"We were hungry, and I cried for two days. I felt homeless in New York."

They had saved for a whole year to pre-pay for flights and hotels, with enough cash left for both necessities and pleasures. Two Greek banks issued them cards before the trip — a Visa credit card and a debit card. In Greece, they generally pay in cash, which is preferred by businesses, but they were told to have cards for the U.S.

“Everything was all right — then ‘boom!’ in New York,” Limnioti said.

Their midtown Manhattan hotel asked them to pay a $45 surcharge. That’s when their cards bounced. They paid with their dwindling funds.

Within days, the couple ran out of cash and “we couldn’t withdraw any money — zero,” Limnioti said.