debit/credit cards

The horror stories are not true. You'll have no problem using magnetic strip cards. There are some automated ticket machines that only accept smart chips cards, but it's just a minor hassle. Be sure to call your bank before your trip and inform them of your travel plans.

Please scan down the list of topics in the General Europe section of the Helpline and you will find numerous discussions of this very topic. In short, no, the stories you have heard are NOT true. The only place where magnetic stripe cards don't work are unmanned gas pumps and automated ticket machines at train stations.

I've not had any problems, nor heard of anyone having problems using their stripe card in bank ATMs to get cash. Usually, that's all you need.

Let me point out that we missed the first act of a show in Barcelona because I thought the tickets I had purchased on-line, well in advance, would be at "will call." Instead, they had to be redeemed at the ticket booth, which had a huge line of last-minute concert goers. If we'd had a chip card, we could have redeemed them at the automated booth in seconds, instead of waiting in the rain in a 25 minute line. One consolation, Jane Seymour, just off her appearance on "Dancing with the Stars" and obviously with a new found interest in the dance, was in line right in front of us. I'm not an autograph hound, but it was fun meeting her. Also, whenever there's a 45 minute line for tickets at the train station, it sure would be nice to have a card that worked on the automated ticket teller.

Yes, Bill, it would be nice - but there are no such cards available in the US yet.

The "stripe" cards work fine in the card machine in our hotel. US (and Spanish!!) guests just have to sign. (How quaint!!) :-)