- Time of past OR future Camino
- Portuguese Coastal 2021 Frances Leon/Muxia2023
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I had thought I was being smart...getting euros prior leaving canada for our 2015 CF. I specifically got a rather large denomination note...'thinking' I could secure it in a safe, unobtrusive place until we needed it, and thus we mostly avoided ATMs completely. That worked out fine until I decided to go into a bank to get the note cashed so I would have a wad of smaller bills...and since I wasn't a client of their bank- they wouldn't touch my note, no one would in Spain. I ended up having to bring it back to Canda to return it for cash.
The few ATM we used were no problems...but beware the 'brillant' plan of too large a euro note!
5, 10 and 20 euro are fine, and perhaps 50 in larger areas....but anything larger can be a problem in a cash-only environment like the Camino.
Once again turns out I am not nearly as smart as I think I am! (Just ask my wife).
I think that you need to figure out why you can't use ATMs at home. Once you've solved that, you are 99% there as far as using them in Spain.My problem is i cant see to use them; i never use them in the UK! (on a normal day the screen is blank so is my phone)
Careful reading of Original Posts always helps. As Woody66 has explained aboveI think that you need to figure out why you can't use ATMs at home. Once you've solved that, you are 99% there as far as using them in Spain.
So sorry, I'm obviously having reading comprehension problems!Hi Trecile!
Sorry my fault, should have said my eyes don't work and the ATMS have no voice prompts!
Woody
Careful reading of Original Posts always helps. As Woody66 has explained above
Hi Doughnut NZ!@woody66 there is an app that is available in Spain and the EU that allows you to link your phone with many ATMs and provides an audio interface. See: https://www.techsoupeurope.org/disabled-people-in-spain-now-have-access-to-atms-through-an-app/
If it was a €500 note that's not likely to be a problem any more as the European Central Bank has stopped issuing them (although they are still legal tender). Like the $1000 CDN bill they were deemed the province of drug smugglers, international criminals and terrorist organisations!I had thought I was being smart...getting euros prior leaving canada for our 2015 CF. I specifically got a rather large denomination note...'thinking' I could secure it in a safe, unobtrusive place until we needed it, and thus we mostly avoided ATMs completely. That worked out fine until I decided to go into a bank to get the note cashed so I would have a wad of smaller bills...and since I wasn't a client of their bank- they wouldn't touch my note, no one would in Spain. I ended up having to bring it back to Canda to return it for cash.
The few ATM we used were no problems...but beware the 'brillant' plan of too large a euro note!
5, 10 and 20 euro are fine, and perhaps 50 in larger areas....but anything larger can be a problem in a cash-only environment like the Camino.
Once again turns out I am not nearly as smart as I think I am! (Just ask my wife).
Good advice, @Canada Wanders, to avoid getting high-denomination euro banknotes. I would even avoid getting 50 € banknotes for a Camino trip. Sounds like Spanish banks are similar to elsewhere in Euroland: you can no longer change money in a bank because the banks are not keeping cash as a rule or the staff cannot access it. You need to deposit cash or get cash from an ATM, even inside the bank, and in order to deposit it, you need a bank account that can accept it.I decided to go into a bank to get the note cashed so I would have a wad of smaller bills...and since I wasn't a client of their bank- they wouldn't touch my note, no one would in Spain. I ended up having to bring it back to Canda to return it for cash.
A $1000. Bill? A mirage? Lol....not sure I have ever seen one!If it was a €500 note that's not likely to be a problem any more as the European Central Bank has stopped issuing them (although they are still legal tender). Like the $1000 CDN bill they were deemed the province of drug smugglers, international criminals and terrorist organisations!
BTW if a $1 is a Loonie what the heck was a $1000 called?
I don't use a credit card, last year my bank said don't take your debit card as its risky. Issued me with a credit card but I forgot to activate the pin so it didn't work. Only took 100 euros cash so by 3rd day was running out. Got my partner at home to transfer cash via Western Union and collected it in Barcellos just before the agent closed for the weekend. Very easy and fees not high. Most small places only take cash and once I got my credit card working found that tap wouldn't work, only using pinHi everyone!
I have just been listening to several threads about getting cash on the Camino, and the fact that a lot of place only accept cash.
I never thought i would be an issue.
A lot of posts relate to cash machine use, their location and the distance between them.
My problem is i cant see to use them; i never use them in the UK! (on a normal day the screen is blank so is my phone)
I can use contactless and enter pin in card reader in shops etc (the number five is raised, so navigate from there to enter pin) i have been doing that for years no probs.
When i go on holiday for a week i am usually based in one location and take a wad of Euros and a couple of credit cards;enough for drink, food, taxis and any other eventualities and have always had enough cash.
My Camino is going to be more than three times as long.
Obviously there will be banks and i suppose my question relates to their frequency along the Portuguese Coastal and Spiritual Caminos.
I know Portugal and Spain are definitely not third World countries and towns will have a bank; but some parts of the route are a bit spread out or am i wrong?
