the shop, they are probably required to offer the pitch in a certain manner and tone of voice, such as, “Would you like that in dollars or sterling?”  This, coupled with a stately British accent is bound to sway some travelers to accept the idea.  However, it is never a good idea to convert your transaction with DCC into your home currency.
 
With today’s regulations, merchants are required to notify the cardholder that DCC is available and there is a choice.  Originally, the merchant was not required to notify the cardholder that DCC was being applied.  The customers would simply make the purchase, get a sales receipt in the local currency and the DCC would be applied afterward in the “back office.”  The cardholder would not know this had occurred until they received their credit card statement. Initiated by Visa and MasterCard, this practice is now forbidden and all credit card companies impose penalties on merchants who fail to comply.
 
In order to get around the back-office DCC regulation, merchants will sometimes automatically select DCC without the cardholder having a chance to accept or deny.  The conversion will show on the sales slip and an unsuspecting customer may walk out the door none the wiser.  If questioned by the cardholder, the cashier may claim their point of sale (POS) machine automatically converts to the card’s home currency.  This too is incorrect and if detected, the cardholder should immediately request that the sale be reversed or voided and run again in the local currency.  However, this could be difficult, especially if working against a language barrier.

Tips to help you make the best of your travel dollar

– Notify your bank and credit card company when you will be traveling outside your normal spending area.  This is important when traveling at home or abroad. Most banks will put a travel exception on the account so that your spending will be approved while traveling.  If you do not notify your bank or credit card company, you will be denied access to your funds.

– Always refuse DCC, no matter how tempting the comfort of working in your home currency. Following this simple rule will cut at least 5-7% off your purchase before ever leaving the checkout counter.  DCC in not ever required so don’t feel obligated to accept it, even if the merchant selects DCC without your knowledge. If this happens, the cardholder should immediately request that the sale be reversed or voided and run again in the local currency.  
 
– Use a credit card that has no foreign transaction fees.  Most credit cards issued in the USA charge fees up to 3% for transactions originating outside the USA.  This applies to both point of sales and online transactions.  So, it only makes sense to find a credit card that carries no fees for foreign transactions. I’ve found that many American Express cards have no foreign transaction fees.  I use the Barclay Arrival Plus World Elite MasterCard which offers no foreign transaction fees, true Chip and Pin capabilities, and lots of benefits in the form of travel rewards.
 
– Don’t use non-bank ATM’s.  You’ll often find these stand-alone machines in small convenience stores, at gas stations and roadside auto stops. These machines are owned and controlled by the local merchant, not a bank.  The owners of these ATM’s are free to mask the DCC options any way they like, and you can bet it will be to their liking, not yours.  Steer clear of these machines, but if you must use them, be sure to read all the screens carefully and opt out of DCC.  Sometimes you will see messages such as “lock-in your rate” or “guarantee your conversion”. Others may post messages such as “press yes for dollars”.  Double check everything and always opt out of anything that looks like DCC.  Alternatively, you can always cancel the entire transaction before you enter your final “yes.”
 
– Always check your printed receipt.  Somewhere at the bottom you’ll find the cost in the local currency.  If USD is mentioned anywhere on the receipt, then you’ve been had by the DCC con game.
 
– Download a currency converter app to get up-to-the-minute exchange rates.  I like an app put out by OANDA.  It is available for Apple and Android.  Look for the name “Currency.”

Summary

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 in to this feature. Since DCC works against the purchaser, never say you would like your purchases to be converted to dollars.

*******************************************************************************

If you found this article informative, please share it with your friends, family, coworkers and associates. If you have something to add, just leave a comment in the box below.

 
Do you want to learn more about traveling to Europe? There is a wealth of information and special discount pricing on my tours at https://davidmcguffin.com/.
 
David McGuffin is Founder and CEO of David McGuffin’s Exploring Europe, Inc., based in Middleburg, Florida. You can connect with him on  Twitter,  Facebook,  Google+,  LinkedIn and YouTube. David spends his time in Europe organizing and leading small group and independent tours to European destinations. In business since 2001, David has provided exceptional travel opportunities to several thousand satisfied customers. You can find out more about David and his European tours at his website, https://davidmcguffin.com.
Chip and Pin Credit Cards

Chip and Pin Credit Cards

by | Sep 13, 2016 | Blog, Essential Travel Resources

Chip and Pin Credit Cards

 
 
The USA has long been a worldwide holdout on buying into the Chip and Pin technology.  I subscribe to International Travel News, a longtime publication for savvy international travelers, and Chip and Pin cards have been a hot topic of discussion for at least the last ten years.  The Chip and Pin card is one element of a broad technological standard known as EMV Cards.  EMV stands for Europay, MasterCard and Visa, the three founding companies that originally defined the standard. 
 
