diogopcampos
New Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- september/october 2023
Hey guys! Do you know the Wise card/app (https://wise.com/) is acceptable along the Camiño?
Best regards,
Diogo
Best regards,
Diogo
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Thank you mate!I echo Nick (@jungleboy ) on this. I've used mine on both the Primitivo and the Inglès this year, anywhere they accepted cards. As do numerous other pilgrims on the forum - it's come up in several other threads.
Following the number of posts I've read about carrying cash on this forum, I was actually surprised at how little I used. ( I think around €200 in two weeks, and that included giving my share of a meal etc to others so they could pay with card). I started off with €350, I never carry more.
There will always be places that only accept cash ( although, for any purchase over €30 they are obliged BY LAW to offer alternatives - card, direct credit). Plus those that set a minimum limit - often €10, occasionally €30. - for the reason above.
As the Wise card functions predominantly as a debit card, the cost to the retailer is very low, unlike a credit card. But, of course, a second advantage of the Wise card is that you can use it as a Visa card on websites such as booking.com.
Another advantage is that you can block the card at anytime using the app on your phone should you lose it - and unblock it again, when you find it 19 minutes later!
In short, great choice.
Carry a credit card (separately, with the bulk of your cash) as a backup ( and to make it easy to transfer funds across - takes seconds) and your sorted!
Please excuse me if I'm teaching you to suck egg's, sometimes I get a little carried away......
Thank you, I will carry some money with me, just want to make sure about my options!The Wise card is a card like any other. If cards are accepted at a certain establishment, there’s no reason why a Wise card in particular would not be. I use Wise for all my card transactions in Spain.
That said, there are places along the camino that don’t accept cards, so it is ‘wise’ to have cash on you.
Thanku. I see these cards advertised all the time on Facebook and wondered if they are worth the bother but after the horrendous bank charges this year in Spain and Portugal by using my eftpos and credit cards I'll look into getting one for next year.I echo Nick (@jungleboy ) on this. I've used mine on both the Primitivo and the Inglès this year, anywhere they accepted cards. As do numerous other pilgrims on the forum - it's come up in several other threads.
Following the number of posts I've read about carrying cash on this forum, I was actually surprised at how little I used. ( I think around €200 in two weeks, and that included giving my share of a meal etc to others so they could pay with card). I started off with €350, I never carry more.
There will always be places that only accept cash ( although, for any purchase over €30 they are obliged BY LAW to offer alternatives - card, direct credit). Plus those that set a minimum limit - often €10, occasionally €30. - for the reason above.
As the Wise card functions predominantly as a debit card, the cost to the retailer is very low, unlike a credit card. But, of course, a second advantage of the Wise card is that you can use it as a Visa card on websites such as booking.com.
Another advantage is that you can block the card at anytime using the app on your phone should you lose it - and unblock it again, when you find it 19 minutes later!
In short, great choice.
Carry a credit card (separately, with the bulk of your cash) as a backup ( and to make it easy to transfer funds across - takes seconds) and your sorted!
Please excuse me if I'm teaching you to suck egg's, sometimes I get a little carried away......
The Wise card comes with the app (if you request one) and it is a debit card and functions as a credit card as well. Wise is well-accepted in all of Europe as detailed by @Peterexpatkiwi . The card is MC.Hi, I thought I would post this question here:
Is a Wise card linked to Visa or MC? Or is it only a debit card? And do you think it’s worth having one on the CF? Thank you
From what I've read, it's well worth it. At least here in Brazil, the rates on purchases abroad are much lower (from 6.5% to 1.1%), and the exchange rate is also lower.Thank you for your quick response.
Is it worth getting? I understand that it offers cheaper foreign transaction fees than other cards? Any other advantages?
Yes, definitely. For security alone if nothing else. As I posted above, it’s extremely easy to load, and you can block it/ unblock it at will. Unless making a major purchase, I only ever have around €500 at most on the card. If I need more, I load it up using the Wise app directly from my credit card. It takes less than a minute. It also counts as a purchase, not a cash advance, and it’s charged in the country of origin (home) not Spain, so no costly fees.Thank you for your quick response.
Is it worth getting? I understand that it offers cheaper foreign transaction fees than other cards? Any other advantages?
