What is the best way to pay in UK and france for O'seas tourists - use
credit cards - I have been told there are high fees every time you use your
card (bank fee plus currency fee)

Better paying cash and use ATM to withdraw larger amounts every few days?

Get a good lot of money changed before departure?

Are travellers cheques still in vogue?

Credit card V debit card - any benefit of either?

Thanks

On Mon, 14 Aug 2006 06:59:43 +1000, "matte" <[email protected]>
wrote:

    >What is the best way to pay in UK and france for O'seas tourists - use
    >credit cards - I have been told there are high fees every time you use your
    >card (bank fee plus currency fee)

But it's not as high a charge as changing money.

    >Better paying cash and use ATM to withdraw larger amounts every few days?

My preference.

    >Get a good lot of money changed before departure?

I once socred a ffew hundred Brit pounds at the current exchange
rate from someone who had a lot of pounds left over from a trip.
But that's jsut gettig lucky. In general, excahnging money will
be a lot more costly than using a credit card or ATM card.

    >Are travellers cheques still in vogue?

Not really. Not in Europe.

    >Credit card V debit card - any benefit of either?

Don't get me started. The fact is that both the "pure" ATM card
adn the so-called "debit card" (with a Visa or MasterCard logo)
are debit cards; they bot remove money from you account rahter
than creating debt on your part.

But for various reasons I refuse all offers of "debit cards" from
my banks and credit unions and always ask for an ATM card. Among
other things, a "debit card" can be used tranparently like a
credit card - without a PIN - and a stolen card can be used to
suck funds from your account. And ATM card always requires a PIN.

************* DAVE HATUNEN ([email protected]) *************
* Tucson Arizona, out where the cacti grow *
* My typos & mispellings are intentional copyright traps *

{{{{{Welcome}}}}} schrieb:

< Thus spaketh matte:
< > What is the best way to pay in UK and france for O'seas tourists -
use
< > credit cards - I have been told there are high fees every time you
< > use your card (bank fee plus currency fee)
< >
< > Better paying cash and use ATM to withdraw larger amounts every few
< > days?

< Not sure if it's the same elsewhere, but for UK people outside the UK
it
< is better to withdraw cash from ATM with a debit/atm card and to pay
for
< goods and services with a credit card.

That I also would have written before last weekend: having
visited friends in SW-Champagne region, I returned to the
only manned gas station in nearby town as I did on all visits
for now 20 years - and had to find out that the station is
not accepting cash for gas any more!
The only way to get gas a Sunday in that region is using
a credit-card with the right chip or get it on the toll-highway
(at higher prices)

Trend in Europe definitely is to use more and more credit- or
debit-cards instead of cash

On 13 Aug 2006 23:28:18 -0700, [email protected] wrote:

    >visited friends in SW-Champagne region, I returned to the
    >only manned gas station in nearby town as I did on all visits
    >for now 20 years - and had to find out that the station is
    >not accepting cash for gas any more!
    >The only way to get gas a Sunday in that region is using
    >a credit-card with the right chip or get it on the toll-highway
    >(at higher prices)
    >Trend in Europe definitely is to use more and more credit- or
    >debit-cards instead of cash

No. This trend with the unmanned gas stations (and their automatic
machines accepting national cards only) is very specific for France,
but not at all for other European countries.

Regards, Martin

"Martin Theodor Ludwig" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > On 13 Aug 2006 23:28:18 -0700, [email protected] wrote:
    >>visited friends in SW-Champagne region, I returned to the only manned
    >>gas station in nearby town as I did on all visits for now 20 years -
    >>and had to find out that the station is not accepting cash for gas any
    >>more!
    >>The only way to get gas a Sunday in that region is using
    >>a credit-card with the right chip or get it on the toll-highway (at
    >>higher prices)
    >>Trend in Europe definitely is to use more and more credit- or
    >>debit-cards instead of cash
    > No. This trend with the unmanned gas stations (and their automatic
    > machines accepting national cards only) is very specific for France,
    > but not at all for other European countries.
    > Regards, Martin

Hmmm ... I have a friend who drives weekly between his home in
Switzerland and various points on his sales route: Northern Italy
(Milano, Torino, Genoa, Cuneo), France (Nice, Avignon, Grenoble,
Pontarlier) and Germany (the border areas near Basel).

