<p>My 20 year old son will be backpacking solo for 2 months in Europe this summer. He will be taking a debit card. My question is - What do we do if he loses his debit card. We don’t want him to have a credit card (believe me) and we don’t know how to tide him over until he can get a replacement. I understand it could take 2 weeks to replace and I’m not sure how it would get to him. I’m sure some of you have had plans in place before. What did you do? Should we just send him with lots of traveler’s checks but only have him use them for emergencies?</p>
<p>He could be wired money through Western Union or something. It’s costly and generally only done in emergencies.</p>
<p>You can purchase prepaid cards…specific value. Buy at any drugstore!!</p>
<p>I think it’s a good idea to have 2 debit cards, on different accounts, in Europe. The reason is the same as here - sometimes the machines eat the cards, and the banks are closed.</p>
<p>Can he split his money into two accounts?</p>
<p>I don’t think the prepaid cards can be used at ATM’s and if they are stolen you are out of luck. Am I wrong?</p>
<p>I second Weenie’s comments. My S was backpacking in Europe this summer and an ATM machine in Greece ate his card up. He did not have a second debit card but somehow his travelling buddy helped him out. Also, take your card out of the machine ASAP – S was inspecting new type of paper money and left his in longer than usual.</p>
<p>Call your banker. You can put any amount on a credit card–$250. Establish a joint credit card (one for him one for you) with instructions that he is not to use it unless it is an emergency–track the use on the internet. </p>
<p>If he gets into trouble, he can draw cash off that card (mind you, it is $7 per draw). If he needs more than $250–you can put funds in via internet overnight–free of charge.</p>
<p>Prepaid you can report stolen just as any other card. Photocopy or just record the numbers…
<a href=“https://www.aaamyaccount.com/index.cfm[/url]”>https://www.aaamyaccount.com/index.cfm</a></p>
<p><a href=“https://www.aaamyaccount.com/index.cfm?pageid=g02_cp&CFID=1&CFTOKEN=408C54D229CE01F1E706F2BEBCE1D70E&CFSEQ=2[/url]”>https://www.aaamyaccount.com/index.cfm?pageid=g02_cp&CFID=1&CFTOKEN=408C54D229CE01F1E706F2BEBCE1D70E&CFSEQ=2</a></p>
<p>I’ve sent boys travelling without credit cards and it is a mistake. True emergencies require substantial cash.</p>
<p>Even the thickest boy (mine included) understands the message that he must not use it for his expenses–or else.</p>
<p>My youngest has his card on his internet banking site and he can transfer HIS funds over at will. That works well too.</p>
<p>Firstly I am just responding to the OPs request for info. Secondly, I hear what you are saying and yet it almost sounds as if you mean to say: no big bux=NO TRAVEL</p>
<p>Nice if you can arrange it.</p>
<p>Thanks hazmat. One of those cards you linked to can be loaded remotely with up to $10,000, so I could give him an emergency card with $250 on it and put more on it in case of emergency. I could even keep an extra one at home and get that to him if all else fails. That sounds just right. I understand what Cheers is saying. A medical emergency could get tricky - but I think this prepaid card would take care of it.</p>
<p>Thanks for the howdy, I hope your son has a wonderful journey…and you know, we all learn as we go along. Great to have folks who watch out for us during that learning curve. Life is an adventure. Totally gotta get out there and take hold. Best of luck.</p>
<p>for lurkers: SOS Philly is also a thing to consider.</p>
<p>I guess you’ve already looked into medical travel insurance with evacuation coverage (but mentioning it, just in case, since you brought up medical emergenices).</p>
<p>Cross post and great minds thinking alike? hehehe I did put a little mention and most service companies also help with many more things than medical.</p>
<p>If your son can’t handle a credit card, do you think he handle backpacking alone in Europe?</p>
<p>I don’t mean to be rude. I just agree with some of the above posters that a credit card is the most useful.</p>
<p>MallomarCookie</p>
<p>I think what you meant to say is, “Since you trust your son enough to go to Europe, he will probably be fine with a credit card.”</p>
<p>That way you wouldn’t have to say that you don’t mean to be rude, because you wouldn’t be.</p>
<p>And I can’t handle etiquette ;)</p>
<p>Nice answer MallomarCookie! (Of course you know I am worried already about his trip alone - that’s a whole different issue. I will concentrate on the more easily solved issue.)</p>
<p>Everyone has been really helpful and I thank you all so much.
I know everyone has different opinions about students and credit cards, but maybe another thread dedicated to that would be best.</p>
<p>Something else to consider: ask your kids to check the expiration dates on their debit and credit cards. My D was studying in Beijing last summer when replacement cards for her accounts magically appeared in my mailbox (she still uses our address as her address of record). She hadn’t thought to check the cards’ expiration dates, and they expired in the middle of summer term. </p>
<p>She spent a couple days without being able to access her accounts. After some creative scheming, I FedExed her the replacement cards and then activated them from our phone of record after she emailed that she had them in her possession. There may have been some other options, but I couldn’t figure out anything better (and faster) at the time.</p>
<p>In all fairness, it worried me more than it worried her. Beijing street food is (according to D) unbelievably delicious and astonishingly cheap.</p>
<p>I have mixed feelings on the credit card thing. OP should know her son best. </p>
<p>On the one hand, “when we were kids,” kids traveled all the time throughout Europe with CASH :eek: and, I assume, most made it back to tell about it. I don’t know, have things changed that much? Maybe.</p>
<p>On the other hand, my own kid travels with a credit card that is our account, but his name. He must get PRIOR approval for expenditures. He has lived with that. (If he didn’t I’d kill him. 
) Makes me feel better.</p>