Phone service and credit cards when you go out of country?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For a little cash, you can order it thru your bank here and if you are high enough "status" at your bank you will get discounted fees and delivery. I find that to be a cheaper way to get say 200$ for the country I am going to rather than using an ATM when abroad which has a load of fees.

I have gotten quotes on ordering euros through my bank and it has always been crazy expensive- like 5% exchange fee and $10 delivery. I agree often ATM costs overseas are expensive if your bank account isn't the right one- you often see exchange fees of around 3% and a $5 fee for overseas ATM usage. But have never seen it be cheaper to get foreign currency in the US before you go.

I have a Schwab account that I use basically only for travel purposes. No minimum amount, 0% exchange costs and it refunds ATM fees anywhere in the world. Keep $100 in it normally, and move maybe $500 into it before a trip in case its needed. Then can take out small amounts as necessary and not end up with a lot of cash in a foreign currency at the end.

So basically just get a new bank account at Schwab? Do we need to setup auto pay or anything like that or just deposit a cash amount when setting up the account in person?

OMG, don't do all this! Just get money from an ATM wherever you are. It's not expensive.

[Anonymous]

I've always just used my phone's data plan and used Whatsapp to make calls. You need a few Euros in cash for stuff like pay bathrooms, I've never used up 50 Euros, to be honest. You can just get it through an ATM, you'll only pay a couple bucks and it's worth not having the hassle.

If you have the option to pay in USD or Euros when using your card, always pick Euros, your credit card will give you a better conversion rate than whatever is being offered.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For a little cash, you can order it thru your bank here and if you are high enough "status" at your bank you will get discounted fees and delivery. I find that to be a cheaper way to get say 200$ for the country I am going to rather than using an ATM when abroad which has a load of fees.

I have gotten quotes on ordering euros through my bank and it has always been crazy expensive- like 5% exchange fee and $10 delivery. I agree often ATM costs overseas are expensive if your bank account isn't the right one- you often see exchange fees of around 3% and a $5 fee for overseas ATM usage. But have never seen it be cheaper to get foreign currency in the US before you go.

I have a Schwab account that I use basically only for travel purposes. No minimum amount, 0% exchange costs and it refunds ATM fees anywhere in the world. Keep $100 in it normally, and move maybe $500 into it before a trip in case its needed. Then can take out small amounts as necessary and not end up with a lot of cash in a foreign currency at the end.

So basically just get a new bank account at Schwab? Do we need to setup auto pay or anything like that or just deposit a cash amount when setting up the account in person?

OMG, don't do all this! Just get money from an ATM wherever you are. It's not expensive.

PP here who suggested the Schwab option. I agree, for a one time trip it's not worth setting up a new account- just use your current bank ATM card and eat the fees once or twice. But if you are going to travel internationally with some frequency, or domestically and your bank charges you for ATM usage outside of their network, I think it's worth getting the Schwab account.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For a little cash, you can order it thru your bank here and if you are high enough "status" at your bank you will get discounted fees and delivery. I find that to be a cheaper way to get say 200$ for the country I am going to rather than using an ATM when abroad which has a load of fees.

I have gotten quotes on ordering euros through my bank and it has always been crazy expensive- like 5% exchange fee and $10 delivery. I agree often ATM costs overseas are expensive if your bank account isn't the right one- you often see exchange fees of around 3% and a $5 fee for overseas ATM usage. But have never seen it be cheaper to get foreign currency in the US before you go.

I have a Schwab account that I use basically only for travel purposes. No minimum amount, 0% exchange costs and it refunds ATM fees anywhere in the world. Keep $100 in it normally, and move maybe $500 into it before a trip in case its needed. Then can take out small amounts as necessary and not end up with a lot of cash in a foreign currency at the end.

So basically just get a new bank account at Schwab? Do we need to setup auto pay or anything like that or just deposit a cash amount when setting up the account in person?

OMG, don't do all this! Just get money from an ATM wherever you are. It's not expensive.

If you don't want to carry too much cash on you and use ATM's only when you need, the fees will add up. Why would you want to pay $7 every time you use an ATM?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For a little cash, you can order it thru your bank here and if you are high enough "status" at your bank you will get discounted fees and delivery. I find that to be a cheaper way to get say 200$ for the country I am going to rather than using an ATM when abroad which has a load of fees.