I did the Norte in July with my Wise card (and my husband ;-) and it was great. Not sure if it's been mentioned above but highly recommend only getting cash out from an ATM machine at a bank during working hours. That way if something goes wrong with the transaction, you are able to approach the bank directly and hopefully won't be stranded somewhere waiting for the bank to open to retrieve your card. Buen camino.Hey guys! Do you know the Wise card/app (https://wise.com/) is acceptable along the Camiño?
Best regards,
Diogo
My first Wise card was Mastercard but my new one (which arrived last month) and my digital one are Visa, so I guess they switched.Hi, I thought I would post this question here:
Is a Wise card linked to Visa or MC? Or is it only a debit card? And do you think it’s worth having one on the CF? Thank you
Thanks Nick, it's just become second nature, I forgot to mention that part!. If you're coming from outside the euro zone, you can open a balance in euros in your Wise account, transfer into that instantly from your main currency at a good rate, and then you don't have to pay conversion fees every time you use the card while in Europe.
I used it exclusively as my debit card of choice during my three months in Spain that (unfortunately) just ended. I even used it on busses in Valladolid and Valencia.Hey guys! Do you know the Wise card/app (https://wise.com/) is acceptable along the Camiño?
Best regards,
Diogo
So it would seem. But ask anyone with an American Express, or even more so, a Diner's Club card whether all cards are equal. I think it was a reasonable question.The Wise card is a card like any other. If cards are accepted at a certain establishment, there’s no reason why a Wise card in particular would not be.
I don't think that it technically functions as a credit card - you can only spend what's in your account.The Wise card comes with the app (if you request one) and it is a debit card and functions as a credit card as well.
Very much agree. And both the website and app are excellent and easy to use. I have never had a problem with my card either withdrawing at ATMs or using as a VISA card to pay for purchases. You can have multiple currencies on the same account.My first Wise card was Mastercard but my new one (which arrived last month) and my digital one are Visa, so I guess they switched.
I love Wise and I definitely think it's worth having. If you're coming from outside the euro zone, you can open a balance in euros in your Wise account, transfer into that instantly from your main currency at a good rate, and then you don't have to pay conversion fees every time you use the card while in Europe.
Correct. But on online sites, where you need to pay with a credit card ( visa, MasterCard) you can use it to pay. As you rightly point out, assuming of coure you have the funds!I don't think that it technically functions as a credit card - you can only spend what's in your account.
You are correct here, It is a debit card. What happened in my case using it was it deducted the charged amount in my other currency. I have multiple currency with Wise btw.I don't think that it technically functions as a credit card - you can only spend what's in your account.
That’s odd, because the restaurant can’t access that function. On the Wise website it says that the card automatically deducts the funds from the appropriate account - unless you have insufficient funds, in which case as I understand it, the funds will be deduct from an alternative account.You are correct here, It is a debit card. What happened in my case using it was it deducted the charged amount in my other currency. I have multiple currency with Wise btw.
I have never looked at the Wise card (I am UK card holder who doesn’t pay ATM fees or fees from my bank) for EU transactions, but interested that folks from NO/DE/CH are using Wise in EU countries. Am I missing out? I tend to be a card customer rather than cash.Yes @Peterexpatkiwi , if the debit card has insufficient funds in one currency, in my case its CHF (my main currency) and I use the debit card in EUR, it will deduct the amount to my main currency if funds get low under my EUR account.
I normally use my Wise app or card whenever I cross the border, rate have been exceptionally good for the past 2 years using Wise.I have never looked at the Wise card (I am UK card holder who doesn’t pay ATM fees or fees from my bank) for EU transactions, but interested that folks from NO/DE/CH are using Wise in EU countries. Am I missing out? I tend to be a card customer rather than cash.
Thank you! I have ordered a card.I normally use my Wise app or card whenever I cross the border, rate have been exceptionally good for the past 2 years using Wise.
I'm based in Germany, with a German bank account (so euro, also no ATM fees,) originally got the card for ease of use in Norway. Then realised how useful it was, and carry/ use it for reasons of security as detailed above. As there's only ever a few hundred in it, that's all a potential scammer / thief can access ! I've actually used it at home to purchase things from online websites.I have never looked at the Wise card (I am UK card holder who doesn’t pay ATM fees or fees from my bank) for EU transactions, but interested that folks from NO/DE/CH are using Wise in EU countries. Am I missing out? I tend to be a card customer rather than cash.
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