He carries only small amounts of cash for snacks, newspapers and the
like, and pays for *everything* else by credit card. He really likes
the ability to buy gas anywhere and at any time, especially from
unattended stations at night.

As for currency exchange, he knows he will get the lowest average rate
from his bank's credit card department; also any service fees qualify as
business expenses.

BTW, his company -- and the income tax office! -- really like the
neatness of his record keeping. Very Swiss, you know ...

On Tue, 15 Aug 2006 23:42:13 +0200, Martin Theodor Ludwig
<[email protected]> wrote:

    >On 13 Aug 2006 23:28:18 -0700, [email protected] wrote:

    >>Trend in Europe definitely is to use more and more credit- or
    >>debit-cards instead of cash
    >No. This trend with the unmanned gas stations (and their automatic
    >machines accepting national cards only) is very specific for France,
    >but not at all for other European countries.

Many in NL pay for just about everything with a debit card. The same
is true in UK.
--

Martin

On Wed, 16 Aug 2006 07:56:06 +0100, David Gee wrote
(in article <akzEg.8035$Ch.2881@clgrps13>):

    > "Martin Theodor Ludwig" <[email protected]> wrote in message
    > news:[email protected]...
    >> On 13 Aug 2006 23:28:18 -0700, [email protected] wrote:
    >>
    >>> visited friends in SW-Champagne region, I returned to the only manned
    >>> gas station in nearby town as I did on all visits for now 20 years -
    >>> and had to find out that the station is not accepting cash for gas any
    >>> more!
    >>> The only way to get gas a Sunday in that region is using
    >>> a credit-card with the right chip or get it on the toll-highway (at
    >>> higher prices)
    >>>
    >>> Trend in Europe definitely is to use more and more credit- or
    >>> debit-cards instead of cash
    >>
    >> No. This trend with the unmanned gas stations (and their automatic
    >> machines accepting national cards only) is very specific for France,
    >> but not at all for other European countries.
    >>
    >> Regards, Martin
    >
    > Hmmm ... I have a friend who drives weekly between his home in
    > Switzerland and various points on his sales route: Northern Italy
    > (Milano, Torino, Genoa, Cuneo), France (Nice, Avignon, Grenoble,
    > Pontarlier) and Germany (the border areas near Basel).
    >
    > He carries only small amounts of cash for snacks, newspapers and the
    > like, and pays for *everything* else by credit card. He really likes
    > the ability to buy gas anywhere and at any time, especially from
    > unattended stations at night.
    >

It depends on where your card is issued. Earlier this year I got stuck
in a small town in France needing petrol (gas as you call it) after 5
pm. The only petrol station was unmanned at a supermarket and I tried
two different credit cards and two debit cards all from different UK
banks, and none were accepted. The pumps would not accept cash either
so basically I was stuffed.

--
Mike Lane (UK North Yorkshire)
To contact me replace invalid with mike underscore lane

Mike Lane schrieb:

< On Wed, 16 Aug 2006 07:56:06 +0100, David Gee wrote
< (in article <akzEg.8035$Ch.2881@clgrps13>):
<
< >>> visited friends in SW-Champagne region, I returned to the only
manned
< >>> gas station in nearby town as I did on all visits for now 20
years -
< >>> and had to find out that the station is not accepting cash for
gas any
< >>> more!
< >>> The only way to get gas a Sunday in that region is using
< >>> a credit-card with the right chip or get it on the toll-highway
(at
< >>> higher prices)
<
< It depends on where your card is issued. Earlier this year I got
stuck
< in a small town in France needing petrol (gas as you call it) after 5

< pm. The only petrol station was unmanned at a supermarket and I tried

< two different credit cards and two debit cards all from different UK
< banks, and none were accepted. The pumps would not accept cash either

< so basically I was stuffed.

