ATM's and cash machines - Europe
Last Updated: Feb. 08, 2012
More Tour and Travel Advice for Europe
by – Matt Vernick, Tour Manager, Europe
ATM’s and cash machines are widely available throughout Europe. Cash machines across Europe dispense cash in the local currency of the country that you are making the withdrawal in.
Make sure to let your bank know you are travelling so they don’t put a hold your account thinking it was hacked into or stolen.
ATM’s are widely available throughout most places in Europe. It is common for the lines to go down between you banks at home and the banks in Europe and for this reason it’s a good idea to carry around a cash float or a travellers cheque or two with you.
If you get rejected by a cash machine once, don’t use it a second time as often European cash machines will swallow your card on the second attempt.
Add a Comment Comments (12)
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I second that kiwi_gal45, kasia your comment has been VERY helpful
stinaWA
posted on Sep. 09, 2010
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Can anyone tell me how much cash I should bring for spending money? I know it depends on how much you wanna spend but what is the average? I am leaving on the BEST OF EUROPE tour on JULY 31st. I was thinking 2000 EUROs
Explorer1192638
posted on Jun. 24, 2010
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just wanted to say thanks to kasia her post was really helpful. Upon further investigation NAB also offer a similar card called a Cash passport – fees are similar to that of the commonwealth card but only four currencies are available.
kiwi_gal45
posted on Apr. 28, 2010
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After much hunting around it the following three options are the best I’ve found rates:
1-ANZ Travel card (initial cos $11 – can load with one currency)
2-Commonwealth Bank Travel money card (initial cost $15 – can load up with two currencies)
*The way the these cards work is that you buy them, select currency and load them up with Aus dollars. You secure whatever the exchange rate is on the day the card is loaded up. (So even if the dollar goes down when you’re travelling it won’t matter). You’re first load up is free, after that they charge a 1/1.1% fee. Extra money is loaded up using Bpay, so family at home can put money on it if need be. You get two cards, with two pin numbers, but can only use one. The other card is a back up that you can activate if the first is stolen or lost. Eftpos transactions incur no bank fees, withdrawals from ATMs do (2.20 euro). Handy hint: you can withdraw money from some places you make your purchases and don’t get charged because it just goes through as a purchase, e.g. supermarkets, McDonalds etc. Lastly, when you get back to Aus you can close the card and they release your money for free. Hop onto the net for more details.
3-Load up your credit card with money. (This makes it into a debit card). Say you have a $2,000 limit, make sure you have nothing on your card, and then transfer extra money onto it, you can then withdraw the extra money or use it as eftpos for no charge, other than a slight converstion fee, and there’s no interest on the money you put in as extra. The down side is that you get the converstion rate of the day you make purchases.
I think I’ll opt for the Commonwealth bank one as it’ll mean I can load it up with euros and pounds. If I need any other currency, they’ll just charge a 2% fee. Hope this helps.
kasia
posted on Apr. 26, 2010
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do you think it is better to bring cash or use the ATM’s there
carrab24
posted on Dec. 08, 2008
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I would put a pin on it, it just increases safety
Sam488
posted on Nov. 13, 2008
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i got a travel visa but they said i didnt need a pin, should i put one on anyway?
InSearchOfNewHorizons
posted on Oct. 23, 2008
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I am going to europe in the new year and i am getting a cash passport debit card. They charge if you withdraw cash at an ATM but if you use it as an EFTPOS card there is no charge. This is the best way i have found to save on fees when traveling overseas.
Sam488
posted on Sep. 14, 2008
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when i went to germany i just used a savings card, and it worked well for me, but then it cost a bit every time i withdrawed money, and it did add up. is using a debit card any different?
vonno73
posted on Aug. 03, 2008
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is there any way to avoid huge fees when drawing cash?
William
posted on Feb. 11, 2008
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What if your debit card isnt valid overseas what would be another safe and easy way?
paihiagurl
posted on Jan. 10, 2008
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thanx for telling me normally if it rejects my card i usually try it two or three times and then it works haha
nazza1
posted on Dec. 11, 2007
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