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Anonymous
I have a local's bank Visa debit card. I'm going for two weeks to Europe (Barcelona, Paris, Amsterdam). Main activites: alcohols, weed, museums, taxi/metro trasportation.

Should I use debit, credit, or euro? I know to take out some euro for street merchants and trasportation, but for other purchases.
>> Anonymous
everyone hates these things, use them only if you must
>> Anonymous
in france you can pay everything costlier than 2 euros with a credit card. I am not sure about the other places
>> Anonymous
>>15370

it's a hassle to use them in Amsterdam, and many stores charge 5% extra if you pay like this. So just use the ATMs and pay cash.
>> Anonymous
>>15370
>>Should I use debit, credit, or euro?
Debit: You will need one for ATMs.
Credit: Accepted, but often frowned upon. We (as far as I can speak for all of Europe) aren't much into credit cards. They have little to no use at all. I can't understand why US-Americans use them so much.
Euro: Spain, France and the Netherlands are euro countries. With euros you can't go wrong.
>> Anonymous
>>15563

I don't use credit, but didn't know if that was a option for overseas. Thanks for the insight. I'll just withdraw money from the ATM over there.
>> Anonymous
>>15582
You should make sure in advance that your card will work.
>> Anonymous
>>15614

Yeah, it does. It has teh Plus logo.

The bank charges a 3% transactional fee for foreign withdrawal. But I'm looking and pretty much all banks do.
>> Anonymous
I would tell the bank that you are planning to go to those countries...just in case they think your card has been stolen and decide to deactivate it. You know, just as a precaution...
>> Anonymous
In most of Europe, credit cards are for ordering stuff on-line (and even then there are safer alternatives in some countries, Dutch webshops have a system that links them and your bank in a more secure way) or for bringing along on trips to foreign countries as a back up.

In The Netherlands, people pay using their PIN cards (transfers money from your transactional account to the store) or less frequently chipcards (chargeable debit-cards). Using cash is also no problem, just takes more time. Just don't expect to be able to pay anything over €100 in cash anywhere.
>> Anonymous
>>15788
indeed, know your PIN - in US I guess it doesn't exist or something, I was always asked a signature
>> Anonymous
You can use your credit card for shopping in malls and paying for gasoline, it's small establishments in traditional commerce that don't accept credit cards - like patisseries and coffee shops.

The daily limit of withdrawal from an ATM must be around 250-300 euros, you shouldn't carry that much money around.
>> Anonymous
>>15788
>>In most of Europe, credit cards are for ordering stuff on-line
Ever heard of direct debit, wire transfer, invoice or COD?
Each method is more popular than credit cards.

>>Just don't expect to be able to pay anything over €100 in cash anywhere.
It's the other way round: Don't expect to be able to pay anything expensive using cards. They will ask for your ID. If they accept your foreign ID/passport is within their own judgement.
Also credit card users often obstruct everything, because (1) they will be asked to show their ID (2) they need to enter their PIN (3) they need to sign the bill (4) it takes hours for the transaction to be confirmed. Cash is much faster.
>> Anonymous
>>15943
>> Ever heard of direct debit, wire transfer, invoice or COD?
>> Each method is more popular than credit cards.
So? That doesn't take away from the fact that credit cards are also used for these kind of actions. Especially when ordering from outside of Europe.

>> It's the other way round: Don't expect to be able to pay anything expensive using cards.

Perhaps where you're from, but in The Netherlands you generally pay for something large using a PIN number and your bank's PIN-card. No ID, no hassle. The card is useless without the PIN number, and easily blocked when lost.
>> Anonymous
>>Especially when ordering from outside of Europe.
This is true. For intercurrency transfers credit cards are useful - especially since they are faster by magnitudes-, but if you are IN Europe and pay for something IN Europe, credit cards are but a burden you don't need.