How To Pay - Cash, Debit, Credit Card or Traveller's Cheques

Photosytes · Member

How To Pay - Cash, Debit, Credit Card or Traveller's Cheques

Itallian Chauffeur · Moderator

Check out Michele's 'MONEY' page.

Well, I'm about as far from Canada as Ireland, but from here in Florida, my advice is that unless you are needing a large sum of cash for a specific expense, just draw out 2-300 Euro from an ATM whenever you find your supply dwindling down to 50 Euro or so.

Not all B&Bs take Credit Cards, nor do all gas stations or eateries, but many do. I usually know, in advance, what my approximate needs are relate to Cash or Credit and make withdrawls accordingly. For bigger purchases, I use whatever Credit Cards offer the best terms and/or least fees.

In all fairness, I bank with a Credit Union and am only charged the 1% Visa fee, plus an 'Out Of Network' fee of $3 per transaction. Also, my wife carries a Debit/ATM card that draws on a seperate account, for emergencies and 'Excess' needs. For example, this year we are renting a house for two weeks, for 540 Euro. I've already sent a 50 Euro deposit, but the owners DON'T take Credit Cards, so I'll need 490 Euro to pay them PLUS some 'Walking Around' money -- generally too much for a single day withdrawal, so we'll draw out about 300 from each account from the airport ATM upon arrival and then revert to the Normal one, starting on day two or three.

The rest of the time, I normally carry less than 200 Euro, with big bills in one pocket and coins and small bills in another, so that I'm not 'flashing' a big wad of bills, just to pay for a bottle of water... biggrin

I would think that if you NEED to do a credit card cash advance that it MIGHT behoove you to draw it before you leave and deposit into your checking account, thereby only incurring a single fee???

In any event, be SURE to notify the card issuers that you are going, so that you don't trigger a "Suspicious Charge' alert that FREEZES your accounts ... furious (I actually had that happen one year -- even AFTER I notified the bank -- Fortunately, our daughter was staying at our house and she fielded the call from VISA and REMINDED them that the charges were expected!

Hope this helps

Bob

Michele Erdvig · Host

Photosytes,

Bob has about filled you in on everything. I use a credit union account and though I have to pay a very small percentage I am allowed $500 a day out of an ATM with no surchrges, etc. The Irish banks do not charge for the use of their machines. The thing to do now is shop around at banks, credit unions or elsewhere to find the best available rates for using ATMs.

I put everything possible on my Capital One credit card, which does not charge a foreign surcharge. For my cash it is the ATM. I stopped the traveler's checks years ago.

You will find that you don't need a lot of cash in Ireland. Just check in advance with your accommodations so you will know what they prefer and it should be pretty easy to plan. You should also have some loose change for tolls, parking and admissions. Most food, petrol, etc. can be charged on a credit card.

Michele