Security Issue with Passports and Credit Cards

Wanted to alert you all to a security issue I just learned about. Some passports and credit cards have embedded RFID (radio frequency identification) chips that transmit a signal, as do work badges, packages, etc. Scammers can pick up the signal and steal your identity. I don't have time to research all the issues, but am summarizing the little bit I've heard and providing links to more info if you want to look into it and verify what's here.

There are cheap and easy ways to shield the chip. See the 3 easy steps for protecting your passport with aluminum foil at http://epic.org/privacy/rfid/
Or you can buy shields at places like REI, Amazon or travel-supply shops. Passport shields run about $5; shields for credit cards are cheaper.

For more information, see:

• Researchers See Privacy Pitfalls in No-Swipe Credit Cards - by the NY Times
• RFID-enabled credit card theft - on CNet, which I consider a reliable source; a good article with an awful layout; I copied the text into a Word file that I uploaded to GoogleDrive.
• Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Systems - by EPIC, a well regarded organization whose privacy enewsletter I was already subscribing to
• House of cards: Why your accounts are vulnerable to thieves - by Consumer Reports
• A Threat Analysis of RFID Passports by ACM, the Association for Computing Machine, the "world’s largest educational and scientific computing society"; I used to belong, and I trust their information: The long article says in part: "Six pieces of information can be stolen from the RFID chip on a U.S. passport: your name, nationality, gender, date of birth, place of birth, and a digitized photograph.1 Numerous problems of identity theft could arise from someone taking that information, but this article focuses on the financial risk."
• What is RFID? by the RFID Journal, which I've never heard of but has a nice summary about the technology.

Lots more info on the Web, including on Wikipedia.

Good Cascais Map Showing Attractions, Hotels, Grocery Stores

Thanks to a Sangha member for suggesting this tip.
You can see where grocery stores - as well as attractions, hotels, etc. - are on MapQuest, which seems to work much better for this than Google Maps.

Unfortunately, I couldn't get a direct link to work, but if you go to MapQuest, enter "Cascais, Portugal" in the Search box at top left, then click the Get Map button, you'll get a map of the Festival town. Click the grocery shopping cart icon above the map, then click Grocery Stores. You can then zoom in.

There are 2 grocery stores near train station, with the big Jumbo just inland from train station. You can even look online to see what Jumbo stocks.
The big shopping center, Mercearia Central De Cascais, which has the Pingo Doce Supermarket, is also nearby.

Save Money: Easy ATM Card without Fees

Most of us are on budgets, so I wanted to recommend getting a Charles Schwab ATM card that doesn't charge fees, even abroad, which is rare. Even credit unions charge flat fees and/or percentages, as does the bank hosting the ATM where you're withdrawing money.
In my experience, the best way to get foreign currency is at ATMs in the country you're visiting, so you can save a lot of money if you're not paying extra fees.

The only place I know of that offers this is Charles Schwab. I just signed up for an account, and the process was easy. In fact, I was very impressed with their support. (I had a more complex situation, so I used their chat, and they had someone phone me a few minutes later, on Sat afternoon!) For most people, you can easily fill out an application online.
The minimum deposit is $1, and there don't seem to be other fees associated with the account.

They told me I would get my ATM card in 1-1/2 or 2 weeks, so there's still time to do this.

If you just want a checking account, you can read about it and sign up at http://www.schwab.com/public/schwab/banking_lending/checking_account

If you want a linked brokerage account as well, which has $0 minimum balance, or might want it in the future, go to
http://www.schwab.com/public/schwab/investing/accounts_products/accounts
(Schwab told me that it's impossible to add the brokerage account to an existing checking account later.)

If there's a Schwab office in your area and you prefer doing it in person, you can go to their office and someone will walk you through the application process; take your checkbook with you.

Note: I have no stake in whether you go to Schwab or not, and of course you should review the details carefully because finance is not my area and you need to see if it will work for your particular situation.

Summary of Money Advice

Start by reading Rick Steves' advice, Cash and Currency Tips, then click to read his pages with more information about cash vs. plastic, ATMs and credit-card fees.

I was told there's still time, although it's getting tight, if you want to get an ATM card and/or a credit card that doesn't charge transaction fees abroad.

