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Also I am curious who would have said this!
Hi John. Welcome. Please don’t take this wrong way but be careful where you source information from. Here is generally a good option. I note your other post was on a thread about some wildly inaccurate credit card info. Cheers!
Me too!
There are parts of the world that do take USD of course, but trust me the exchange rate and ‘rounding up’ won’t be to your benefit!! Not to be confused with countries where the USD is official currency, such as Ecuador.
Most resort areas in Mexico accept USD, but you'll pay more than if you use pesos.
Yes…. Paid for a safari in Kenya once in USD.
Yes that is correct!
Thank you!
This is common in many countries in western Europe that use the Euro. Some ATMs let you choose what size notes you get but many don’t! I hate it too. Used a €50 for a pint of beer in a pub in Berlin tonight and didn’t go down well! Tried to find a ‘free’ ATM to get €40 out but no luck!
In Spain, I only use bank ATM's. If the machine gave me all 50's, I always walked inside the bank and had them convert them into smaller bills; just another good reason why I only use bank ATM's during the hours they are open to the public.
The only traveling I’ve done was back in 1960. This is all new for me, so thanks for your input.
I “think” I might have read that somewhere at sometime, but that be erroneous. Maybe it’s a flashback to the 60’s?
Well it’s Euros all the way now! You may want to look at do’s and don’ts of acquiring Euros as the ‘cost’ can vary hugely. A few simple practices can save you as much as 10-15 % on fees! Lots of threads on here!
Thank you. As noted elsewhere, the only international traveling I’ve done was in the 60’s and also time spent in Bosnia during their war.
Thank you!!!!!
Yes and try and pick up the info from the USA folks as though there is a lot of general great advice that is global ( don’t get money out at airport desks, on credits cards, and always never let the ATM dictate the rate) there are some areas where the nation of the card you hold is key!
Welcome John! As you are already discovering on this thread, there is a lot of accumulated, collective knowledge on this forum, and the members are always eager to help and point you in the right direction; sometimes there are even "several" right directions!
This reminds me of my mom...the last time she was in Europe was 1963. When I went on my last camino, she said "I'll give you some cash because when I was there we used $1s and $5's". And I had to remind her that was 55 years ago and most folks use debit cards or euros.
Thank you
I’ll be welcoming all info. that is availableWelcome John! As you are already discovering on this thread, there is a lot of accumulated, collective knowledge on this forum, and the members are always eager to help and point you in the right direction; sometimes there are even "several" right directions!
yeah, I saved the 50 euro bills for the Albergues. Most of the time they would be charging me around 27 euros for the bed and the dinner combined, so a 50 euro note is not that out of line for them. Another tip is when you get to the airport, or maybe earlier than that, put all your euro coins into a vending machine. The vending machine will take all the coins except the 1 and 2 cent coins. So, you can get rid of your euro coins, and have something to eat or drink, too. My local bank that distributes Euros, (there's only one in Madison) will take back Euro bills, but will not take Euro coins.
I would always withdraw an amount like 180 Euros to ensure that if 20 Euro notes were available, they would be dispensed. The mathematicians will know that this will work for any number that isn't a multiple of 50 if there are 50 Euro and 20 Euro notes available. If there are only 20 Euro notes, there will be some amounts that cannot be dispensed.
And try to get lower denomination notes. Anything over a €50 note could cause problems. I prefer €20s myself, so don't take cash out in round hundreds.
This is a very good option that I have never considered before.
I heard this a lot while preparing for our camino. However, 6 weeks of walking the CF and 8 weeks total in Europe (France & Portugal) nobody seemed the least bit
Bob, you reside in the US. If you don't have a Charles Schwab debit card yet, you are late to the party so get going!
Can I ask why you ‘buy’ foreign currency rather than just use a debit card with no fees. Has it been cheaper? Spain is experiencing huge growth in card payment btw up 25% in Q2!
And yet right now there are cafes and restaurants around me which either have a minimum amount for card payments (€9-12) or don't take card at all.
Yes sure there is and always will be! It’s good growth though and hopefully will get better!
€5 banknotes are a precious commodity
.That was me who said some ATMs give you an options. Choice of 2 options. Can’t qualify it or say which banks but I think Deutsche Bank may do as that are the bank I use in Spain.€5 banknotes are a precious commodity
A friend of mine started to collect €5 banknotes for weeks before her departure for her continuation of the Camino Frances, and I started to follow her example. I think that I had collected 15 of them or thereabouts when I left for Spain. Of course, you can do this only when you happen to live in the eurozone as we do.
Someone mentioned that some ATMs in Spain allow you to chose which bills you want. I don't know how common this is in Spain nowadays. Where I live I can do this now - it was not possible when the Euro was introduced but that's a long time ago. These days, I never get anything higher than €20 banknotes, and of course I pay as much as I can in cashless form, whether at home or on Camino.
I've certainly come across one or two, but I couldn't say which.
Best of luck John, comparing to Bosnian war zone kind of puts the issue of blisters into perspective.
I have used USD in a tight situation, but only one time. Innkeeper charged me approx 15% more than current spot USD/EUR exchange rate, but I was unfortunately stuck (due to a VISA snafu) and not enough Euros in my wallet. Never again - now carry both a no fee debit card and a no fee VISA card.
I have yet not ever had an option of monetary choices when using a European ATM, most recently in Italy.
True... on the VF this past Summer in France, the smaller village cafes, when they were open, often had a minimum VISA charge for breakfast (croissant and cafe'), or a surcharge for amounts under 5 euros.
Things must be changing slowly as old ATM's are probably being updated and replaced with new, improved machines offering a variety of denominations.
