Are gift cards a good idea?

My husband and I "break the rules" suggessted on this board. We take a rather large sum of cash in the curreny of the area we are visiting ( pounds, euros, etc) and take our regular credit cards for purchasing things like dinner out, larger purchases, etc. I know this is contrary to Rick's suggesstions, but my husband is a former banker and he just doesn't want to deal with ATM's that are not HIS bank's. I know it is a bit paranoid... but that's the way he is. He keeps a day's worth accessable and the rest in a very secure location.

The prepaid cards on this board get discussed fairly often. The problem with them is most Visa prepaid cards have huge fees. As much as 7% even.

If you have a Capital One credit card, certainly take that. Other credit cards will cost more, but probably less than the prepaids. Follow Toni's advice and try to get at least a bit of currency before you leave. You probably won't be able to get much with only two days to go, but even 50 euro will help you cover small incidentals. Lastly, carry some U.S. currency with you as an ultimate backup.

Apparently the person at your bank has never left the US.

These won't work unless things have changed in the past two years.

You CAN get the Visa Travel Card which works like a Debtit card, but do not expect to use the gift card in Europe. AAA used to sell the Visa Travel Card.

As has been pointed out fees are high!

Carol, I am sure she means the same thing. The prepaid cards are classified as gift cards with regard to banking regulations and, thus, outside the requirement for full disclosure of fees.

I personally am not sure if they would work, so please listen to the other posters...however, if they do work, I would have to recommend against them. I work in retail, and even here at home they are difficult to use, mainly because people don't keep track of how much they've already spent on each card.

You will need to keep meticulous records regarding how much is left on each card after using it, and then when you go to make another purchase inform the cashier exactly how much is left on the card so they can properly cash it out. Many cards also have monthly fees, so you need to factor that into the balance left on it.

Why do you need to do this? I hope I can explain this clearly! You purchase a $100 gift card, it acts like a credit card with a $100 limit. So you make a $75 purchase, and now have $25 left on the gift card. Now you try to make a $50 purchase and run the card through like a normal credit card - it would come up declined, because now it is a credit card with a $25 limit and you are trying to charge $50. So you must inform the cashier that there is only $25 left, they will only attempt to charge $25, and it will go through perfectly fine.

Frank,

I expect the bank means real GIFT cards, not the travel card and there is a big difference. Most banks don't sell the gift card. I have dealt with this when taking teens to Europe who often don't have a bank account, much less a debit card. What most banks want to sell you is the Visa Gift Card. Basically the same as the card you buy at the drugstore for the "Outback Steakhouse" If they don't work just like a debit card then they are the gift cards. The travel cards have pins, can be reloaded remotely etc. It's a different product.

I posted on other thread,, just wondering,, why not just get a debit card.. it really is easiest, and only takes ten minutes to get one( here, maybe different where you are, but check)