General Info

[Wanking]

I don't read the FKK forum very often but I do remember Basketcase being a major contributor. Now it appears he hasn't posted anything since last April. Wonder why? Retired from the hobby? Broke? Met a regular girl? Anyone?

I tried to send him a Pm and it appears his mailbox is full.

[Mike De H]

I can say that every withdrawl I've made using the schwab debit card, the exchange rate has been spot on to

The closing number. I've checked the following day numerous times and its always been within a dollar.

I can state with full confidence that wether you use a debit card, VISA credit card (alternative credit card brands available) or prepaid VISA and MASTERCARD then the exchange rate is always at the interbank rate.

There is a "spread" or "buy and sell rate" that anything traded, like shares bonds or currency, have. Therefore a card is always cheaper than any money changing institution which will never give you a good rate.

To explain, the spread may be as much as a 30% penalty when you exchange in a touristic exchange place, especially in mainland Europe. (Volksbank is about the best you will get in Germany). Some places also charge a "Comission" which is not very much and usually in line with the comissions (or cash handling fees) usually charged by credit cards.

Now the confusion arises withthe "card handling fee" which is nearly always on credit cards and some prepaid credit cards. The "Euro" and "Dollar" card with some prepaid card providers like the escellent prepaid plus forgoe this, but the only way of loading up the card is from your own native currency account. There IS a spread on that and it is often quite bad (but of course there is no handling fee at the ATM).

On Credit cards this fee is typically 3. 5 or 3. 75% but can vary. As such, it is much better than the typical spread at a Bureao De Change. You will pay €9 on every two hundred you take out but will get the exact fair exchange rate of the market on that precise day. That will usually be less than the spread and "Comission" that an exchange gives you. The best exchanges tend to be "Kantour" on the Polich / German borders in terms of competition.

RECAP:

EXCHANGE TYPE_________________COMISSIONS______________ EXCHANGE RATE.

Credit Card approx. ______________ 3. 75% ___________________Interbank Rate (best possible rate)

Prepaid Card (native) _____________ approx 3. 5/3. 75% ________Interbank Rate (best Possible rate)

Prepaid Card (EuroCard) ___________ none ____________________Buy / Sell Spread (10 to 30% average but varies)

Debit Card_______________________none____________________Interbank Rate (best possible all round deal)

Bureao De Change (cash) ___________0 to 5%__________________Buy / Sell Spread (10 to 30% average but varies)

Banks _________________________0 to 5%___________________Buy / Sell Spread (tends to be less than Bureao's)

[Jerboa]

I'm looking into getting a Western Union type prepaid Mastercard debit card to use on my next trip. Does anyone have any experience using them at ATMs in Germany?

My web searches haven't been leading me to much info.

Thanks,

Boomer

Depends If the card Is free to withdraw In Germany, I'm from the UK and I have a Fairfx €uro pre paid mastercard, I can load It up online, no ATMs fees In €urozone, and good exchange rate, also no card fees If I book Ryan Air.

[Capt Dan]

I can also verify Ortos's and Radler's comments (below) to be accurate. I would also suggest that past differences should be put aside and all who want to post on this board should be permitted to do so without constant provocation and with a degree of tolerance. Obviously this statement does not apply either to Radler or anyone else of my acquaintance who (for reasons which have been well explained) are happy and content to no longer participate in this forum. However one has to wonder why the names of past members are constantly raised in an obsessive manner (and not by friends / acquaintances) when these same members have been gone from this board for months or even years. It seems ridicules to me that English speaking guys who are either resident in Germany or who travel long distances to Germany, should be on such bad terms if they accidentally meet in an FKK / Sauna club. I thought that by now such differences would have been long forgotten about or at least put aside so that things do not get out of hand. I had hoped that these issues could have been sorted out over a few beers in FKK Oase or FKK World and I did (at one time) make some efforts towards this goal, but to no avail. Personally I'd like to see all this arguing stop, but I guess that the more infrequent visitors to Germany with little better to do, find it more fun to fill up their day in argument on ISG. Surely by now any rational board member has had their fill of arguments and perhaps a period of quiet should become the order of the day. Perhaps then we could all work towards making this forum a better place and consequently get a little bit more enjoyment out of this board. I certainly am more than willing to go beyond half way to achieve this purpose.

Now, I'd like to lead everyone in a verse of kumbaya!
Well, perhaps not just yet.

CD

[Ortos]

I received a pm and have to agree, Eklick Loreen's name has never come up in any comments about Basketcase's or Mark Thomas's departures. I looked myself and sure enough, there's been no bashing of EL since he left the board. And to even list EL's name alongside the legendary status of Sir Basketcase and his companion Mark Thomas is like replacing Curly of the Three Stooges with Shemp. So bash away ohhh Methuser, I'll keep up the puns as long as these fingers can keep a typing. 1055, useless posts and counting. Yuck, yuck, yuck, yuck. Wise guy.

I've moved this to the General Area, for obvious (intelligent?) reasons.

