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Credit cards?
Posted: Thu 26th Mar 2009 06:03 am
by ZBeebs
Hi, I'm new here, from New York, travelling to Amsterdam for 3 days in September.
Will I be able to use a credit card in the coffee shops, or do you have to use euros? If I can use a credit card, is there a minimum purchase? From what I understand I'll get the best exchange rate by using a credit card.
Re: Credit cards?
Posted: Thu 26th Mar 2009 06:39 am
by Puffin13
ZBeebs wrote:Hi, I'm new here, from New York, travelling to Amsterdam for 3 days in September.
Will I be able to use a credit card in the coffee shops, or do you have to use euros? If I can use a credit card, is there a minimum purchase? From what I understand I'll get the best exchange rate by using a credit card.
No credit cards accepted in any coffeeshop. Euros only.
Posted: Thu 26th Mar 2009 06:46 am
by ZBeebs
Thanks. Looks like ATM's will be the way to go.
Posted: Thu 26th Mar 2009 10:59 am
by Couch
ATMs are the way to go. You need not carry lots of cash, and you'll get a good exchange rate. One lesson I learned though is that you should call your bank, and let them know you are planning to use your card outside the country, and give them the dates of your trip. Otherwise they may think your account has been compromised and you'll get nothing from the ATM

Posted: Thu 26th Mar 2009 12:50 pm
by FlyByNite
What dates in September will you be in Amsterdam?
I'll post you on the Whos In Town page.
There are several coffeeshops not far from the docks.
Enjoy
FlyByNite - Travel preference, not business practice
Coffeeshop Frog Hollow
home of the
Whos In Town
and
Coffeeshop Menus
pages.
Posted: Thu 26th Mar 2009 01:47 pm
by ZBeebs
Arriving September 4th, the ship sails away early in the afternoon on the 7th.
Posted: Thu 26th Mar 2009 02:15 pm
by Twitch
Couch wrote:ATMs are the way to go. You need not carry lots of cash, and you'll get a good exchange rate. One lesson I learned though is that you should call your bank, and let them know you are planning to use your card outside the country, and give them the dates of your trip. Otherwise they may think your account has been compromised and you'll get nothing from the ATM

Have found this to be the best way by far, and very importent to let your bank know.
Enjoy your trip, although by the third day you'll wish you'd decided to stay longer.
Never plan for less than a week myself.
Posted: Thu 26th Mar 2009 03:38 pm
by sh@dy
I know there is a shop in Maastricht where you can buy with credit cards, but I dont know about other cities

Posted: Thu 26th Mar 2009 03:40 pm
by ZBeebs
If it was up to me we'd be spending the entire 16 days in Amsterdam. Since we will be on our honeymoon and she doesn't smoke (yeah, I don't know how that happened either) I don't think that would be fair.
Posted: Thu 26th Mar 2009 03:44 pm
by Boner
Willie Wortels in Haarlem accept credit cards, dont know if tourists can pay with a cc though.
Posted: Thu 26th Mar 2009 04:00 pm
by chilly1952
Cash is the way to go. The few shops I've seen that took cards would not accept an American card.
Posted: Thu 26th Mar 2009 04:33 pm
by Twitch
ZBeebs wrote:If it was up to me we'd be spending the entire 16 days in Amsterdam. Since we will be on our honeymoon and she doesn't smoke (yeah, I don't know how that happened either) I don't think that would be fair.
Sounds like you're having a wonderful honeymoon. Sixteen day cruise
Best wishes.
My wife no longer smokes, it happens, but lots of things to do and see while there.
I'm sure you'll have a great time.
Posted: Fri 27th Mar 2009 02:17 am
by FenixNYC
Couch wrote:ATMs are the way to go. You need not carry lots of cash, and you'll get a good exchange rate. One lesson I learned though is that you should call your bank, and let them know you are planning to use your card outside the country, and give them the dates of your trip. Otherwise they may think your account has been compromised and you'll get nothing from the ATM

Thanks for the info.
Was wondering myself what to do in terms of the cash situation and figured I'd just use my ATM but never thought of letting my bank know.
Posted: Sat 28th Mar 2009 11:19 am
by Lubricant
First and foremost, exchange some cash for euros before you go..
Make sure you have at least 100 euros for taxi, food, emergency's.
Never travel to a foreign country with 0 cash and a piece of plastic.
Once there, go to an atm and get some euros..
Posted: Sat 28th Mar 2009 11:02 pm
by toki ken
stix by the waag asked if i wanted to use pay by card,took me by surprise it did
toki