Since the 1970’s credit cards have had a black magnetic strip on the back to store electronic data (in a not-so-secure form) about the cardholder. If you are interested, there is a good article charting the progress from Zip-Zap machines to the modern EMV technology at Creditcards.com.  This same magnetic strip is still in use on US credit and debit cards today.  Swiping your card to make a purchase has been the norm for years and has served us well, unless you are an international traveler.
 
I first realized my magnetic-strip credit card was second-rate when I attempted to purchase a booklet of Métro tickets from an automated machine in Paris.  My fancy and supposedly high tech credit card was denied right then and there. That was back in 2005!  Since then, I’ve encountered the same problem at European toll roads, unmanned gas stations and more recently, when attempting to rent a bike in Dublin.  To me, it is irritating that as citizens of the biggest and most technologically advanced nation in the world we cannot get a credit card to work in another country.  I could rant for hours, but let me press on to what this means for you and your international travel.

Change is not so bad

This new EMV technology has caused a bit of anxiety among American travelers.  Most American credit card companies have issued new credit cards containing imbedded chips (IC) over the past few months. As with any change, there is a learning curve, because these new cards require a different procedure than our old magnetic strip cards. But don’t worry, the bottom line is that 99% of the time your new chip-imbedded card will function exactly as your old magnetic strip card has for years.  As long as there is a sales clerk, a cashier or attendant on duty you’ll have no problem.

How a Chip and Pin card works 

The credit card readers (point-of-sales machines) in Europe use the Chip and Pin verification method. When making a purchase, the cardholder inserts the card into a slot in the card reader payment machine.  While the card is still in the slot a PIN is entered.  The imbedded chip verifies the PIN and the transaction, and the cardholder goes away without a receipt. Next time you are in Europe notice the locals will dip their card, punch in their PIN and be on their way in seconds.  

US Chip Cards are different

The new EMV cards we are receiving in the USA are actually chip and signature cards and require no PIN at all to function.  When using it to make payment at home or in Europe, you’ll insert the card in the slot and leave it there until directed to remove it on the payment screen. You’ll have to stand there and wait until the clerk gives you the sales slip to sign and then presents you with a duplicated copy.  As mentioned, the chip and signature cards work just as well as the old magnetic strip cards anywhere there is a cashier, at home or in Europe. The only time you’ll run into problems and maybe have your card denied is at unattended kiosks. 

How to use your US chip card in Europe

It is quite possible that a payment machine might ask for a PIN.  Credit card companies do not routinely issue PIN’s, but you usually can have one issued if you ask.  This requires jumping through some hoops and listening to lots of disclaimers from your credit card company, but the bottom line is you should be able to get a PIN.  Your best bet is to give them a call, and be sure to do this with plenty of time to receive the PIN by mail.  Also, make sure you understand the fee schedule and interest rates associated with a PIN transaction. Finally, when making initial contact with your credit card company it will help to tell them you want a PIN for cash advances just to simplify the process of getting one issued.
 
Even with a PIN, you might run into some problems. Cards issued in the USA are not set up to handle “offline” transactions.  These are transactions that do not immediately validate with a real-time connection to the bank.  Occasionally, I still encounter this problem when attempting to purchase fuel at unmanned stations and at French toll plazas.  In this case, I always have a supply of coins and bank notes available to complete the purchase. I can think of few things worse that getting stranded in a busy toll plaza and not being able to make payment!

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 in to this feature. Since DCC works against the purchaser, never say you would like your purchases to be converted to dollars. (read more about this in my article: Dynamic Currency Conversion: Just Say No!).

Want an authentic Chip and Pin Card?

If you are a frequent international traveler, or just want to be up to date on the modern EMV technology, there are a few banks the offer Chip and Pin cards.  Most cards have the default authentication as signature and if that fails (or is not available) a PIN is required.  
 
I use the Barclay Arrival Plus World Elite MasterCard which offers Chip and Pin capabilities with signature being the default verification method. The card has served me well in my travels except at a few remote offline gas stations. This card offers great rates, 2x miles that never expire for travel, 40,000 bonus miles at signup and low yearly fees. Additionally, travel miles really build up fast and there are no blackout dates. 
 
In my research I’ve also found that these card providers offer Chip and Pin features designed for international travel:  USAA, Andrews Federal Credit Union, State Department Credit Union.  Perhaps the only true offline Chip and Pin card can be found at the United Nations Federal Credit Union.  You have to jump through some manageable hoops to join but I understand for cardholders this card does the trick even with offline purchases.

Summary

In this article, I discussed that the US has been resistant to Chip and Pin technologies, which sometimes causes traditional magnetic strip credit cards to be declined. The new American credit cards with an imbedded chip are accepted in nearly all locations, but may still require a signature. Depending on your card provider, you may be able to request a pin for your chip-imbedded card. If that fails, I mentioned several card providers that offer Chip and Pin cards designed for international travel.

If you found this article informative, please share it with your friends, family, coworkers and associates. If you have something to add, just leave a comment in the box below.
 
Do you want to learn more about traveling to Europe? There is a wealth of information and special discount pricing on my tours at https://davidmcguffin.com/.
 