I have a Starling Bank card which has no overseas charges and i know i could probs exchange to Euros in some of the Hotels i am staying in but i think i will get better rates from a bank.
Any info regarding this on the route would be most welcome.
Woody.
Having recently returned from the CF, I didn’t find using €50 notes a problem. Was not always given the choice when using an ATM for withdrawal. Usually changed at albergue or meal, either of the two around €10.Good advice, @Canada Wanders, to avoid getting high-denomination euro banknotes. I would even avoid getting 50 € banknotes for a Camino trip. Sounds like Spanish banks are similar to elsewhere in Euroland: you can no longer change money in a bank because the banks are not keeping cash as a rule or the staff cannot access it. You need to deposit cash or get cash from an ATM, even inside the bank, and in order to deposit it, you need a bank account that can accept it.
Even in environments that are not "cash-only", I do not use anything higher than 50 €, if at all, and many retail shops are reluctant or even refuse to accept higher banknotes.
Best of luck to @woody66!
I don't use a credit card, last year my bank said don't take your debit card as its risky. Issued me with a credit card but I forgot to activate the pin so it didn't work. Only took 100 euros cash so by 3rd day was running out. Got my partner at home to transfer cash via Western Union and collected it in Barcellos just before the agent closed for the weekend. Very easy and fees not high. Most small places only take cash and once I got my credit card working found that tap wouldn't work, only using pin
A $1 coin is a loonie because the "tails" side features a loon (the bird). $1 bills were never called that. They were called "ones". When the $2 coin was introduced, people started calling it a "toonie" in reference to the loonie. As to what $1000 would be called - we'll have to wait until a $1000 coin is in general circulation and see.BTW if a $1 is a Loonie what the heck was a $1000 called?
No doubt the result of leading a blameless life and steering clear of narcotics and international trouble spots - well done you!A $1000. Bill? A mirage? Lol....not sure I have ever seen one!
I looked a bit deeper at the BBVA App and it may only be for BBVA customers who live in Spain.Hi Doughnut NZ!
That sounds great listened to the info from your link!(appeals to me as the input is done on the phone before approaching the ATM card in cash out and the app navigates you to the nearest ATM )
They do have audio options in the UK for ATMS but i have never liked the idea of standing in the street with my G/dog and taking out cash being obviously vulnerable (i live in a place that does not feel to safe;the week after i moved here i was burgled and the week after that someone in my street was hacked to death with a machete! I was followed through town by a person; he tagged me in 5 or 6 shops until i asked the store assistant to make it obvious we were aware of him and he left. How did i no he had tagged me;he stank of cannabis)
Here a get cash in the bank from the cashier with my card;they have a card reader or i get cashback up to £50 from stores when buying shopping which works for me it's less obvious!
Not everybody has the Camino spirit!!
I will bring this app you have found to my RNIB rep and G/dogs.
Thanks
Woody.
Lol...trouble spots? I was Army!No doubt the result of leading a blameless life and steering clear of narcotics and international trouble spots - well done you!
Wow Doug all that effort just for me; thanks so much.I looked a bit deeper at the BBVA App and it may only be for BBVA customers who live in Spain.
I tried to download the app and this was successful but I couldn't do anything without being a customer and when I tried to become a customer it asked me for a national id number but wouldn't accept any that I entered (from NZ). I tried a couple of different options including the number from my NZ and UK passports but they didn't work either.
I have emailed BBVA support and asked them about pilgrims using their audio assistance features and I am waiting for a reply.
It doesn't look likely though. A pity because the description of the app indicated that it was very useful.
Doug
Just a hint, in Spain if you ask for a location of a near ATM you might get a blank stare. It's "telebanco" in Spain.Hi everyone!
I have just been listening to several threads about getting cash on the Camino, and the fact that a lot of place only accept cash.
I never thought i would be an issue.
A lot of posts relate to cash machine use, their location and the distance between them.
My problem is i cant see to use them; i never use them in the UK! (on a normal day the screen is blank so is my phone)
I can use contactless and enter pin in card reader in shops etc (the number five is raised, so navigate from there to enter pin) i have been doing that for years no probs.
When i go on holiday for a week i am usually based in one location and take a wad of Euros and a couple of credit cards;enough for drink, food, taxis and any other eventualities and have always had enough cash.
My Camino is going to be more than three times as long.
Obviously there will be banks and i suppose my question relates to their frequency along the Portuguese Coastal and Spiritual Caminos.
I know Portugal and Spain are definitely not third World countries and towns will have a bank; but some parts of the route are a bit spread out or am i wrong?
I have a Starling Bank card which has no overseas charges and i know i could probs exchange to Euros in some of the Hotels i am staying in but i think i will get better rates from a bank.
Any info regarding this on the route would be most welcome.
Woody.
