travel money/ how much spending -clueless!

Prudent

I haven't had a holiday abroad since 2001 (other than visting parents when I simply transfered my spending money to my dad's cypriot bank account) and haven't a clue about travel money.

I am going to Majorca on saturday with my daughter. I have a lloyds tsb debit card - can I use this in machines there?

I want to take some money for the first day or two in Euros and then am really looking for advice. Are travellers cheques still a good way of taking it? How does that compare cost wise to using a debit card?


I also don't really know how much to take. We are self catering, and do enjoy sitting on becah, but also love to get out and about and see some of the island/do some water sports/ dd wants to go horse riding. I think we will eat either lunch or dinner out most days depending on veggie choices, although don't mind cooking either.

Prudent

bump ...anyone?

Incapuppy

Travel money advice here:

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/travel/cheap-travel-money

davetrousers

It will cost you to withdraw cash using your Llodys TSB card. Your best bet would have been to get a Nationwide account (as they don't charge), but you haven't got time for that now.

I would take some cash (up to 200 Euros maybe) and maybe some travellers cheques. Don't buy from the Post Office as their rates are rubbish and be warned that sometimes paying by debit card to buy travellers cheques may also incur a fee!

There are lots of threads about changing currency so why not have a quick search.

debs66_2

davetrousers wrote: »

Don't buy from the Post Office as their rates are rubbish .

i'm surprised by this comment. having checked the dollar rates recently between Tesco.com, M&S and the Post Office, they were right up there. The only reason i went with M&S was because we have their &More credit card and they don't charge a fee to use it for cash withdrawals if you get travel money at their bureaux.

The Post Office rate was slightly better out of all 3 on monday when i bought.

davetrousers

debs66 wrote: »

i'm surprised by this comment. having checked the dollar rates recently between Tesco.com, M&S and the Post Office, they were right up there. The only reason i went with M&S was because we have their &More credit card and they don't charge a fee to use it for cash withdrawals if you get travel money at their bureaux.

Fair comment, I suppose I said it because there seems to be an assumption that the PO give the best rates. I guess I should have really said to shop around for the best rates.

vicshippers

We have just come back from a week in Egypt and we spent £300 (for me and my boyfriend) it's about the same pricing wise as Majorca. I would say £300 as a maximum....

Hope this helps x

Prudent

Lots of replies, thanks everyone

I was thinking of taking 200 euros initially plus extra in either card/ or travellers cheques.

hammy_the_hammer

how on earth can you advise someone you don't know about how much spending money to take ?
do you want to eat in burger king or a nice fish restaurant?
do you drink 3 diet cokes or half a bottle of baileys in a bar at night?
do you get taxis or local buses/walk ?
do you hire sunbeds or use a towel on the beach ?

on a side note i can confirm that relatively speaking prices have shot up since last year in Spain