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Hotel Payment In London Question...
Posted on 7/20/16 at 4:24 pm
Posted on 7/20/16 at 4:24 pm
Buenas Tardes,
When I visit London in a few months, I'll be staying at one of those bed & breakfast type places for like 8-9 nights.
They mention in advance that there is a 3% convenience fee for using a credit card, and that's on top of the 3% international fee that my cc company will charge.
The bill is like 1,000 pounds, so 6% of that isn't peanuts.
Should I go to like 4 separate ATM's to withdraw that much cash - or would it be a risk to do this, in case something goes wrong during my stay? With cash,there won't be any "backup protection" like you have when using a credit card.
They want payment when you first arrive, so I'd have to get the dough straight away.
Any advice/suggestions are appreciated!
When I visit London in a few months, I'll be staying at one of those bed & breakfast type places for like 8-9 nights.
They mention in advance that there is a 3% convenience fee for using a credit card, and that's on top of the 3% international fee that my cc company will charge.
The bill is like 1,000 pounds, so 6% of that isn't peanuts.
Should I go to like 4 separate ATM's to withdraw that much cash - or would it be a risk to do this, in case something goes wrong during my stay? With cash,there won't be any "backup protection" like you have when using a credit card.
They want payment when you first arrive, so I'd have to get the dough straight away.
Any advice/suggestions are appreciated!
This post was edited on 7/20/16 at 4:26 pm
3
Posted on 7/20/16 at 4:41 pm to Mandocello
nvm
This post was edited on 7/20/16 at 4:43 pm
Posted on 7/20/16 at 5:07 pm to Mandocello
1) get a new credit card that waives all transaction fees. Get one that has a big point bonus because you will probably be spending at least 2k on your trip and can get it in no time. No reason not to do this.
2) If you must pay with cash, you can order pounds from your bank in the u.s. before you leave for cheaper than using the machines there, but that means you have to travel with it on you.
2) If you must pay with cash, you can order pounds from your bank in the u.s. before you leave for cheaper than using the machines there, but that means you have to travel with it on you.
Posted on 7/20/16 at 5:40 pm to jsquardjj
quote:
) get a new credit card that waives all transaction fees. Get one that has a big point bonus because you will probably be spending at least 2k on your trip and can get it in no time. No reason not to do this.
This. Chase Sapphire is probably your best bet. Not having a no foreign transaction fee card when traveling is a rookie move these days.
Posted on 7/20/16 at 6:18 pm to Mandocello
This post was edited on 11/8/20 at 12:19 pm
Posted on 7/20/16 at 7:32 pm to jsquardjj
quote:
2) If you must pay with cash, you can order pounds from your bank in the u.s. before you leave for cheaper than using the machines there, but that means you have to travel with it on you.
In my experience this has never been the case. But its worth a try.
Europeans use CC at the point of sale much much less than we do in the US, almost extensively cash. There is nothing wrong with getting cash a couple times to pay for something big I've done that a lot. Smaller hotels charging a CC fee is very popular because they pay with cash very often.
No matter what, definitely get a card with 0 or low foreign transaction fees. 3% is definitely on the super high end. Anything over 1% is high.
Posted on 7/20/16 at 7:46 pm to Kraut Dawg
quote:
You've gotten some good advice. You have a few months so that should be enough time to get a new card. Let me ask though, from where are you booking these? I always price check, but if you're staying 9 nights & the price is the same or cheaper, create an account at hotels.com & get your 11th night free.
Booked directly with the B&B, and they won't provide any kind of discount for staying 8 or 9nights. Sucks, but can't do anything about it!
Posted on 7/20/16 at 8:20 pm to Mandocello
I wouldn't pay the 3% "convenience fee." Frick that. This is why I'm not a fan of Europe.
Open a Charles Schwab account. They are currently running a promotion where you will get $100 for opening a new account too. The Schwab debit can be used fee free at any ATM world wide. They also tend to have some of the best exchange rates anyone offers. So once you are there, withdraw cash at an atm there and settle the bill. It is definitely not advisable to carry too much cash when travelling.
I would also get a card like the CSP that will get you the foreign txn fee waived. But in my experience, it is hard to use credit cards in Europe without having a minimum, a fee or downright denial.
Open a Charles Schwab account. They are currently running a promotion where you will get $100 for opening a new account too. The Schwab debit can be used fee free at any ATM world wide. They also tend to have some of the best exchange rates anyone offers. So once you are there, withdraw cash at an atm there and settle the bill. It is definitely not advisable to carry too much cash when travelling.
I would also get a card like the CSP that will get you the foreign txn fee waived. But in my experience, it is hard to use credit cards in Europe without having a minimum, a fee or downright denial.
Posted on 7/21/16 at 5:52 am to AmeriKop45
quote:
it is hard to use credit cards in Europe without having a minimum, a fee or downright denial.
I am in Europe now and use my cc for most everything....food, airbnb, bus tickets, Simm Cards etc.....its as easy as in the US and their cc machines that read the chip are way faster than the US.....oh....you have to have a chip in your cc but I think everyone in the US has that now.
As for the OP, 6% is only about $85. Thats about what lunch will cost you in London.
This post was edited on 7/21/16 at 5:54 am
Posted on 7/21/16 at 9:21 am to Zappas Stache
My bank assures me that businesses and ATM's in Europe accept credit cards without a chip.
Posted on 7/21/16 at 10:34 am to Mandocello
quote:
My bank assures me that businesses and ATM's in Europe accept credit cards without a chip.
It's hit or miss. In the main tourist areas most merchants take the magnetic strip. If you get out of the tourists areas, most don't accept it. The visa/ MasterCard policy is all merchants have to accept magnetic strip cards. In reality, they do not accept them. I dealt with this issue last time I was in Europe and it's a PITA.
Posted on 7/21/16 at 10:40 am to Zappas Stache
Well, I'm certainly gonna try to just hit ATM's and pay cash for as many things as possible...just in case!
Posted on 7/21/16 at 1:55 pm to Mandocello
quote:
My bank assures me that businesses and ATM's in Europe accept credit cards without a chip.
I'm sure its the same policy as it is here, in that the CC company has moved the liability of strip cards from them to the merchandiser. But the new chip machines cost money, so the smaller companies that don't use CC often will still have strip machines.
I wouldn't risk it though, I'd get a chip'd card.
Posted on 7/21/16 at 4:22 pm to baldona
quote:
But the new chip machines cost money, so the smaller companies that don't use CC often will still have strip machines.
In europe? They have used chips for several years over here and so magnetic reading machines have been phased out. Small companies/ restaurants especially out of the tourist areas don't have them because no one in Europe uses magnetic strip cards. The chip readers are everywhere.....and they are portable so the waiter usually brings the end held reader to your table and scans your card in front of you.
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