When one of our dear provacative posters started ranting and raving about Methuzala being the long-departed EL, I thought to myself: This guy is either completely delusional or simply a giant Fool. Because, by chance I happened to be in email contact with the real EL, who, again by chance was on a multi-hour airplane flight over Asia and the Pacific (I. E. No access to Internet!) at the exact time that Methuzula was posting. So I knew it was impossible from a physical standpoint that it was EL, and I knew EL had finished with this board more than a year ago. So I couldn't beleive this guy was still ranting and raving about it being my friend EL.

So just for a laugh I sent EL an email about all this and he actually looked in on the Oase thread for a brief moment and sent me the following, which I hope will end this idiotic discussion once and for all:

If you could be so kind as to post this in the Oase thread un-edited I would appreciate it:

Hi all,

Ekliges Lauern / Radler here. It may surprise some of you but I actually don't visit this board anymore. I did have a quick look around when O sent me an email and it looks like nothing much has changed. Same arguments from a couple years ago still going on.

For the record, the reasons I left the board had more to do with a dispute with management of the board and less to do with some of the more antagonistic posters here. O knows the story and can back me up on this. There is a "no grand goodbye" rule on ISG and I wanted to respect board rules so I never explained why I left.

Other reason I do not visit here or much care is I'm spending less and less time in Germany and more and more time in Thailand. Just got back from a brilliant 4 week holiday in Thailand. I'm out there writing trip reports about Thailand, but not on ISG. Board rules prevent me from having O post where I am writing now. Just finished a detailed guide to photographing Thai girls that I will be posting on another board later today. But I digress.

People move on and it is not healthy to obsess over posters who move on.

Happy mongering all,

Radler

[Jymondor]

I can say that every withdrawl

That's why I a prefer old-fashion way. I buy Euros in my bank branch or in Money Mart. Exchange rate is better than on prepaid cards or in Airports. Not convenient but no surprises either. Prepaid card is for car rental and hotel bookings only.

[Breadman]

But I am not happy with exchange rate.

I can say that every withdrawl I've made using the schwab debit card, the exchange rate has been spot on to the closing number. I've checked the following day numerous times and its always been within a dollar.

[Boomer10]

I use prepaid Titanium VISA I got from MoneyMart with no problem. But I am not happy with exchange rate.

Thanks. From Breadman's suggestion, the Schwab's card seems like an option with good points. I'll see if it makes sense for me.

[Jymondor]

I'm looking into getting a Western Union type prepaid Mastercard debit card to use on my next trip. Does anyone have any experience using them at ATMs in Germany?

I use prepaid Titanium VISA I got from MoneyMart with no problem. But I am not happy with exchange rate.

[Boomer10]

Ask yourself this, how much in fee's do you pay to use one of those cards at home? They aren't free and those atm and monthly use fee's add up quickly. Take that over to Germany and watch your balance fly south with foreign transaction fee's added to an already high fee structure. Do yourself a favor, sign up for a Charles Schwab debit card, send them the cash and then use that debit card in Germany. No foreign transaction fee's and they refund the atm fee's at the end of the month.

Thanks for the info, too late for me to do this trip but I'll contact Schwab when I get back.

[Breadman]

I'm looking into getting a Western Union type prepaid Mastercard debit card to use on my next trip. Does anyone have any experience using them at ATMs in Germany?

My web searches haven't been leading me to much info.

Thanks,

Boomer

Ask yourself this, how much in fee's do you pay to use one of those cards at home? They aren't free and those atm and monthly use fee's add up quickly. Take that over to Germany and watch your balance fly south with foreign transaction fee's added to an already high fee structure. Do yourself a favor, sign up for a Charles Schwab debit card, send them the cash and then use that debit card in Germany. No foreign transaction fee's and they refund the atm fee's at the end of the month.

[Boomer10]

I'm looking into getting a Western Union type prepaid Mastercard debit card to use on my next trip. Does anyone have any experience using them at ATMs in Germany?

My web searches haven't been leading me to much info.

Thanks,

Boomer

[Varenne]

I am expecting to be in NRW during my birthday. Are there any other NRW clubs that have special deals for birthdays?

Villa Silvana

Mentions in it's home page a gift (surprise) for customers having birthday. No idea what the gift might be, I have no information about the club either.

[Mike De H]

The BBC reports:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-14730704

Street Walkers now have to pay on a meter (like a parking meter) whic his a fixed rate tax. The Girls in the FKK's have to pay it but the girls on the street don't (until now).

They say it "evens things up"

[London Traveller]

I'll be in Frankfurt for 24 hrs on Friday sep 16. I was planning on Oase, but now noticed there is the IAA Frankfurt car show sep 15-25. Will the Frankfurt FKK clubs be very crowded? Is it recommended to avoid and go somewhere nearby or may be take the train to cologne? The only FKK I've been to is Artemis.

Thanks

If you get there in the afternoon you may well have a great selection of girls before the crowds arrive!