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I donot see the problem.I'm walking the coastal way of the Camino Portuguese. I've gotten a better deal overall with a AAA travel card than a TravelEx.com card, however, the AAA card does not have a chip in it and the TravelEx.com has a chip in it. I've searched Google maps for ATMs or banks in various coastal cities...they seem to be few and far between...
Advice from anyone with direct experience in finding frequent ATM/bank access along the Portuguese and Spanish coast, would be greatly appreciated. I understand a chip will give me greater flexibility--but if I can get away without a chip, that would help me to not have to correct my current decision. Do you all think this is possible?
I have posted numerous comments about this issue on various threads. Liz's commentary is pretty much spot on. The card companies in the US, including AMEX, are way behind the times as far as security measures with their pin and chip technology. I understand that First Data will have converted most of the US cards to the European system by the end of 2015. You can still swipe a card on most readers and should be able to withdraw cash from and ATM with your "old time" PIN, but I would not guarantee it at every machine.Here's what I have learned about American credit cards in Europe (and I really mean credit cards NOT Debit Cards or ATM cards)
1. European credit cards are Chip & PIN technology. No one signs anything. They use a PIN for EVERY transactions -- Point of sale, cash advance -- everything.
2. For the most part no Chip & PIN cards are available in the US. There are a few credit unions that specialize in US government and military folks who travel and live abroad (the UN Credit Union gets mentioned often). Most of us don't qualify to participate. If you do get a Chip & PIN card.
3. Currently many card providers offer Chip & Signature. These cards cannot be used in Europe in an unattended kiosk (like if you want to claim a train ticket you ordered online or buy one from a machine at a station). But they help a lot since they ensure that you can you your card in the typical card readers present in most European establishments for point of sale transactions. You still have to sign and since the Europeans don't do this signature thing, its not like the US -- my experience is that you sign for EVERY transaction and they often want to check your signature against the signature on the card or against your ID so be prepared to hand over the card even for a 5 euro charge. The further away from the main tourist haunts you get, the bigger an issue this can be as it has been several years since they have had signature cards and some folks who don't see them from tourists don't know what to do with them. If you can get a Chip and Signature it will help and I recommend it.
4. Beware of confusion -- Many US Chip & Signature cards have a PIN or offer a PIN. But if you use the PIN, you will be charged as if you were using your credit card in an ATM machine -- ie you will be charged for a cash advance. Don't confuse this sort of PIN that can come with a Chip & Signature card with the full blown European Chip & PIN. Also be aware that many of the entry level sales people for US credit cards do not understand Chip & PIN. They think the Chip solves all the problems. And they will tell you about the cash advance-type PIN. You really have to do careful research. US banking interests just announced in February 2015 that they are postponing for at least another year full implementation of real Chip & PIN technology. So the chance you will find something outside those few credit unions I mentioned is not very great.
4. Some US cards still have the magnetic strip with no chip. I have not travelled to Europe with one of these in a long time, but my sense is it would be difficult for you. Not sure about this, but I'm guessing that old megantic swibe machines are becoming fewer and further between.
One final bit of credit card advice. Check out whether your card provider charges a foreign transaction fee. This can add up to 3.5% to every single international transaction on the credit card. There are lots of cards around that do not have FTFs -- get one of those!
Buen Camino,
Liz
Hi , I'm from the Netherlands and we use only chip to pay for stuff . I'm not sure how this works all over Europe . Some meaby use only chip and others swipe your card true a card reader .I'm walking the coastal way of the Camino Portuguese. I've gotten a better deal overall with a AAA travel card than a TravelEx.com card, however, the AAA card does not have a chip in it and the TravelEx.com has a chip in it. I've searched Google maps for ATMs or banks in various coastal cities...they seem to be few and far between...
Advice from anyone with direct experience in finding frequent ATM/bank access along the Portuguese and Spanish coast, would be greatly appreciated. I understand a chip will give me greater flexibility--but if I can get away without a chip, that would help me to not have to correct my current decision. Do you all think this is possible?
I am leaving in about three weeks to start my Camino in Lisbon. I was planning on bringing two credit cards and a debit card. (I usually carry two credit cards just in case I one fails I have another for back up.) I was planning on using my debit card for everything, but it is swipe and PIN. Will I have issues with the debit card?Here's what I have learned about American credit cards in Europe (and I really mean credit cards NOT Debit Cards or ATM cards)
1. European credit cards are Chip & PIN technology. No one signs anything. They use a PIN for EVERY transactions -- Point of sale, cash advance -- everything.
2. For the most part no Chip & PIN cards are available in the US. There are a few credit unions that specialize in US government and military folks who travel and live abroad (the UN Credit Union gets mentioned often). Most of us don't qualify to participate. If you do get a Chip & PIN card.
3. Currently many card providers offer Chip & Signature. These cards cannot be used in Europe in an unattended kiosk (like if you want to claim a train ticket you ordered online or buy one from a machine at a station). But they help a lot since they ensure that you can you your card in the typical card readers present in most European establishments for point of sale transactions. You still have to sign and since the Europeans don't do this signature thing, its not like the US -- my experience is that you sign for EVERY transaction and they often want to check your signature against the signature on the card or against your ID so be prepared to hand over the card even for a 5 euro charge. The further away from the main tourist haunts you get, the bigger an issue this can be as it has been several years since they have had signature cards and some folks who don't see them from tourists don't know what to do with them. If you can get a Chip and Signature it will help and I recommend it.
4. Beware of confusion -- Many US Chip & Signature cards have a PIN or offer a PIN. But if you use the PIN, you will be charged as if you were using your credit card in an ATM machine -- ie you will be charged for a cash advance. Don't confuse this sort of PIN that can come with a Chip & Signature card with the full blown European Chip & PIN. Also be aware that many of the entry level sales people for US credit cards do not understand Chip & PIN. They think the Chip solves all the problems. And they will tell you about the cash advance-type PIN. You really have to do careful research. US banking interests just announced in February 2015 that they are postponing for at least another year full implementation of real Chip & PIN technology. So the chance you will find something outside those few credit unions I mentioned is not very great.
4. Some US cards still have the magnetic strip with no chip. I have not travelled to Europe with one of these in a long time, but my sense is it would be difficult for you. Not sure about this, but I'm guessing that old megantic swibe machines are becoming fewer and further between.
One final bit of credit card advice. Check out whether your card provider charges a foreign transaction fee. This can add up to 3.5% to every single international transaction on the credit card. There are lots of cards around that do not have FTFs -- get one of those!
Buen Camino,
Liz
Grayland -- All I can say is that you have been lucky.I find this all interesting. I have not (to date) had any problems with my US issued cards..without chip.
My ATM cards have worked in every machine, with the exception of those not on the same exchange group as my bank. A chipped card would not work in that case either.
Credit cards have continued to work ...except in the stand- alone unattended kiosks.
My last experience was in late September of last year....so all of the problems described above would have to have happened in the last few months.
They are not likely to shut off US tourist business until we get the new cards.
Makes no business sense.
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