- Time of past OR future Camino
- Francés, Norte, Salvador, Primitivo, Portuguese
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I am going have to get used to carrying cash with me. At home in the UK I very rarely use cash, relying on my phone to pay for every thing using an app or contactless, at other times I use my actual bank card. Even homeless big issue sellers and buskers accept contactless payments here in the UK. Is cash still king on the CF?
Hi all I am from New Zealand. The brush thing is a great idea.
Let me tell you of my first trip when I used" cash card" NEVER AGAIN. because of the methods they use through the ATM It was very easy to have them convert the money from NZ dollars to euros TWICE. Then when my wife (at home) challenged them on this for me she was threatened with cancelling my card. These people are an absolute disaster.
Second trip I took two thousand in euros in a money belt it never left my side even take it into the showers hang it on the wall and at night it went into the bottom of my sleeping bag just before I when in on top of it.. It worked a treat. You just have to get the mind set in place .You dont lose it. But I found this less stressful than cards I am going back in April with my Daughter I am going to use the same system.
As some one who has at times carried thousands of dollars in cash - this makes no sense. A money belt cannot be stolen from you unless you are held up. That’s incredibly rare, and unless you are doing something really stupide like wearing your money belt visibly or opening it in public places to geta few euro out, why would anyone think you had anything to steal? Theft is opportunistic, give them no opportunity no theft will occur.I have already had a purse stolen in a monastery parking lot in the USA! You can get robbed anywhere! I lost abt two hundred dollars in cash and all my credit cards and drivers license.
After such an experience I caution you not to carry thousands of euros around. Do not think because you have a money belt your money is safe! You may be safe in numbers in an albergue...but when walking on paths there are times when one is isolated. Many robbers are sophisticated enough to look for a money belt.
If you are unlucky enough or unfortunate enough to get robbed on the Camino, my advice is to minimize your losses. Carry as little cash as needed for a few days with a small reserve. Spread out your cash in a few places. Many private albergues take credit cards on the CF.
Do not resist robbers. Give them what they request. Your health is what is important. Then report the incidence to police.
I have memorized two credit card numbers, along with PIN numbers in case of emergency. I make a copy of my passport and put it in a file which I place in a file on the internet for my trip. Since I travel with my sister, We also exchange copies of passports and drivers licenses while on the camino!
If I can get robbed in broad daylight in a monastery parking lot, Then I can get robbed anywhere.
As some one who has at times carried thousands of dollars in cash - this makes no sense. A money belt cannot be stolen from you unless you are held up. That’s incredibly rare, and unless you are doing something really stupide like wearing your money belt visibly or opening it in public places to geta few euro out, why would anyone think you had anything to steal? Theft is opportunistic, give them no opportunity no theft will occur.
Obviously the USA is completely different, the risk of violent crime is a hellva lot lower in rural Spain, and most of the rest of the world.
Take photos of your cards and store them online in gmail or similar. And have more than one
I do not really like money belts as they often get sweaty next to your skin. I prefer using a fanny pack and at the end of the day it goes in the bottom of my sleeping bag.Exactly what I do. Money belt is under my underpants. This is by far the safest way to carry cash. Have some euros in a pocket purse to see me through each day.
I do not really like money belts as they often get sweaty next to your skin.
"You can always hide your cash in the ATM machine"
For those of us not in the EU, there can be some interesting fees for every withdrawal from an ATM.
I have this card too, and it works great overseas!Get a Charles Schwab bank account and use that card on the Camino.
ALL of your fees are reimbursed end of month.
I tried an atm in carrion de condes, it never spit out my $$$You can always hide your cash in the ATM machine. Even though ATMs might not be on every corner, I'm sure you can find one every few days for the small purchases at the coffee shops and albergues. I'm sure bigger stores and hotels accept cards if you feel the need to spend big bucks. I, personally, will probably carry €200 or so at the maximum on hand.
Passport numbers: all credentials that I have seen in my role as hospitalera have a page for pilgrims to fill in details, one of which is your passport number. When that information is filled in there is no need for you to go hunting for your passport.I have used a money belt with my cards, most of my cash (except for what I needed for the day) and my passport in it, all hidden under my clothes at the back. I was quite disconcerted when the passport was required to sign in at an albergue and I had to dig it out awkwardly while all those at the sign in desk watched.
Choked back a laugh as Ivar's snowflakes looked like dandruff.This probably wouldn't work for the follically challenged, but as we're always looking for dual purpose items this hair brush with a hollow handle could hold emergency cash could be handy. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0751PR4WC/?tag=casaivar02-20
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Looks like a winner, except we'd need two of them to stay equally balanced on both sides. And personally, I don't need any extra padding in that "area".I'm told (by Daughter No1) that THESE are not too uncomfortable to wear but sometimes require a planned visit to the ladies'/women's/females' (I'm not opening up THAT can of worms again) restroom/bathroom/toilet.
Funny you should say that, Katherine bought them as a "toofer" but ended up losing one to Daughter No2. Both wear them under their arms. As Philippa says "it makes me feel like Bond, James Bond" (over active imagination much?)Looks like a winner, except we'd need two of them to stay equally balanced on both sides. And personally, I don't need any extra padding in that "area".
If you ever saw the state of the average Egyptian 50 piastre note you'd have thought they'd already been used for that - the government now issues a coinJust doing some brainstorming and thinking outside the box...
Can't imagine what could go wrong...
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@kirkiePassport numbers: all credentials that I have seen in my role as hospitalera have a page for pilgrims to fill in details, one of which is your passport number. When that information is filled in there is no need for you to go hunting for your passport.
If I wore one under my arm on the camino I'd probably need to wash it out every dayFunny you should say that, Katherine bought them as a "toofer" but ended up losing one to Daughter No2. Both wear them under their arms. As Philippa says "it makes me feel like Bond, James Bond" (over active imagination much?)
Your point was that it is not good to have to go rooting for valuables, and you are 100% correct. let’s hope your next time will have no uncomfortable moments like that time!@kirkie
This is generally true, but the request for my passport was made in spite of all information being filled in on my credencial. I don't remember the details now, but I suspect that I was simply too much of a newbie at the time to know that my fully filled in credencial would be adequate, and so was doing what I was asked. In any case, I no longer keep my passport where I cannot access it easily and modestly. I use an inside zipped pocket in trousers or skirt to carry valuables.
Each to their own - just don't use the expression "fannypack" in the UKIf I wore one under my arm on the camino I'd probably need to wash it out every day, thus having to remove the money. Where would I put it to be safe while it's on the clothesline drying? I think I'll stick with my fannypack!
This is what I wear as a money belt and have done for years. The one I have takes 2 passport , several cards and at times some thousands of dollars. I never access it in public - that’s negates the whole point of wearing it. You don’t need 2 - I will occasionally swap sides, but it doesn’t really matter which side it’s on. The important thing is to wear a loose top.Looks like a winner, except we'd need two of them to stay equally balanced on both sides. And personally, I don't need any extra padding in that "area".
If I wore one under my arm on the camino I'd probably need to wash it out every day, thus having to remove the money. Where would I put it to be safe while it's on the clothesline drying? I think I'll stick with my fannypack!
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