Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
MONEY MATTERS
You know how Murphy's Law works: Most
ATMs
that you'll find are run by third
parties, not your bank, which means that you'll be slapped with fees of around $2
per withdrawal. But the good news is, they accept pretty much anything you can
stick into them. There are tons of banks in the Financial District north of Market
and between Embarcadero and Montgomery, so to improve your chances of avoid-
ing that fee, hunt for your bank around that part of town. For other locales, ask
the FDIC; the agency insures deposits in America and maintains a free Web data-
base of bank locations nationwide: www4.fdic.gov/IDASP/main_bankfind.asp.
Smarter yet would be to contact
your
bank before you leave home and obtain the
addresses of its branches in the city. Make sure to ask the names of “partner” banks
that, unbeknownst to you, might offer fee-free ATM privileges, and get their loca-
tions as well; for example, Citibank and 7-Eleven have a deal in which Citibank
customers can draw cash at the convenience stores without paying a fee (not that
there are many 7-Elevens in San Francisco, but your bank may inform you of a
similar surprise that saves you money).
Sitting down to do that will afford you the chance to tell your
credit card
issuer that you plan to be on the move. Before you leave home, let your credit card
issuer know that you're about to travel. Many of them, guarding against potential
fraud, get antsy when they see unexpectedly large charges start appearing far from
your home, and they often freeze your account in response. It has happened to me
despite the fact that I've told them repeatedly that I'm a travel writer, and my
spending history proves it. There's no one minding the ship at most of these com-
panies, and your requests must always be re-lodged every few months.
By the way, credit cards are nearly universally accepted. I think you could strut
off the plane with just a Visa or American Express card and live in style for your
entire trip. In fact, you
must
have one to rent a car. Your only problem would be
how to pay the highway tolls. The majority of places accept the Big Four:
American Express, MasterCard, Visa, and Discover. A few places add Diners to
the mix, and some smaller family-owned businesses subtract American Express
because of the pain of dealing with the company.
European card users who are acclimated to chip-and-PIN technology will be
shocked at how lax American clerks are about security. Not only will they almost
always neglect to check the purchaser's identification, but also, in some stores, credit
card charges under $25 or $50 often don't even require signatures. You just swipe
and go. Furthermore, compared to their European counterparts, American mer-
chants rarely request ID when purchases are made. Knowing this, you should keep
your cards even closer, since it's possible for strangers to dine out on your dime.
Try not to use credit cards to withdraw cash from ATMs. You'll be charged
interest from the moment your money leaves the slot. If your credit card allows
for online bill paying through links with your bank account, set up that capabil-
ity before you leave—at the very least, you can pay off your withdrawals within
hours, cutting your losses. Using an ATM card linked to a liquid bank account,
like a debit card, is far less expensive.
Traveler's checks
are also widely accepted, even if they're slipping from favor.
This is a city that sees large numbers of international tourists, so you won't get any
blank stares when you present one—although, because redeeming them can
