Retail therapy, travel-style
A guide to shopping, haggling, and great souvenir-buying in Europe
Whether you view a trip to Europe as just one long shopping trip or merely want to pick up a few souvenirs and the occasional hand-crafted product on your adventure, I've got some good tips and resources for you.
Whatever your shopping style or inclinations, this section will fill you in on what you need to know to be a smart shopper in Europe, from best buys and size charts to VAT refunds and haggling hints.
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This article was by Reid Bramblett and last updated in August 2011.
All information was accurate at the time.
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Copyright © 1998–2013 by Reid Bramblett. Author: Reid Bramblett.
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Useful Links
Currency converters: Oanda.com, Xe.net
ATM locators: Mastercard.com, Visa.via.infonow.net
Credit cards with low foreign transaction fees: Capitalone.com, Hsbc.com, Providian.com
Financial institutions and credit cards with no or low foreign transaction fees: Credit unions & Local banks (Creditunion.coop, Moveyourmoneyproject.org, Findabetterbank.com, Ncua.gov, Credituniondb.com); Online-only banks (Usaa.com , Ally.com, Schwab.com, Ingdirect.com), major bank with 0% fee (Capitalone.com); major banks with 1% fee (Hsbc.com, Providian.com
Good intel on cards & travel money issues: FlyerGuide.com, Bankrate.com, Cardhub.com, Creditcards.com
Traveler's Checks: Aaa.com, Americanexpress.com, Thomascook.com
Wiring money: Westernunion.com, Moneygram.com, Xoom.com
U.S. Customs: cbp.gov
Duty Free: Thedutyfreepriceguide.com
VAT and tax refunds: global-blue.com, Premiertaxfree.com
ATM locators: Mastercard.com, Visa.via.infonow.net
Credit cards with low foreign transaction fees: Capitalone.com, Hsbc.com, Providian.com
Financial institutions and credit cards with no or low foreign transaction fees: Credit unions & Local banks (Creditunion.coop, Moveyourmoneyproject.org, Findabetterbank.com, Ncua.gov, Credituniondb.com); Online-only banks (Usaa.com , Ally.com, Schwab.com, Ingdirect.com), major bank with 0% fee (Capitalone.com); major banks with 1% fee (Hsbc.com, Providian.com
Good intel on cards & travel money issues: FlyerGuide.com, Bankrate.com, Cardhub.com, Creditcards.com
Traveler's Checks: Aaa.com, Americanexpress.com, Thomascook.com
Wiring money: Westernunion.com, Moneygram.com, Xoom.com
U.S. Customs: cbp.gov
Duty Free: Thedutyfreepriceguide.com
VAT and tax refunds: global-blue.com, Premiertaxfree.com
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