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cash and pin card

Has anyone had any experience with the cash and pin card in Florence? Will be traveling there in May

Posted by
32331 posts

Yvonne E, "Cash and PIN card"? Could you elaborate on what type of card you're referring to?

Posted by
500 posts

I think she means chip n pin cards. I think the only place you can them in the US is from Travelex right now. I got one for incidentals like train tickets, little shops and street vendors. My last trip to Europe I had to run off to an ATM a few times to get extra cash. So I just got a few hundred euros on one for my convenience. I bought it several months ago, travelex's exchange rate isn't the best bust since I bought it the dollar has gone down against the euro so it really didn't cost me anything. I will get most of my money from cap one and credit union based ATM cards but I like to have all my options open.

Posted by
13 posts

Sorry, I am thinking of getting the Travelex Cash n Pin card. I will be staying 6 days in Florence, 4 days in Heidelberg, 2 days in Venice and 4 days in Zurich. I know I can only use the C n P card for Euros. My question is should or could I rely on this card for restaurants, shops, etc,. etc... I will not be driving. All my travels will be by train, Vaporetto, in Venice, and by Foot. In Germany maybe bus or taxi. I will also bring my ATM card and Capital One MC for necessary transactions and cash. I'm a little concern with the fees using these cards, hence is the C n P card widely accepted for my travels? Thank you

Posted by
500 posts

Capital One doesn't charge foreign transaction fees. The main reason to use a chip n pin is for automated systems that don't accept non chip n pin cards since chip n pin is universally used throughout Europe now. Travelex has high exchange rates.

Posted by
13 posts

Thanks Lisa, I'm not sure what is the cheaper route. Travelex is saying I could get a rate of $.05 per Euro, plus the exchange rate now, which is $1.4603 and if I purchase at least 1000 Euros on the C n P card. Is that a high rate?
I have no way to gauge these fees. What has been your experience? And thanks again...

Posted by
23574 posts

Today's exchange rate is less than 1.46 so that is about a 4% fee. Are there additional fees - set up, withdraw fees, fees at the end of convert unused Euro back to dollars.

Posted by
13 posts

Frank thank you for your response. No other fees Travelex Chip and PIN Cash Passport Fees Available to buy online and from your local Travelex store, Travelex is proud that Cash Passport is low cost, allowing our customers to use more of their valuable funds during their travels. Fee Cost Card Load Free Point of Sale Transaction Free Additional Card Free Balance Inquiry Fee Free Travelex ATM Withdrawal Free In Store Cash Out Free
Travelex does not charge an ATM withdrawal fee for Chip and PIN Cash Passport Cards. However, some ATM operators may charge a withdrawal fee or set their own withdrawal limits. This info is from there web site