David McGuffin is Founder and CEO of David McGuffin’s Exploring Europe, Inc., based in Middleburg, Florida. You can connect with him on  Twitter,  Facebook,  Google+,  LinkedIn and YouTube. David spends his time in Europe organizing and leading small group and independent tours to European destinations. In business since 2001, David has provided exceptional travel opportunities to several thousand satisfied customers. You can find out more about David and his European tours at his website, https://davidmcguffin.com.
Paper or Plastic… Spending Money in Europe

Paper or Plastic… Spending Money in Europe

by | Sep 10, 2016 | Blog, Essential Travel Resources

Paper or Plastic… Spending Money in Europe

 

Europeans tend to use cash for their day-to-day spending much more than the run-of-the-mill American does. In fact, most Europeans carry lots of cash in their pockets on a daily basis.  When it comes to paying for dinner, drinks, coffee, subway and bus tickets, newspapers, theatre tickets and the like, cash is king.  A recent article at PYMNTS.COM suggests that paying with cash in Europe is on the rise.  Last year, there was over 2.2 trillion in European cash transactions and that’s up from the 2015 record of 2.1 trillion.

 
From a cultural perspective, it makes sense for a traveler to blend in and adapt to the local customs, especially if you are looking for an authentic travel experience.  I am a firm believer in trying to “do it the way the locals do” so paying with cash makes perfect sense. If I wanted to “do it like we do back home”, I’d stay back home! 
 

I recall a wonderful lunch at a small roadside café in rural France (you can read about this adventure here) that does not accept credit cards.  I’ve taken my groups to the place for years and get nothing but rave reviews for the food, ambience and atmosphere.  Had I skipped this place the first time because they did not accept plastic, I would have missed out on a wonderful dining experience and friendships that have lasted decades.   

 

How to get CASH so you can live like a local

Using your debit card from your local back home is still the best way to get cash while traveling in Europe.  There are ATM machines (often called Bankomats) everywhere and you treat them just like those 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 local currency.   

 
I have written a detailed article on the topic of acquiring local cash for your trip abroad.  In it I discuss everything from buying travelers checks and paper notes at home to charge cards and debit cards.  Be sure to read it before striking out on your next adventure. 
 

How to spend your cash like a local

Having a bit of the local cash in your pocket makes for an easier and sleeker travel experience because you’re not having to worry about where credit cards are accepted or when you might run across an ATM again. So the next time you walk into a bar for a coffee you’ll be able to slap down your coins, drink it and be on your way in no time.

 

 

Get to know the currency, both notes and coins.

Bank NOTES 

Paper currency (notes) are very easy to identify and all European countries.  They all have a number in the corners denoting the value of the note.  To make it even easier, European notes are different sizes and different colors for each denomination.  A €50 note is larger than a €5 note in addition to being a different color.  This holds true no matter whether you’re spending UK sterling, EU euro or any other currency.  Other than it looking like Monopoly money, you should have no trouble working with paper currency.
 
I like to carry a 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 use a lot more coins in Europe than you do here at home. It’s a good idea to do a little homework before your trip and study up on 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 coin over €1/£1.
 
Before going into a shop, I take inventory of the coins in my pocket so 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 you trip, spend or cash in the coins before leaving the airport.  Since many European coins are high-value, it can be expensive flying 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. In fact, I don’t believe I’ve ever had anyone ask “debit or credit”. I tend to use my plastic (credit card) for larger purchases such as hotel bills, airline tickets, car rental 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 less widely 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 in to this feature. Since DCC works against the purchaser, never say you would like your purchases to be converted to dollars. (read more about this in my article: Dynamic Currency Conversion: Just Say No!).

 
Finally, remember that plastic often places barriers between you and an authentic down-to-earth travel experience.  A small B&B or family-owned restaurant may only accept cash. I was recently in Croatia and many merchants did not accept or highly discouraged credit cards. It was only at American hotels, such as Hilton or Radisson, that credit cards were accepted in the way in which we are accustomed. 
 

Summary

In this article I explained that Europeans use paper a lot more than they do plastic for their day-to-day purchases.  Tourist who want to fit in and immerse themselves in a cultural travel experience should adapt to the local customs and use the local currency, but first they have to get some. Using a debit card at an ATM machine is the cheapest and quickest way to acquire local funds.  Finally, I suggested several ways to spend your cash like a local.
 
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Do you want to learn more about traveling to Europe? There is a wealth of information and special discount pricing on my tours at https://davidmcguffin.com/.
 
 
David McGuffin is Founder and CEO of David McGuffin’s Exploring Europe, Inc., based in Middleburg, Florida. You can connect with him on  Twitter,  Facebook,  Google+,  LinkedIn and YouTube. David spends his time in Europe organizing and leading small group and independent tours to European destinations. In business since 2001, David has provided exceptional travel opportunities to several thousand satisfied customers. You can find out more about David and his European tours at his website, https://davidmcguffin.com.