Avoid Hidden Extras in Europe

Europe is full of hidden gems, like the incredible Colosseum in Rome and the soaring Eiffel Tower in Paris! .....OK, so those sites aren’t exactly hidden, but they’re there, and so are unexpected extras on your finances.

We’ve put together a few tips to shine some light on the extras you may come across in Europe. This means you can see the continent in all its enriching beauty and also spot the concealed credit card transaction fee in the glovebox of the taxi you just entered.

Or even better... you keep planning all the pastries you're going to eat and we can sort this for you! We want you to avoid getting stung with a heap of ATM withdrawal fees as you jump countries, therefore our experts can help you figure out whether you need to carry  Great British pound, Hungarian forint, or Norwegian krone (and we don’t mean piggybacking an old lady).

You heard that right. With a pre-paid Travel Money card, like the Multi-currency Cash Passport you load up to 9 currencies, lock in your exchange rate the day you load currency* and it's accepted everywhere you see the Mastercard sign (so, millions of locations!). 
 

By locking in your exchange rate when you load, you can avoid unfavourable exchange rates and get more spending money up your sleeve to pay for those 5 extra croissants you know you'll want! Plus a pre-paid travel money card gives you more flexibility and security when travelling, cash for the markets and smaller transcations and your card for larger items - easy!

 

 

 

Good news is, you don't have to tip everyone, this isn't the US! There are cases however when it's polite to give a 5-10% tip if you've received good service.
But before you dive into your wallet, check if there's a service fee already included on your bill. You don't want to tip twice now, do you? 

 

 

Haggling is as foreign to Kiwis as berets and wooden shoes. But it’s quite common in Europe. So much so that some merchants will display a higher price than they expect to receive. This can be an unfortunate trick for tourists. Not every European country is the same however, nor is each market you'll come across.

Generally, we'd recommend the below..

1. Don't be afraid to ask -  if you don't ask, you don't get!
2. Aim for a win-win. Haggling should leave both parties feeling like winners. 

3. Learn a couple of local phrases. Not only will this add to the fun, but will show the vendor that you mean business!

Read more of our haggling tips here!
 

 

Although it’s exciting to not know your next destination, try to figure it out before you get stuck paying for an overpriced train ticket.
In Europe it's common for tickets to be much cheaper in advance and reasonably inflated the day of departure. 


Pick up your Cash Passport or European currencies and heaps more travel money tips in any of our 20+ stores. Or, buy your cash online today and collect locally when it suits!