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Pre-paid gift cards using for credit in Europe?

Hi, wondering if anyone has experiencing using pre-paid gift cards in EU.

Vanilla Visa works in US for instance, wondering if if works in Europe? Or is there comparable brand one could purchase?
Thanks in advance

Posted by
3522 posts

Gift cards sold in the US with the Visa, AmEx, or MasterCard logos on them do not work outside the US. This is a rule put in place to prevent money laundering and other illegal practices.

There are prepaid Travel cards which are made specifically for what you are asking. They are sold by places such as AAA and are loaded with a value in the local currency of your destination. For example Euros for most of Europe. If you have reguar credit or debit cards, I would use them and not get one of the pre paid travel cards due to the fees on the travel card. There are fees to purchase the card, put money on the card, and for every transaction done with the card. The exchange rate used when adding money to the card is also usually one set by the card issuer and has no basis in reality. Also, if you happen to use the card somewhere other than where you expected (i.e. different currency) you pay an exchange fee to change the money back to your home currency and then into the currency your are spending. So you get hit 3 times with bad exchange rates.

Posted by
3522 posts

Apple and Google pay options are available throughout most of Europe and work fine where accepted. You just might not be lucky enough to choose a merchant that accepts them.