"American Express - won't do nicely!"

A review of American Express Europe by B Holland-Davies written on Friday 17th of April 2009

I've just returned from a trip to Budapest, Hungary - thinking I'd covered all options (and would avoid card charges)by taking some Sterling, some Forints, and Travellers Cheques in Euros AND Sterling! The day before I returned I went to four major banks trying to cash some T.C.s in order to settle the hotel bill; no one wanted to know (have you got an account with this Magyar bank? How likely is that?) Narrowly avoiding the option to waste my last day locating the only A.E. office in Budapest, my daughter and I scraped together enough Forints & GBPounds to settle a 705 Euro bill, incurring an 8% charge (=£40 on £500) for the privelege (I held 700 Euros in T.C.'s!!) It would've been cheaper to use the flipping credit card! We didn't have any money left, for even a drink until we got on the plane at 7 in the evening! I shall of course never use A.E. again, and will plan ahead next time and try one of the new cards you pre-load with money. Because you need a PIN etc, you need a few weeks to organise the card. Could've potentially turned an otherwise successful trip into a total nightmare! So; do avoid TC's! .

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