The main options for many travelers when carrying many around Europe are credit cards, debit cards, cash and travelers' checks. Most experienced travelers always carry a combination of these. Remember to always keep your money, passports and other valuable as where no one can get them or even see them. Smart travelers use a moneybelt that's worn under clothing to keep your valuables close to you and still remain unobtrusive to prying eyes. You should also bring a purse, wallet, or a change pouch to carry around your spending money. This gives convenience and practicality so you don't have to reach into your moneybelt every time you need to pay for something. Last January 1999, the euro was officially introduced. Coins and bills were circulated in January 2002. The value of the euro is currently a little higher than the US dollar but it has made traveling around Europe so much easier. With the euro, you also save money by simply buying one uniform currency, unlike before when you had to change your dollars into francs, liras, drachmas, zlotys and 10 other European currencies. But even with the acceptance of the euro, travelers' checks are still the most popular choice to safely carry many around when traveling. If checks are lost or stolen, the can always be replaced by the agency or the issuing bank on the spot or within a few days. Just make sure you always keep the purchase agreement of the checks with you and keep the serial number of the checks that you have spent. In this way, you can tell the bank which checks are missing. It is also easier to keep track of your spending using travelers' checks. The most commonly accepted travelers checks are American Express, Thomas Cook and Visa. AMEX also replaces lost checks the fastest. It is also suggested that you carry checks in large denominations (from $50-$100) to avoid continuing the paying check-cashing fees that can add up. Credit cards are also becoming more readily accepted all over Europe but can be useless for small purchases. You can also certainly use it to pay for hotel accommodation, plane tickets and other large or emergency purchases. The most widely accepted credit cards are MasterCard and Visa. You can also withdraw cash from ATMs in big cities and some countries. The obvious disadvantage of using credit cards is the risk of getting into debt once you get home. If you will be in Europe for more than a month, expect to be charged exorbitant monthly interest rates. Put a limit on your card before you leave home. Also check the invoices and receipts whenever you buy something with a credit card so you can compare it to your account statement once you get home. It's also good to bring a debit card with you. The money you spend with a debit card is taken directly out of your savings account. If your account runs out, you can't pay. Debit cards can also be used to withdraw cash from ATMs and to make purchases in stores. The most popular debit cards are Eurocard and Cirrus Plus. If your debit card gets stolen, the thief can't get your money unless he knows your pin number. So never write down your pin number anywhere. If the thief finds your pin number out and withdraws money, you can't get it back. Avoid carrying large amounts of cash around because once it's stolen, you'll never see it again. However, it's still a good idea to bring cash around, especially for emergencies. The money can be helpful if your travelers checks, passport, or credit cards are stolen along the way. Keep the money away from other valuables. Veteran travelers stitch an amount inside the lining of their backpacks. If you will be away for a longer time or if you run out of money, you can have money sent to you using an international money transfer service. Just remember them that most banks charge a fee for wiring money, so use the service only when you have to. Your family or friends can also use the service like Western Union, but its rates may be higher than other agencies. |
