Travel

Money/ Debit card or prepaid euro travel card better?

San Diego 50,520 forum posts

#4 of 9

I don t really understand the last post??

You can ask your bank to raise your ATM limit while you travel.

You DO need to inform your ATM bank and your credit card companies that you will be in Europe BEFORE you go!!

There is no perfect way to do this.

YOUR banks charge fees for ATM withdrawals AND to buy euros from them.

You have to add up the fees and see which is better for you!

Capital One, and Schwab offer ATM cards and/or credit cards that have small or no fees. Some people order cards just for travel.

The pre loaded cards give poor exchange rates and charge fees to reload or to change the euros back to $$s. Any way you do it will cost money.

We just figure it as part of the cost of the vacation!

I just want to add that IF you have an account with Wells Fargo here in San Diego. they will charge the least to buy euros here in the USA.

I have compared their rates to the other pre loaded cards and for just that their rate is best BUT only if you have an account there.