For more tips, click the Money link in the LABELS list in the right column of this blog page.

Car Rental

From a travel-savvy Sangha member:
If you're planning to rent a car, which isn't necessary unless you're going to be traveling before or after Festival, and trains and buses won't work for you (and in Europe, of course, public transportation tends to be very good, unless you're going to more remote places), book it with American Express card if you have one because it offers lots of advantages, particularly on insurance.

I've also read on the Internet that a lot of travelers say not to rent from Hertz abroad.

More on VISA card with Chip

From a Sangha member:
I am getting a chip and pin VISA card from Andrews Federal Credit Union
https://www.andrewsfcu.org/credit_cards_and_loans/credit_cards/globetrek_rewards.html

The card has no annual fee, no foreign transaction fee, no cash advance fee, and can be used in ATM's. I joined the American Consumer Council (online, for free) and were then eligible to join Andrews Federal Credit Union. I filled in an online application and mailed them a signature card. I completed the application for credit cards online and received documents to sign digitally via email. I should be receiving the cards shortly.

ATM and Credit Cards for Travel

Start by reading Rick Steves' advice, Cash and Currency Tips, then click to read his pages with more information about cash vs. plastic, ATMs and credit-card fees.

From the NY Times Travel section:
"As You Travel, Making Money Work for You" of March 6, 2013:

"Q. Where do you have your bank accounts?
A. In addition to the bank you use at home ... I suggest opening a checking account with Charles Schwab Bank to use abroad. It doesn't charge any A.T.M. fees and even reimburses you for fees other banks charge anywhere in the world.

Q. What about credit cards?
A. I recommend using one of Capital One’s No Hassle Rewards cards while you travel because none of them charge foreign-transaction fees. Neither does Chase Sapphire Preferred. You don’t want to pay 3 percent on every transaction; suddenly the cost of your trip has gone up 3 percent.
If you really want to get in on the mileage game, I recommend getting a general rewards card and one that’s branded to a specific airline or hotel to use at home. Make sure the rewards card allows you to transfer points to that particular airline or hotel; this way you can add to your miles or hotel rewards. ..."
But see also the blog post Credit Card with Chip

Travel Insurance

You should check your medical insurance to see what kind of coverage, if any, you have abroad.
If you want, you can add travel insurance, which offers different options for medical treatment, evacuation, terrorist acts, trip cancellation, etc.

The company TravelGuard gets an A+ from the Better Business Bureau and is what AAA offers. I've never gotten travel insurance before, but there's a Sangha who has bough policies from them, which thankfully she has needed to use. Because of health issues, I will probably buy a policy from them.

Rick Steves' Do I Need Travel Insurance?

Prices in Cascais

Thanks to DavidB for this link:
Cost of Living in Cascais, Portugal
Scroll down to see prices for groceries, meals out, taxi, gas, etc.

Credit Card with Chip

It's a good idea when traveling in Europe to have a credit card with a chip (EMV) - there are some places that only take cards with chips.

When I looked into it, I found a bunch of banks that offer them. In fact, there are cards with chips that have no transaction fee for purchases abroad (usually banks charge 3% or more). 

Note that some cards with a chip use signatures, others PINs:

American travelers' 2012 guide to chip-and-PIN cards on Yahoo Finance

which has a link to American travelers' 2012 guide to chip-and-PIN cards on CreditCard.com

America’s Best EMV “Chip-with-Signature” Credit Cards on Nerdwallet

36 Top Credit Cards Without Foreign-Transaction Fees on Huffington Post (and mentions ones that also have a chip, as well as annual cost and other benefits)

P.S. The Seattle Times Travel section had a short article on May 26 by their editor who tried out a chip card in France. She says that some automated ticket machines in train stations, highway toll booths, gas stations in Europe only take the credit cards with chips. Overall, she says, "Having the card made life much easier" but notes that the Bank of America card she used is "not a true chip-and-pin card (and at least the bank isn’t calling it that any more, now referring to it as simply a chip card). It’s really a chip-and-signature card with the transaction supposedly verified by signing instead of punching in a PIN. That makes it much less secure than a real chip-and-pin credit card, and few merchants ever required a signature from me."

You may also want to read this article about Chip-and-PIN vs. Chip-and-Signature cards.