Getting money without debit card

[DavidGaynor96]

Hello! So I'm going on my camino tomorrow and my debit is card is acting up a bit and I'm afraid that it might break while I'm there. Is it possible to withdraw cash there without a card? Does anyone have any experience with this?
Thanks

 

[Rick M]

I can't offer any concrete advice on this, but walking without a working card is likely to present a big problem. Get a replacement.....have a friend forward it on to an agreed place along the path. Take more cash with you than you should so you can survive the first couple weeks. Make sure you have a credit card as a backup. Good luck, and Buen Camino!

 

[trecile]

First, contact you bank to let them know that there is a problem. then look into sending yourself cash via Western Union or having someone do it for you.

https://www.westernunion.com/us/en/travelwise.html

 

[onwayhome]

Hello! So I'm going on my camino tomorrow and my debit is card is acting up a bit and I'm afraid that it might break while I'm there. Is it possible to withdraw cash there without a card? Does anyone have any experience with this?
Thanks

Are you in the UK? The quickest option might be to get a simple pre paid card from the Post Office. Called a Travel Money Card ,it's available over the counter at main Post Offices with a passport or photo driving licence ID and then works in cash machines or use direct like any debit/credit card.
I think it's probably a good idea to take two different bank cards in any case, just in case one gets eaten by an ATM.

 

[trecile]

Are you in the UK? The quickest option might be to get a simple pre paid card from the Post Office. Called a Travel Money Card ,it's available over the counter at main Post Offices with a passport or photo driving licence ID and then works in cash machines or use direct like any debit/credit card.
I think it's probably a good idea to take two different bank cards in any case, just in case one gets eaten by an ATM.

Good idea. Probably easier than the Western Union idea. In the US we can get prepaid Visa cards that can be used in ATMs worldwide.

https://usa.visa.com/pay-with-visa/cards/prepaid-cards/travel-money-card.html

 

[Deleted member 12253]

Hello! So I'm going on my camino tomorrow and my debit is card is acting up a bit and I'm afraid that it might break while I'm there. Is it possible to withdraw cash there without a card? Does anyone have any experience with this?
Thanks

No. You could get somebody to forward money western union for example and easy

 

[nathanael]

Hello! So I'm going on my camino tomorrow and my debit is card is acting up a bit and I'm afraid that it might break while I'm there. Is it possible to withdraw cash there without a card? Does anyone have any experience with this?
Thanks

you can withdraw money with your credit card. I did

 

[HighlandsHiker]

David, I just had a really nasty surprise with this last week at Barajas in Madrid. Western Union would have been the best (only) option in my situation. With Western Union - if you end up needing them - if the sender takes cash to a Western Union office and sends you, the receiver, an identifying reference number, and the funds are sent to another Western Union office, the cash is wired immediately and you have immediate access (but remember to take into consideration the time differences for opening hours). I don't know if you'll be in Madrid, but Madrid has a number of Western Union offices, including at Terminal 1 at Barajas. If the transaction goes out of a bank account or credit card from the sender, my understanding from scouring their site is that it can take at least 2 days, sometimes 3 for the wired funds to show up. Which means you're stuck waiting unless you know of an office where you'll be to have it wired to days ahead, and can get by cashless until then. You can register with Western Union and also set up your own account to transfer money to yourself, but it will still take 2 - 3 days, if I have understood them correctly. I signed up today and never want to be in a position where it's not possible to withdraw cash again.

 

[trecile]

@DavidGaynor96 , I just noticed that you are

you can withdraw money with your credit card. I did

You can, but it's generally not a good idea, as most banks charge a cash advance fee, and interest starts accruing from the day you take the money out.

 

[KinkyOne]

I'll go waaay off topic here, but still, it would be nice to get the money without my Debit Card

 

[Jersey]

My bank told me today that it would cost me $1.18 for a Euro.
The official exchange rate is $1.12
If I only wanted 1 Euro. No big deal lol
The amount of money financial institutions make on our ignorance
is appalling.

 

[C clearly]

My bank told me today that it would cost me $1.18 for a Euro.
The official exchange rate is $1.12
If I only wanted 1 Euro. No big deal lol
The amount of money financial institutions make on our ignorance
is appalling.

What do you mean by "official exchange rate"? It depends on whether you are buying and selling, and other market forces. Are you a national government propping up currencies, or a traveller seeking the convenience of small amounts of foreign currency?

I am no particular defender of big business and big banks, but I enjoy the convenience and I don't consider the inevitable bank charges to be a shocking part of my Camino costs.

 

[Anamya]

If you are in Australia, you can get pre-paid travel cards at the Post Office or at Travelex Currency Exchange.

 

[Jersey]

What do you mean by "official exchange rate"? It depends on whether you are buying and selling, and other market forces. Are you a national government propping up currencies, or a traveller seeking the convenience of small amounts of foreign currency?

I am no particular defender of big business and big banks, but I enjoy the convenience and I don't consider the inevitable bank charges to be a shocking part of my Camino costs.

The official exchange rate is determined by the Foreign Exchange market. It's a floating number. Today it was $1,12 for 1 Euro.
I have no problem with someone making money for me being able to exchange my money from one currency into another.
( someone has to make money or I wouldn't be able to do the exchange lol )
My problem is how much they are making.
I think 2% is fair. 5% or 6% is a ripoff.
This isn't even counting ATM fees
I have two good friends from Spain who visit me once or twice a year.
I give them American $ & when I go to Spain they pay me back with Euros. We all save the exchange rate fees. It adds up to hundreds of dollars

 

[HighlandsHiker]

Hello! So I'm going on my camino tomorrow and my debit is card is acting up a bit and I'm afraid that it might break while I'm there. Is it possible to withdraw cash there without a card? Does anyone have any experience with this?
Thanks

David, in case you need it, Far Home Atocha (a very nice hostal not far from the Prado) comes recommended from another forum member and accepts credit cards as long as you have 10 Euro in cash to deposit - the 10 Euro is refunded at the end of your stay. An inexpensive option for those with a similar cash flow problem, and a place to wait the 2+ days for a wire transfer to come through.