Traveling to France and Spain in April...credit card suggestions?

[toothgrind3r]

Hello, I will be traveling to France and Spain in April.  I have a few chip and sig credit cards with no FTF, plus I have a Schwab checking account/debit which refunds all ATM fees.

So if I was leaving tomorrow, I guess I would bring:

- Citi Hilton HHonors Reserve (Visa, chip&sig, $6000 CL, no FTF)

- CapOne VentureOne (MasterCard, chip&sig, $4500 CL, no FTF)

- Schwab Debit (Visa, chip&sig, no FTF or ATM fees, would load account with about $2000)

We wont be traveling off the beaten path, I can't see myself needing a train ticket in the middle of nowhere in the middle of the night.  But I get a LITTLE nervous about not having a true chip&pin card.  

Do you think it's worth trying to get one before I leave?  

Is there anything you would suggest I do differently?  

Should I have my Amex or Discover with me for any reason?

[red259]

I wouldn't bring an amex or discover. If you can not find a place to use the cards you are bringing I don't see how you would be able to use the discover or amex (which will have lesser acceptance than a visa or MC) in the same situation. Also does that Amex have a FTF? If so, that would be another reason you would not want to use it. It feels like a risk taking extra cards with you overseas that you would not be using.   

[toothgrind3r]

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@red259 wrote:

I wouldn't bring an amex or discover. If you can not find a place to use the cards you are bringing I don't see how you would be able to use the discover or amex (which will have lesser acceptance than a visa or MC) in the same situation. Also does that Amex have a FTF? If so, that would be another reason you would not want to use it. It feels like a risk taking extra cards with you overseas that you would not be using.   

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Yeah that's what I thought too.  And yeah, there is a FTF on the Amex.  Just wanted to see if there's some Amex specific benefit for overseas that I don't know about.

[USF813]

I travel to Spain two or three times a year. You shouldn't have an issue using a non-chip card except for the metro stations. The kiosks will only accept euro or chip cards. Everywhere else, especially restaurants and your hotel shouldn't be a problem. Spain hasn't quite caught up to Northern Europe yet.

Paris shouldn't be a problem, though more likely than Madrid or Barcelona.

[toothgrind3r]

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@USF813 wrote:
I travel to Spain two or three times a year. You shouldn't have an issue using a non-chip card except for the metro stations. The kiosks will only accept euro or chip cards. Everywhere else, especially restaurants and your hotel shouldn't be a problem. Spain hasn't quite caught up to Northern Europe yet.

Paris shouldn't be a problem, though more likely than Madrid or Barcelona.

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Thanks for your input.

[Anonymous]

Any no FTF card, preferrably Mastercard or Visa should be fine. Most major issuers will even let you ask for a replacement card with a Chip if needed. If you want a chip and pin card (useful), the Arrival+ is a good option. I don't generally like it over flexible spending cards like the CSP, but it is one of the few Chip and Pin cards and it has no FTF. 

[youdontkillmoney]

Call the bank to make sure you get a PIN that works with the chip, that PIN is not the same as your ATM pin in the US; otherwise you will try to use the card overseas and not know the PIN

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[toothgrind3r]

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@youdontkillmoney wrote:

Call the bank to make sure you get a PIN that works with the chip, that PIN is not the same as your ATM pin in the US; otherwise you will try to use the card overseas and not know the PIN

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But even if it's not a real chip&pin card?