Bringing money on holidays.

patch

If your going to Europe, whereas you used to bring travellers checks, do you just bring cash now?
Or are atm machines up to the job? I suspect I'll get done on banking charges in Spain.......

Lenny

A god way is to put cash into your visa account, don't think theres any charges for withdrawing that well - never got charged that way meself

ToxicPaddy

Only one problem with that, your credit car insurance doesnt cover money thats on credit on your card. So if the card gets kicked and then is used for buying stuff, only when the card goes into debit will the insurance cover it..

I didnt realise this until a few months ago when I transferred money onto my card thinkin it was a good thing a one of the girls in the bank told me to be careful of it as its not covered..

Just though you should know..

Tox

Scruff

Your atm card should work as long as it has the Link, Plus symbols on it and and so does the atm you are trying to gt money out of.
I just use my atm card, taking out enough cash for a day or two at a time and there by reducing the number of charges. much handier than travelers checks imo.

patch

Thanks guys. Knowing my luck though, the ATM would be down. I think I'll bring a couple of hundred in cash, and withdraw from the bank over there. That should work.
Just in case, does anyone know of any problem withdrawing cash from a bank in the Canary Islands?

The wonderfish

have a very old aib banklink card (have it 8 or 9yrs) no cirrus or link on it, worked perfectly on canary islands & all over mainland europe ie germany, italy, france spain....much handier and safer than going around with a wad load of cash and way cheaper than travellers cheques...also you are charged approx EUR3 for every withdrawal using a credit card!! so if you are going to use the cc make sure you take out enough!:D

Moonbeam

Atm is by far your best option and they work everywhere:)
Ulster Bank and Aib cards have the facility automatically, thjink u have to ring BOI and ask them to put it on not 100 sure though

blorg

Don't bring loads of cash, it really could get nicked. Depending on your bank, there may not even be a charge for using your normal ATM card - certainly AIB don't charge anything any more for using a banklink card within the Eurozone (tried in Spain, France, Belgium and Germany with 0 charges). Other than that, the credit card in credit is also a good bet.

You're certainly better off risking the in-credit credit card than bringing cash - you can cancel the credit card, remember! I've actually had my credit card stolen/lost more than once abroad and never had a rogue transaction (cancelled it immediately obviously).

Victor

Also if you are carrying a fair bit of cash on you split it up. Put half in an envelope in a different pocket. That way you can feel someway good about giving your wallet to the gougers with the knife.