Banking While Cruising

[Doodles]

Originally Posted by terra57

Pay particular attention to the 3% foreign transaction fee. Really stinks when you had a haulout , expensive maintenance or put several months marina bills on credit card. Our credit union only charges 1%. American express and our Visa are 3%!!! ATM withdrawals are not treated the same as credit card charges. We pay cash in foreign currency for all day to day expenses and convert $$ by making ATM withdrawals. Eliminates exposing your credit card around town. We always use a BANK ATM.

As I mentioned above there are credit cards that don't charge ANY foreign transaction fees. Shop around ... Capital One and HSBC are two. I have both. HSBC requires a substantial investment with them for their Premier card but Capital One doesn't.