International Travel Tips: Know Before You Go
Over the last six months or so, you may have started using the chip-enabled credit cards that your credit card company sent you in the increasing number of updated terminals in the stores you shop in. The United States has been a late adopter of chip technology, which Europe has been using for years.
As many of you may be getting ready for a trip to Europe, you may have questions about usage of your credit cards, chip-enabled and non-chip enabled, while you travel. Our international travel tips can save you from added frustration and lost time on your European trip.
We’re here to tell you that the majority of cards WILL work in Europe and around the world where you travel. The chip cards being utilized in the US are generally chip-and-signature cards, with which your signature verifies your identity..
That being said, however, US chip-and-signature cards are not configured for offline transactions (in which the card is securely validated without a real-time connection to the bank). This can sometimes cause a bit of a hiccup at unmanned payment terminals, such as Dutch train ticket machines and French toll plazas, although US chip-and-signature cards do work at some self-service payment terminals, including those found in the Paris Métro and London Underground.
Here are some tips to help you ensure your chip enabled card will work when traveling in Europe:
Get in touch with your bank well before your planned departure and obtain your card’s PIN. They may say that the PIN is only for cash withdrawals, ask for it anyway. Be aware that the PIN will be sent by US Mail, so it will take some time to get to you.
If a self-service terminal won’t accept your card, look for a nearby cashier to process your payment manually. Be sure to allow extra travel time in case you need to resort to this, and be aware that there will likely be longer lines for full service cashiers.
Cash is always king. Be sure to have some on hand in case you run into trouble with terminals, and don’t have time to find a cashier. In some cases, there may not even be a nearby cashier. For this, we always recommend having some back up cash on hand.
Ask if your bank offers a true chip-and-PIN card that will work at offline payment terminals. Some banks may also offer true chip-and-PIN cards, but be sure to verify your card’s status to make sure it’ll work offline. Pay attention to unreasonable overseas-transaction fees that may be attached to these cards. For a helpful overview of US chip cards, see us-emv-cards.silk.co.
For your transfers between airports and hotels, and even tours of local attractions, book your transportation ahead of time, right here with KEE Limousine. You can expect the same level of service as you get in a KEE Limousine as with one of our in-network affiliates, and we process your card here in the US.
