Summer is approaching, and for some of you, vacations abroad are on the agenda. So, it is better to anticipate to avoid unnecessary stress once there.
Indeed, if the conditions are rather flexible in the euro zone, it is better to know the prerequisites and other potential additional costs when you are outside the European Union.
Eurozone comfort to keep the account afloat
If you are leaving France to travel to a country in the euro zone, the good news is that the prerequisites are not numerous, and the majority of cards work the same way in France as in the euro zone.
Start first by checking the expiry date of your credit card, the amount remaining in your current account as well as the withdrawal and payment limits associated with your card to avoid any risk of rejection. Then, carefully keep the details of your bank. In the event of loss or theft of your card abroad, you will have to be all the faster to avoid potential mishaps. Also consult the guarantees associated with your bank card, because depending on your contract, a temporary card can for example be issued to you during your trip to make payments in the event of a problem.
Today, the vast majority of bank cards are, by default, international. Note that when you withdraw money from the ATM of a bank other than your own, fees may apply from a certain number of withdrawals. If the conditions are similar in France as in the other countries of the euro zone, outside the latter, it is better to find out about the potential commissions applied from the first withdrawal. In this perspective, it may be interesting to consult the conditions offered by online banks, which are generally more flexible than physical banks.
Outside the euro zone, find out about the commissions charged in the event of currency exchange, generally more present at physical banks than online banks, without counting on those that the establishment in which you go to will charge you. ‘foreign.
Beware of commissions at the airport
Whether for payments, withdrawals, or currency exchanges, fixed and variable fees may apply outside the euro zone. A fixed commission can be charged by your bank, but also by the banking establishment in which you go on the spot.
Depending on your contract or the conditions offered on site, a variable commission may be added. Moreover, for a currency exchange, do not hesitate to compare the rates, what is more if you go to an external service provider such as an exchange office.
According Capital, the most economical option is to pay for your purchases on site by credit card and to keep the tickets, to check that the debit is in accordance with the price displayed and to do the accounts on your return in case of doubt. You have 70 days to contest a payment with your bank by registered letter with acknowledgment of receipt. On the other hand, if you want to pay in cash, for example for a taxi when you arrive, it is on average cheaper to withdraw a large sum rather than several small ones.
Finally, to save money if you want to exchange currencies, it would be more interesting to go, in order, to a foreign exchange office in France after comparing the rates available online, and if not, to your usual bank. Internationally, it is better to avoid the exchange offices at the airport, or even at the station where you arrive, which offer less attractive rates than in city centers.
Sources: Capital, Backpacker.com
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