I was aware of the fact that most unmanned gas stations
in France accepted only cards - therefore I returned as
usually to a manned station for finding out that even at the
MANNED station I could not get gas without the right card!
Staff does not sell gas for cash any more at least at the
Esso station in Bar-sur-Seine - and probably other places
in France too.

OT: in Switzerland many stations are not manned at all or
definitely not at night, but gas stations accept at least
Swiss Franc banknotes, often also Euro in addition to debit-
and credit-cards

<[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected] oups.com...
    > Mike Lane schrieb:
    > < On Wed, 16 Aug 2006 07:56:06 +0100, David Gee wrote
    > < (in article <akzEg.8035$Ch.2881@clgrps13>):
    > <
    > < >>> visited friends in SW-Champagne region, I returned to the only
    > manned
    > < >>> gas station in nearby town as I did on all visits for now 20
    > years -
    > < >>> and had to find out that the station is not accepting cash for
    > gas any
    > < >>> more!
    > < >>> The only way to get gas a Sunday in that region is using
    > < >>> a credit-card with the right chip or get it on the toll-highway
    > (at
    > < >>> higher prices)
    > <
    > < It depends on where your card is issued. Earlier this year I got
    > stuck
    > < in a small town in France needing petrol (gas as you call it) after 5
    > < pm. The only petrol station was unmanned at a supermarket and I tried
    > < two different credit cards and two debit cards all from different UK
    > < banks, and none were accepted. The pumps would not accept cash either
    > < so basically I was stuffed.
    > I was aware of the fact that most unmanned gas stations
    > in France accepted only cards - therefore I returned as
    > usually to a manned station for finding out that even at the
    > MANNED station I could not get gas without the right card!
    > Staff does not sell gas for cash any more at least at the
    > Esso station in Bar-sur-Seine - and probably other places
    > in France too.

What do they do after you have filled up and you find that
your cards don't work?

tim

tim schrieb:

< <[email protected]> wrote in message
< >
< > I was aware of the fact that most unmanned gas stations
< > in France accepted only cards - therefore I returned as
< > usually to a manned station for finding out that even at the
< > MANNED station I could not get gas without the right card!
< > Staff does not sell gas for cash any more at least at the
< > Esso station in Bar-sur-Seine - and probably other places
< > in France too.
<
< What do they do after you have filled up and you find that
< your cards don't work?

Card has to be inserted at the gas pump for getting gas.

Works like a "normal" unmanned gas station or manned
stations outside regular opening hours - just that there is
a card-reader for each gas pump.

The staff seems to be available just for the shop at the gas
station - have not asked if products sold at the shop can
be paid cash.

Looks like we need a new pictogram at least for France:
<cards with chip only, no cash accepted> ......

On Wed, 16 Aug 2006 10:27:47 +0200, Martin <[email protected]> wrote:

    >On Tue, 15 Aug 2006 23:42:13 +0200, Martin Theodor Ludwig
    ><[email protected]> wrote:
    >>On 13 Aug 2006 23:28:18 -0700, [email protected] wrote:
    >>>Trend in Europe definitely is to use more and more credit- or
    >>>debit-cards instead of cash
    >>No. This trend with the unmanned gas stations (and their automatic
    >>machines accepting national cards only) is very specific for France,
    >>but not at all for other European countries.
    >Many in NL pay for just about everything with a debit card. The same
    >is true in UK.

Ach gussie...Martin denkt ook een duit in het zakkie te doen! Nou
jouw advies kunnen ze dus missen als kiespijn 'ouwe geit'!!!!!!

