Using my foreign bank card in Switzerland
A traveler has booked a hotel in Switzerland and needs to pay in Swiss currency. They are looking for advice on how to manage payment without incurring extra transaction fees, including whether to use a UK visa card or consider a Wise card for their trip. It's their first time traveling overseas, and they want to avoid any embarrassing fees.
- Check with your bank about overseas transaction fees on your UK visa card before traveling.
- Consider getting a Wise card, as it’s recommended for payments in Switzerland and won't require cash withdrawals.
- Use local currency when making purchases or withdrawing cash to avoid extra fees.
- If you have a Halifax Clarity credit card, it allows fee-free cash withdrawals abroad if paid off the same day.
AI-generated summary-
I have booked hotel without paying at the moment but I have to pay in person with Swiss Currency
1. How do I pay without any extra charge whether in Switzerland or back to the country for transaction fees?
2. I have got visa bank card from UK and what card can I use without any additional fees/transaction fees?
3. Do I have to go to my bank and ask them to get a card which can be used in Switzerland to pay for anything related to travel without getting extra charge?
4. Can I just use my visa or credit bank card from another country and take out the cash or just tab the card?
5. Thinking of getting Wise card, Is it good in Switzerland for paying at the restaurant or at the Gondola station or any fares?
Please let me know about these things as it’s my first time travelling overseas, it’s quite embarrassing asking these questions. Thank You.
-
Hi Hamal Hero,
Here’s our handy guide to payments in Switzerland as a visitor:
In answer to your questions:
1.There are always charges incurred in some shape or form. With your UK visa card, it’s best you check with your bank to see what fees they will charge for transactions overseas.
2. You may want to consider a Wise card as explained in the above link.
3. Your UK visa card should suffice. Visa is widely accepted.
4. Both, though if you are withdrawing cash from an ATM machine abroad, the fees can be quite high. I’d try not to do that unless it’s really necessary. Perhaps exchange a little before coming here? When ‘tabbing’ your card, you may need to insert a pin code.
5. See no. 2.
I hope this helps, do reach out if you have further questions.
Kind regards,
Yolanda
As always, thanks for all the helpful info. Just curious why you never use a credit card? Foreign transaction fees?
Gary
Hi Gary,
Sorry perhaps it was not so clear. It was not to advise, not to use your home credit card in Switzerland. Different credit cards charge different rates when paying for items/using overseas. The advice was to check the fees that could be incurred just in case they are high.
Otherwise the option was to research a Wise card.
Kind regards,
Yolanda
Got it, that’s what I figured! Thanks
In the United States, you can find quite a few credit cards (Mastercard, Visa, etc.) from various banks that offer “no international transaction fees”. If offered, it is usually one of 3 or 4 “benefits” presented in the promotional description of the card. These cards are typically marketed toward the savvy traveler. For these cards, when I buy something in Switzerland, I always indicate I wish to pay in CHF. My receipt will show CHF. When the transaction posts to my credit card, my credit card company will do a currency conversion at the overnight rate between banks. I simply owe the converted amount of US Dollars. No other fees are added.
I always carry 2 different “no international transaction fee” cards when I travel. One serves as a backup in case something happens to the first. I also have them registered in Apple Pay. My current cards are from CapitalOne Bank and Chase Bank.
However, many US credit cards do NOT have this feature. So you have to specifically look for them.
Do these cards not exist in the UK?
Many thanks PAPirate,
This is great information. We have have quite a few questions from the US, so this is very helpful indeed.
Kind regards,
Yolanda
Hello.
You need to check with your bank. If you have an account with HSBC you can apply for a Global Money Card which offers the same benefits as PAPirate enjoys with his cards.
Mike
Thank you MikeHW.
This is a very helpful indeed. Thank you for sharing this tip!
Kind regards,
Yolanda
Hi.
I am from the UK.
Halifax Clarity Credit cards can be used to withdraw cash from ATM’s without the usual charge for cash withdrawals BUT if you pay the card off the same day you also pay no interest on the money withdrawn. However this assumes there are no other amounts outstanding at the time as you always pay off the oldest debt first. So for example If you withdraw the equivalent of £100 in cash but there is a £20 balance already and you pay off £100 immediately. You will pay off £20 debt but £80 of the cash withdrawal and will therefore pay daily interest on the remaining £20. The interest rate for cash is more than purchases. Hope that makes sense. However DONT USE THIS CARD FOR CASH IN UK. The charges are far more than most other cards.
Nationwide Member Credit Cards are commission free for foreign transactions as are some others. I use the Nationwide for purchases and Halifax Clarity for Cash
As always Make sure you pay in the local currency even at ATMs
Hope this helps
Roger
Thank you so much Yolanda. That will be a Great help. Will get a Wise card and try not to withdraw cash.
I heard of this one being very useful card. I will choose between this and Wise. Thanks.
Why credit card is not recommended to use abroad is actually should be recommended due to being credit is of Bank whereas Debit is yours and in case of something fraud, you’ll be safe.
Such cards do exist in UK, such as Wise, HSBC Global, Halifax Clarity, Monzo as top ones to use overseas.
Thanks for those UK cards you’ve mentioned. To cash out less than 100 or 200, it’s useful for 1 or 2 person but for family or groups (all adults) of 5 and above, it’s difficulty for one person to cash out for everyone.
Suppose (as a family or close friends, all this to make payment easier by one person for the group), if A is the leader of the group and B/C/D/E have deposited 5000 each into A Card back in their country, and now have landed to another country, so then to pay for Gondola Ride, let’s say Glacier Paradise or Schilthorn Piz Gloria (CHF 50 x 5 + Food 30 x 5 = Total 400), so if A has to cash out 400, it will charge a lot. That is just in half a day activity. OR maybe A can’t even withdraw due to overlimit. A cannot do contactless touch as well. Only A can do is swipe the card and put pin number but this will charge foreign transaction fees if paid Not into local currency.
Hi Hamal Hero,
Personally, I think getting a Wise card would be sensible if you’re concerned about incurring extra charges on your foreign credit card. I have a Wise card that I use for travel abroad and it is valid anywhere where VISA is accepted. I didn’t have the need to withdraw money at all. You don’t need to if you have transferred sufficient money in the local currency on your card. This can be arranged in advance before your trip.
I have also used the Wise card for purchases in Switzerland. I keep it as a spare debit card for my daughter to use when she travels with her team for regional sport competitions. It’s much safer than giving her cash and I can monitor the spendings online 🙂
Hope this helps.
Regards,
Anna
- The thread ‘Using my foreign bank card in Switzerland’ is closed to new replies.