Get 300 in Euros, all twenty, from your local bank, before you leave. It took 5 days for my local bank to order. Usually all you need to last over a week is 200 but the extra 100 comes in handy at first for things forgotten and transportation to start. Take two credit cards, kept in separate pockets. When you start to run low, €50, plan on getting another 200. Don't fret over exchange rates or fees, in the grand scheme of things, they are insignificant.Hi everyone!
I have just been listening to several threads about getting cash on the Camino, and the fact that a lot of place only accept cash.
I never thought i would be an issue.
A lot of posts relate to cash machine use, their location and the distance between them.
My problem is i cant see to use them; i never use them in the UK! (on a normal day the screen is blank so is my phone)
I can use contactless and enter pin in card reader in shops etc (the number five is raised, so navigate from there to enter pin) i have been doing that for years no probs.
When i go on holiday for a week i am usually based in one location and take a wad of Euros and a couple of credit cards;enough for drink, food, taxis and any other eventualities and have always had enough cash.
My Camino is going to be more than three times as long.
Obviously there will be banks and i suppose my question relates to their frequency along the Portuguese Coastal and Spiritual Caminos.
I know Portugal and Spain are definitely not third World countries and towns will have a bank; but some parts of the route are a bit spread out or am i wrong?
I have a Starling Bank card which has no overseas charges and i know i could probs exchange to Euros in some of the Hotels i am staying in but i think i will get better rates from a bank.
Any info regarding this on the route would be most welcome.
Woody.
Maybe stating the obvious here but make sure you use atm’s only when the bank is open in case you have issues that can’t be resolved with the machine and it keeps your card as security.Hi everyone!
I have just been listening to several threads about getting cash on the Camino, and the fact that a lot of place only accept cash.
I never thought i would be an issue.
A lot of posts relate to cash machine use, their location and the distance between them.
My problem is i cant see to use them; i never use them in the UK! (on a normal day the screen is blank so is my phone)
I can use contactless and enter pin in card reader in shops etc (the number five is raised, so navigate from there to enter pin) i have been doing that for years no probs.
When i go on holiday for a week i am usually based in one location and take a wad of Euros and a couple of credit cards;enough for drink, food, taxis and any other eventualities and have always had enough cash.
My Camino is going to be more than three times as long.
Obviously there will be banks and i suppose my question relates to their frequency along the Portuguese Coastal and Spiritual Caminos.
I know Portugal and Spain are definitely not third World countries and towns will have a bank; but some parts of the route are a bit spread out or am i wrong?
I have a Starling Bank card which has no overseas charges and i know i could probs exchange to Euros in some of the Hotels i am staying in but i think i will get better rates from a bank.
Any info regarding this on the route would be most welcome.
Woody.
Easy. Same approach. It's not ATM in Spain it's Telebanco, learned that after a few blank stares when asking where the nearest ATM.I walked CF in summer 2019. Before leaving USA I ordered $500 in Euros from my bank in small bills. Only used the ATMs a couple of times during my 6 weeks - each time I used the ATM I withdrew 300 euros - I didn't concern myself with bank fee's, had already factored that into my budget. Carried a credit card and two different ATM cards - kept the credit card and the backup ATM card hidden away with all of my extra cash.
If it was a €500 note that's not likely to be a problem any more as the European Central Bank has stopped issuing them (although they are still legal tender). Like the $1000 CDN bill they were deemed the province of drug smugglers, international criminals and terrorist organisations!
BTW if a $1 is a Loonie what the heck was a $1000 called?
As I recall, some ATMs in Spain do offer a choice of bank notes. One little trick that might be useful is to request, for example, 280 Euros instead of 300. That way you are guaranteed not to get all 50s, and there's a good chance you will get four 20s. I have never been given a note larger than 50 on the Camino.In Canada, ATMs offer a choice of bills of various denominations. Does anyone know if this now happens in Spain? If it does, would this be at all banks, or only specific ones?
Thank you for this tip - keep the denominations low.I had thought I was being smart...getting euros prior leaving canada for our 2015 CF. I specifically got a rather large denomination note...'thinking' I could secure it in a safe, unobtrusive place until we needed it, and thus we mostly avoided ATMs completely. That worked out fine until I decided to go into a bank to get the note cashed so I would have a wad of smaller bills...and since I wasn't a client of their bank- they wouldn't touch my note, no one would in Spain. I ended up having to bring it back to Canda to return it for cash.
The few ATM we used were no problems...but beware the 'brillant' plan of too large a euro note!
5, 10 and 20 euro are fine, and perhaps 50 in larger areas....but anything larger can be a problem in a cash-only environment like the Camino.
Once again turns out I am not nearly as smart as I think I am! (Just ask my wife).
I know I got caught out a couple of times with wads of 50s which many places were unwilling to take I don't blame them, one good forgery is a days profit to these small places.As I recall, some ATMs in Spain do offer a choice of bank notes. One little trick that might be useful is to request, for example, 280 Euros instead of 300. That way you are guaranteed not to get all 50s, and there's a good chance you will get four 20s. I have never been given a note larger than 50 on the Camino.
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