On Thu, 17 Aug 2006 17:14:18 +0200, Jacqueline <> wrote:

    >On Wed, 16 Aug 2006 10:27:47 +0200, Martin <[email protected]> wrote:
    >>On Tue, 15 Aug 2006 23:42:13 +0200, Martin Theodor Ludwig
    >><[email protected]> wrote:
    >>>On 13 Aug 2006 23:28:18 -0700, [email protected] wrote:
    >>>>Trend in Europe definitely is to use more and more credit- or
    >>>>debit-cards instead of cash
    >>>No. This trend with the unmanned gas stations (and their automatic
    >>>machines accepting national cards only) is very specific for France,
    >>>but not at all for other European countries.
    >>Many in NL pay for just about everything with a debit card. The same
    >>is true in UK.
    > Ach gussie...Martin denkt ook een duit in het zakkie te doen! Nou
    >jouw advies kunnen ze dus missen als kiespijn 'ouwe geit'!!!!!!

Jacqueline pays on her back.

<[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected] ups.com...
    > tim schrieb:
    > < <[email protected]> wrote in message
    > < >
    > < > I was aware of the fact that most unmanned gas stations
    > < > in France accepted only cards - therefore I returned as
    > < > usually to a manned station for finding out that even at the
    > < > MANNED station I could not get gas without the right card!
    > < > Staff does not sell gas for cash any more at least at the
    > < > Esso station in Bar-sur-Seine - and probably other places
    > < > in France too.
    > <
    > < What do they do after you have filled up and you find that
    > < your cards don't work?
    > Card has to be inserted at the gas pump for getting gas.
    > Works like a "normal" unmanned gas station or manned
    > stations outside regular opening hours - just that there is
    > a card-reader for each gas pump.

This is lucky. In Scandinavia there is one
reader shared betwen all pumps. I never did
work out how to tell the machine which pump
you were wanting to use.

tim

<[email protected]> wrote:

    > On Thu, 17 Aug 2006 17:14:18 +0200, Jacqueline <> wrote:
    > >On Wed, 16 Aug 2006 10:27:47 +0200, Martin <[email protected]> wrote:
    > >
    > >>On Tue, 15 Aug 2006 23:42:13 +0200, Martin Theodor Ludwig
    > >><[email protected]> wrote:
    > >>
    > >>>On 13 Aug 2006 23:28:18 -0700, [email protected] wrote:
    > >>
    > >>>>Trend in Europe definitely is to use more and more credit- or
    > >>>>debit-cards instead of cash
    > >>>
    > >>>No. This trend with the unmanned gas stations (and their automatic
    > >>>machines accepting national cards only) is very specific for France,
    > >>>but not at all for other European countries.
    > >>
    > >>Many in NL pay for just about everything with a debit card. The same
    > >>is true in UK.
    > >
    > > Ach gussie...Martin denkt ook een duit in het zakkie te doen! Nou
    > >jouw advies kunnen ze dus missen als kiespijn 'ouwe geit'!!!!!!
    > Jacqueline pays on her back.


But first you have to put a coin in her "slot"...

--
Best
Greg

On Thu, 17 Aug 2006 16:18:47 GMT, "Gregory Morrow"
<[email protected]> wrote:

    ><[email protected]> wrote:
    >> On Thu, 17 Aug 2006 17:14:18 +0200, Jacqueline <> wrote:
    >> >On Wed, 16 Aug 2006 10:27:47 +0200, Martin <[email protected]> wrote:
    >> >
    >> >>On Tue, 15 Aug 2006 23:42:13 +0200, Martin Theodor Ludwig
    >> >><[email protected]> wrote:
    >> >>
    >> >>>On 13 Aug 2006 23:28:18 -0700, [email protected] wrote:
    >> >>
    >> >>>>Trend in Europe definitely is to use more and more credit- or
    >> >>>>debit-cards instead of cash
    >> >>>
    >> >>>No. This trend with the unmanned gas stations (and their automatic
    >> >>>machines accepting national cards only) is very specific for France,
    >> >>>but not at all for other European countries.
    >> >>
    >> >>Many in NL pay for just about everything with a debit card. The same
    >> >>is true in UK.
    >> >
    >> > Ach gussie...Martin denkt ook een duit in het zakkie te doen! Nou
    >> >jouw advies kunnen ze dus missen als kiespijn 'ouwe geit'!!!!!!
    >> Jacqueline pays on her back.
    >But first you have to put a coin in her "slot"...

a token deposit?
--

Martin