Credit cards and frustrations

[mslibrarian]

What types of credit cards do you folks take on the road?

I applied for an Amex Platinum card (I wanted the air miles) but found that a) the process for the card took weeks and b) nobody online seemed to take American Express! So I cancelled the card before I even got it. They also told me they had "offices all over Europe" but just not in Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany, etc.

I have a bank line of credit that doubles as a VISA card but there are no rewards attached to it. Are Air MIles cards even worth it?

[WillTravel]

For Canadians, we don't have as many options as Americans.

I have managed to use my AMEX Platinum quite a bit, and because I can get supplementary cards for other family members, it was worth it, at least for this one year where I get the bonus miles.

A free card is the MBNA Starwood Platinum. You get 5000 Starwood points, which is enough for a night, or even more, at some Starwood hotels. You get one point for every $2, but once you hit the $10000 threshold, you get 5000 bonus points (and this repeats at every $10,000 threshold). So effectively, you get 1 point per dollar. Then you can convert 20,000 Starwood points to 25,000 Aeroplan miles for free.

President's Choice Financial Mastercard effectively works out so you get a 1% rebate. (For example, if I spend $1000 on any purchases, the next time I go to Superstore, I can get $10 off my groceries.)

I am thinking of getting the AMEX Small Business card, which provides 25,000 bonus points and is free the first year, if I am considered to have enough of a side business to get accepted.

I use credit cards for as much as possible, but pay off the balances before any interest accumulates. It is worth it - I will be staying at the Sheraton in Iguazu Falls, Argentina right in Iguazu National Park because of my Starwood points.

[Mikul]

I have an American Express Starwood Preferred card, but plan on canceling it when I have to renew. Unless you spend everything on that one card, it may not be worth the annual fee, even though it is like $40. After 3 years, I have earned only one free flight on Delta. But, after credit card annual fees and the choice of dates I can fly, I would have been better just getting cash back with another credit card and putting those funds towards a ticket with more flexibility. Plus, not all places accept American Express.

At home in the US, I am using a Chase Freedom card, 3% at gas stations, grocery stores and 1% everywhere else, and I also use the Fidelity Platinum Plus, 1.5% cash back everywhere.

Internationally, I use my Fidelity mySmart Cash Account (an online checking account) that comes with free international cash withdrawals (you just pay the 1% foreign transaction fee from Visa, plus they reimburse any ATM fees) and a Capital One credit card (no foreign transaction fees, besides the 1%).

[Eagle]

In my experience, VISA and MasterCard seem to be the most widely accepted cards in most places. I've spoken with a few tourist and hotel operators in Europe and merchants, and they won't accept American Express as AmEx charges them a higher fee than the others, and seems to take a bit longer to transfer funds from purchases.

There are lots of choices with credit cards. I tend to prefer Credit Union products, but all the major Banks offer a variety of cards, including some with Air Miles benefits. There's also CitiBank, Capital One and others that offer rebates on every purchase. Some have a yearly fee, others don't.

Are Air MIles cards even worth it?

That's a good question! Some people seem to do well with Air Miles, but I haven't used them for flights for awhile. In my experience the flights haven't been that much cheaper, after all the fees and taxes are paid. There also seems to be a lot of restrictions and conditions attached to Air Miles flights, so I find those to be a bit of a nuisance. I'm sure others have had good experience with them, but I normally just search the best air prices on the net and book those.

To answer your original question, I usually travel with one VISA and one MasterCard (backup), along with two ATM cards.

Cheers!

[WillTravel]

Slight correction to the above - I don't have an AMEX Platinum, but an AMEX AeroplanPlus Gold Card.

[herrbert]

In my experience, VISA and MasterCard seem to be the most widely accepted cards in most places.

I second that, I travel with my Mastercard, and never had problems paying with it so far.

Only know that in some European stores they will ask to enter your PIN-code, just like they do with the ATM cards. This is relatively new in Europe, so I guess worth to mention.

[Eagle]

herrbert, as usual, the Europeans are way ahead of us "backward" North Americans when it comes to technology! The credit cards which require a PIN are only used with the new "chip cards" AFAIK. We are only starting to get those now, and I don't believe either of my credit card firms are offering them yet. I will get one as soon as they are available!

Cheers!

[mslibrarian]

I've already been notified by Scotiabank that when my card expires the end of this month I'll be getting one with a PIN.

I'll have my line of credit which is also a VISA with me when I go. I just wanted a backup in case anything happened to the other one.

[Eagle]

mslibrarian, that's good news! If ScotiaBank is issuing PIN credit cards, I'm assuming TD won't be far behind.

Cheers!

[WillTravel]

At the Copenhagen train ticket window, at the airport, they have a sign that says they won't accept credit cards without a PIN.

The one exception I have found re MasterCard is when I am going to a Visa-sponsored event. For example, the VanCity theatre in Vancouver and the Vancouver Film Festival box office will only accept Visa cards (or cash), because Visa is a sponsor. I suppose there may be a few rare places like this in Europe, but probably ones you'll never visit.