I have gotten quotes on ordering euros through my bank and it has always been crazy expensive- like 5% exchange fee and $10 delivery. I agree often ATM costs overseas are expensive if your bank account isn't the right one- you often see exchange fees of around 3% and a $5 fee for overseas ATM usage. But have never seen it be cheaper to get foreign currency in the US before you go.

I have a Schwab account that I use basically only for travel purposes. No minimum amount, 0% exchange costs and it refunds ATM fees anywhere in the world. Keep $100 in it normally, and move maybe $500 into it before a trip in case its needed. Then can take out small amounts as necessary and not end up with a lot of cash in a foreign currency at the end.

So basically just get a new bank account at Schwab? Do we need to setup auto pay or anything like that or just deposit a cash amount when setting up the account in person?

OMG, don't do all this! Just get money from an ATM wherever you are. It's not expensive.

If you don't want to carry too much cash on you and use ATM's only when you need, the fees will add up. Why would you want to pay $7 every time you use an ATM?

You're crazy to have a bank that charges that much in the first place. Mine doesn't charge anything, but my husband's does, and it's maybe 2 bucks. I also don't freak out about pickpockets or "carrying too much cash."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For a little cash, you can order it thru your bank here and if you are high enough "status" at your bank you will get discounted fees and delivery. I find that to be a cheaper way to get say 200$ for the country I am going to rather than using an ATM when abroad which has a load of fees.

I have gotten quotes on ordering euros through my bank and it has always been crazy expensive- like 5% exchange fee and $10 delivery. I agree often ATM costs overseas are expensive if your bank account isn't the right one- you often see exchange fees of around 3% and a $5 fee for overseas ATM usage. But have never seen it be cheaper to get foreign currency in the US before you go.

I have a Schwab account that I use basically only for travel purposes. No minimum amount, 0% exchange costs and it refunds ATM fees anywhere in the world. Keep $100 in it normally, and move maybe $500 into it before a trip in case its needed. Then can take out small amounts as necessary and not end up with a lot of cash in a foreign currency at the end.

So basically just get a new bank account at Schwab? Do we need to setup auto pay or anything like that or just deposit a cash amount when setting up the account in person?

OMG, don't do all this! Just get money from an ATM wherever you are. It's not expensive.

If you don't want to carry too much cash on you and use ATM's only when you need, the fees will add up. Why would you want to pay $7 every time you use an ATM?

You're crazy to have a bank that charges that much in the first place. Mine doesn't charge anything, but my husband's does, and it's maybe 2 bucks. I also don't freak out about pickpockets or "carrying too much cash."

Probably. Which bank do you use? I've been considering a new account anyway.

Our bank fees information says this:

$5 per transaction at ATMs outside the U.S.
3% International Point of Sale & ATM assessment fee per transaction

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For a little cash, you can order it thru your bank here and if you are high enough "status" at your bank you will get discounted fees and delivery. I find that to be a cheaper way to get say 200$ for the country I am going to rather than using an ATM when abroad which has a load of fees.

I have gotten quotes on ordering euros through my bank and it has always been crazy expensive- like 5% exchange fee and $10 delivery. I agree often ATM costs overseas are expensive if your bank account isn't the right one- you often see exchange fees of around 3% and a $5 fee for overseas ATM usage. But have never seen it be cheaper to get foreign currency in the US before you go.

I have a Schwab account that I use basically only for travel purposes. No minimum amount, 0% exchange costs and it refunds ATM fees anywhere in the world. Keep $100 in it normally, and move maybe $500 into it before a trip in case its needed. Then can take out small amounts as necessary and not end up with a lot of cash in a foreign currency at the end.

So basically just get a new bank account at Schwab? Do we need to setup auto pay or anything like that or just deposit a cash amount when setting up the account in person?

OMG, don't do all this! Just get money from an ATM wherever you are. It's not expensive.

If you don't want to carry too much cash on you and use ATM's only when you need, the fees will add up. Why would you want to pay $7 every time you use an ATM?

You're crazy to have a bank that charges that much in the first place. Mine doesn't charge anything, but my husband's does, and it's maybe 2 bucks. I also don't freak out about pickpockets or "carrying too much cash."

Probably. Which bank do you use? I've been considering a new account anyway.

Our bank fees information says this:

$5 per transaction at ATMs outside the U.S.
3% International Point of Sale & ATM assessment fee per transaction

Yeah those are pretty standard fees for your basic checking account at places like Bank of America, Wells Fargo, etc. Definitely adds up if you might make a few withdrawals, which is reasonable especially to make sure you aren't left at the end of the trip with a lot of cash in another currency.