To add to using bank ATMs only when the bank is open -- one time while I was (on the Camino) withdrawing money, my bank card got stuck, & I had to go inside to have someone retrieve it (yes, this can happen!) --
Yes, thankfully it's only happened to me once as well in 2015, and fortunately not since. It is the reason I began using only bank ATM's, and during their working hours.
I always bring back home approximately €20-40. That way I know I "must" return...it has nothing to do with being a "camino addict".
Actually it's because I prefer not bothering with ATM's at airports.
It probably has more to do with the fact that pilgrims with US dollars are a small minority on the Camino. The US dollar is just one of many other foreign currencies and has the same importance on the Camino as the British pound, the Australian or the Canadian dollar or the Danish Kronar. Not worth fussing around with all these foreign currencies.
I've never used my actual card at a contactless terminal. I always use my phone and Google Pay. When the payment goes through there's a satisfying vibration, and a blue checkmark appears on the screen.
It used to be the case that in some places (eg Eastern Europe) they actively wanted "hard" currency so would readily accept dollars etc. These days I think some countries that aren't in the Eurozone will accept euros, but probably not so much dollars.
I loaded my VISA card onto Apple Pay and was able to do about 50% of my paying by simply tapping my phone all the way across France and Switzerland. Carried the card just for emergencies and separate from my credit union debit card (no fees for any foreign transactions). Did leave my phone at a Carrefour store (DOH!!) after paying and packing the groceries into my backpack. Was only about 100 yards away from the store, but still a worrisome moment.
Same in, say, Myanmar. It's a hassle but old hat to have to acquire new notes in whatever currency. The smallest flaw or inkmark and you can't exchange them for local notes. This obviously does not apply to the camino.
Just curious. Does DB charge you a fee for using their ATM? Probably not if you have an account with the bank. I used Schwab debit card to get cash from their ATMs, and I don't think DB charges me any fees.
I agree. I once checked with my local bank and was very surprised at what the charge was going to be, so I've never used their "service".
Since I also use a Schwab debit card I don't worry about what fees the ATM's bank charges since Schwab refunds the fees.
I think that my local bank says that it doesn't charge a fee to buy Euros, but the exchange rate is lousy.
On our 2015 camino Peg brought her Bank of America debit card because there was a no fee agreement with Deutsche Bank.
Spain is European Union and the currency is Euro only. I'm imagine the US Dollar can be exchanged in local banks for Euro.
I have read posts on the forum that it can be difficult to exchange USD for Euros at banks in Spain. I would imagine it would be especially hard in smaller towns.
Welcome to the forum! We certainly have a LOT of information. I hope that you won't get overwhelmed with the minutiae, such as you have received on this thread and on others about bank and currency. Really it is quite simple and with a few key pieces of information, you should be able to use cash (only Euros, though, which was your original question!) as well as bank/credit cards, with no problem. Some of our debates get into a lot of detail in an effort to save a small amount of money on what might be a once-in-a-lifetime trip.
No they don’t. Spain is one of the worst countries in Eurozone for changing fees, much worst than most other Eurozone countries. Feeless ATMs are definately in the minority there. I have no account with them or any relationship. I am UK cardholder btw. They are also very transparent re mark up fees when they present the local or home country currency option too!
The banks in Spain only change USD for people who have an account with them. So I recommend not to have a lot of money on you that you can’t spend. And if a local brings you to their bank there’s a big commission fee. U
Wjat is your source for this info? Is it all banks? Does it include non Spanish banks based with outlets in Spain?
I found using them at grocery stores or bigger stores was best. OK, maybe not the very tiny grocery store in the small villages - but medium to large villages and in cities was fine. Also at actual hotels. Albergues - well - it depended on how large the albergue was and the cost of the albergue. Yes - albergues that served dinner were OK places to use them, the 5-10 Euro albergues were NOT the best places to use them.
I disagree. In the UK I can get a better rate through a broker (travelfx.Co.Uk) than I can in the eurozone.
Do you mean a better rate than using a ATM in the euro zone?
I've been turned away before a couple of times trying to exchange some US bills I'd brought for local currency. Often if it is not "your" own bank they will no longer provide services.
Is there a local reason for that? I used my card almost everywhere I ate or bought food when walking the CP in 2018. Pre-Covid, so things may have changed.
John. As others have said Euros us what you need. I did the full Frances route from St Jean in May/June 2022.
Yes.
Thanks David for being so precise. It’s challenged some of my preconceptions. That said can I check numbers as I am missing something.
Apologies. The HSBC and Travelfx rates were correct £/€ numbers at the time. My money market number was a total error as it was the £/$ rate. (It was late). The current correct market number is 1.16.
Yes though I found Australia to be no 1 in terms of card / contactless during a recent trip. Admittedly only big cities and purchases for travel, food and drink. Well played Australia as it saved me a lot as no charge on card payments but 2.99% on ATM withdrawals!Not accepting card payments?
It happens in some places here in Australia. For 2 reasons mainly.
1. They don't want the equipment expense and bank commissions involved in providing card payment.
2. Tax avoidance
Thank you but I am still suprised at your numbers. HSBC only 1.10? Monzo is 1.15. Your Travelex rate is 1.14 and my ATM is 1.15? Small margins I know!!!
Yea they are part of a global relationship who have reciprocal agreements. Few other banks involved too.
Yes had same in Kenya when paying for trip! Crisp new notes above a certain serial number!
Sure I am just amazed at variance. For me Monzo is free payments globally. ATM free in eurozone and up to £200 globally on a rolling 30 day basis. This varies though depending on how busy a customer you are. I find them excellent on every dimension. No charges at anytime for account.
