Last update: 17.09.2024 08:34
The trip is booked, the suitcase is packed and the vacation fund is hopefully well filled. Oh no, changing money for the vacation – forgotten? We often don’t think about how to get the foreign currency we needuntil just before we leave . Discover a few quick tips to prevent too much money from your vacation fund going to the bank!
Within Europe, access to cash and payment fees are not always cheap, but are generally manageable. ATMs and card payments are available almost everywhere, and changing money for vacations is largely automatic. If you stick to a few simple rules, you pay less. If the trip goes a little further, you also need a little more preparation when it comes to external money.
Change money for vacations
If you are dependent on cash, it is better to get some foreign currency in advance. Nobody wants to deal with dodgy exchange offices with extortionate prices. In some countries, that’s just the way it is. Especially when traveling to exotic countries, it is therefore worth changing some money at home for the first time and s’bitzeli to compare: What conditions does my own bank offer? What conditions do I get at the SBB counter? For example, SBB offers discounted conditions to holders of a GA travelcard. Depending on the situation, it may be worth going to your own bank, or you could just go to the SBB counter at the airport on your departure.
Unlock cards
For security reasons, your cards, especially Maestro cards, are blocked in many countries outside Europe. If you are traveling outside Europe, you should make sure with your bank that your cards are also activated for the planned countries. It is not uncommon for us to find ourselves in front of ATMs abroad and then have to make expensive calls to Switzerland to get cash.
Maestro or credit card?
We are used to paying by credit card. However, this is Withdrawing cash by credit card is generally expensive. Many Maestro cards have a fixed price, which can be worthwhile for larger amounts at a time. Some credit cards offer special conditions and you pay less or nothing for cash withdrawals abroad. Otherwise you pay percentage fees on the credit card. If in doubt, withdraw larger amounts with Maestro and pay smaller amounts by credit card.
Our tip: Check the Revolut card
Revolut credit card Switzerland: experiences from us in everyday life and abroad
We like to travel and often. Last year we were on three continents. As international travelers, we have therefore had experience with traditional credit cards and with Revolut Switzerland. Do you want to pay less and get more? Read on…
Domestic or foreign currency
When paying or withdrawing cash, we are always faced with the question of whether we want to pay in the local currency or in our own home currency. Vendors offer dynamic currency conversion (DCC) at their card terminals or on the Internet. This allows you to see directly how much the amount in local currency will be in Swiss francs. You know by now that every currency exchange costs money. So the rule of thumb is: always in the local currency of the country, not in the card currency. With a Swiss credit card in francs, you should therefore not pay in francs abroad. This will prevent you from being charged additional exchange fees.
All clear so far? Then hopefully nothing stands in the way of your vacation!
Mach den ersten Schritt zur finanziellen Unabhängigkeit
In einer Minute siehst du deine Vermögensentwicklung und dein Einkommen während der Rente.
