ATM cards

One of the most beautiful short train journeys in the world is the Flam railway in Norway, which winds off a main rail line down a canyon to the tiny town of Flam, which sits at the head of one of the most majestic fjords in Norway. After rattling past waterfalls, massive granite cliffs, and little postcard farms, the train let me off near the ferry landing in Flam. Near the dock was a little glassed-in hut with a foot of grass growing off its roof. Inside the hut was an ATM. Out of curiosity I walked in, stuck in my card, and walked out one minute later with a couple of hundred Norwegian crowns which would later be debited from my checking account back in Florida, at an exchange rate better than any I had seen in Norway. Needless to say, ATMs can be pretty darn convenient; in fact, they’re my primary means of obtaining money while in Europe. Some tips on ATMs:

- Check that your current card, or a new one you obtain for your trip, is connected to systems worldwide. Obviously this is essential. Connecting your card to the Cirrus or Plus system, or both, is a good start.

- Try to get a card from your bank that does not have a transaction fee. Almost all credit cards can also be used as a debit card but wil] charge a hefty fee or percentage when you use it as such.