Visa, MC and ATM's

[Jen Seeler]

We carried both our ATM and Visa cards on the Camino in May.   The smaller
hostals and restaurants may not accept Visa.  Also, note that unlike in the
USA. their machines print the whole credit card number on your receipt.  I
was very careful to blot it out with my felt tip pen and then tear the
receipt into tiny pieces.

We were charged $1.50 per transaction from Santander Cent Bank and Banco
Pastor.  We were NOT charged for ATM withdrawals from Banco Popular (at the
Madrid Airport) or B.B.V.A. in Logrono.

We generally took 100 euros at a time and kept them accessable in a wallet.
Our ATM and Visa cards, and our passports were kept in pouches hanging from
our necks under out clothes.  We bought the pouches at a local AAA office.
When we got home we threw them in the washing machine and have them fresh
for our next adventure.   When we stayed in an albergue, we tied the pouches
to our cot near our heads .  We never had a worry.

The only time we had trouble was at the airport, when we tried to get money
from a machine thet issued parking tickets!

      jean seeler    jeandaveamindspring.com