International reloadable gift cards as currency?

As long as the card is accepted at the Plus or Cirrus networks, it should be easy to use. The is little to no advantage over a standard debit card. And many of the preloaded cards are heavy with fees that sometimes are not obvious. Just read the fine carefully and if comfortable with the fees should work fine.

You need to carefully check the fine print. Most have either high fees or very poor exchange rates. Your best bet is usually to use your ATM card for cash and a credit card for large purchases.

It's been reported here before that places don't always accept debit cards as payment as readily they do here. But the reason I wouldn't use a prepaid card is what everyone else has noted - the fees.

I did not experience any trouble with using a debit card in Europe last summer but one way to avoid that if you do, is to use the debit card at ATMs to take out cash and pay with mostly cash at restaurants and shops, save the debit card for hotels and large purchases.

Be certain if you buy a gift/debit card that it is able to be used outside the US. Until about two years ago U.S.Bank was selling gift cards that could be used any where in the world. Now they are only to be used in U.S. and it is so printed in their documentation with the card and on the card. Good idea to use the gift/debit card but wonder if there are any available for purchase any more in U.S. that can be used outside the U.S. The generally cannot be used for ATM withdrawal.