money/banking/budget

Save this file to your photos on your phone and check it each time you need to withdraw money at a Spanish ATM. It's sure to save you quite a bit over the course of your camino! YOU WILL FIND THE LATEST VERSION OF THE FILE UNDER THE "updates" TAB (above). If possible access and save it using...

Since I got my preloaded currency card to avoid the predations of my UK bank's steep ATM fees and awful exchange rate, I've been paying more attention to the fees charged by the Spanish banks to use their ATM's, which seem to vary widely. I started a list on my phone last year of the culprits...

Hi All, I’m starting my second Camino in April this year and just looking at the best way to take money to Spain. I’m in the UK and considering either getting a Starling Bank account for the duration of the trip, or a Revolut (or similar) card. (I’ll also be taking a credit card for times when...

I haven’t been able to find much current ATM info for Madrid airport terminal4. I want to use a bank ATM. I only have 50 minutes between flights so I don’t want to go out beyond security. Also, it used to be that many Madrid airport ATMs tended to be out of service. Recent experience welcome...

So I've been collecting cash-machine usage fees over on another thread, and I've now put everything I've learned together into a cheat-sheet for your phone. Open or send the image to your phone and then save it to your photos. Then you'll be able to look at it every time you need to go to an...

I was reading my VISA Credit Card Statement. If you lose your Credit Card, or have it Stolen, or someone has your “numbers” and is using it..... Just call the number on the back, Collect. Back in the “Old Days”, when telephone companies had Operators, and we had Land Lines..... it was...

Hi all, Other than being a writer (novelist and new vegan cookbook for Peregrinos), my day job is as a fraud investigator. I've recently read a couple of discussions about possible fraud on the Camino (cards, theft, etc.), so I thought I'd take a minute and pass on some information that might...

Hello! I have been traveling for years pretty minimally in terms of finances and have become very fascinated with the prospect of going on one of the many trails associated with El Camino. I have no problem camping in a tent but as I’ve had less energy this year from burning out from a ton of...

I am using my ATM card from a U.S. bank to obtain euros. In Portugal where I started walking, max withdrawal was 200€. I’m now in Vigo (Spain) and will soon need to make another withdrawal. Last year I think the max withdrawal in Spain was 300 €. Is this still the case? BTW, I think I was able...

Can people please post below their cash machine usage charge costs from experience / currently from the camino? I'm talking about the Spanish ATM on-the-spot usage fees, that are charged regardless of your home bank. The ones they ask you to confirm at the end before giving you the money. If...

I'm looking at making an app for tracking your finances as you go along the Camino. In the past I've done this with a mobile spreadsheet, but I realise that having a dedicated app for it would be a lot more practical. I wanted to ask the forum what sort of features they'd want from a...

I’ve walked Porto to Santiago (May/June 2017) and SJPP to Burgos (May/June 2018) and am itching to complete my walk, Burgos to Santiago (or Muxia)....but now Via Francigena has caught my eye... I would likely walk only the Tuscany to Rome section but want to ask: is lodging affordable? Is it...

I will be walking my first camino, the Portuguese Central Way this mid-october. So for about 12-13 days on the trail, how much money should I carry? I thought between 300-500 Euros as towns w/ ATM's may be far in between?

Any issues obtaining Cash / Euros on the Camino? Did you find ATM’s belonging to obscure networks vs “Plus, Star, Interlink, Money pass”. Open to any advise on money matters while walking the Camino

ABANCA doesn’t charge a fee.

Is this possible? Every time I have traveled internationally I've relied on euros and credit card. I will be on the Camino for about a month and do not want to carry that much cash if I don't have to. I have never tried to use my American debit card (Master Card) oversees because I assumed I...

Just returned from Spain, where I was always asked "Euros or Australian Dollars" when paying by credit card. Which is the best option?

My wife and I finished the Camino Frances on April 5th, 2018, in 27 days. We had a blast but I have a few observations on finances. All notes below relate to 2 people and our experience may differ from others. Aiming to give s simple summary of one topic I found confusing on this forum Credit...

Hi all, I'm new to the forum and am loving the wealth of information on here. I am planning to undertake the Camino Frances setting off on 24/11 and hoping to arrive in Santiago on 31/12. One piece of info I can't seem to find recent info on is what I should expect to spend. I will be...

So how is everyone handling the issues surrounding currency exchange? I'm kind of a minimalist and only have one credit card with my bank. My bank has no ATMs in Europe. When I withdraw Euros from an ATM in Europe, a typical American bank charges $5 flat fee for each international ATM use...