Cheap Travel Money Discussion Area

adindas

Try to have a look on this discussion Thread.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2813452

ADINDAS

dungey1 wrote: »

With regards to the Nationwide Flexaccount:

We have a property and a bank account in France. For the past year, I have put money in the Flexaccount on a weekly basis (£100 or so) and used the card in France and taken cash from the machine at our French bank to top that account up....good exchange rate and no charge.

There's never more than about £500 or so to transfer so not enough to use a money transfer company (we did this originally when we bought the house).

I am able to take out £300 a time which I have worked out is going to cost me £7 from November.

I have looked at all sorts of alternatives, but nothing seems to be suitable, I know £7 isn't much however, I am not happy that Nationwide have made the changes and would be happy to change if I could find somewhere else. ANY IDEAS ?

sjb2016

Hi everyone,

I'm taking the family on the old jet propelled sleigh to see Grandma in the States for Thanksgiving. I think I'm going to get a FairFX card. Although I'll probably use the card for most things, I would like to be able to get cash out for free using the cashback facility that Wal-Mart and many other retailers offer. On my US debit cards, cash back was treated like a purchased item, so never any fee. I'm wondering if the same applies to the FairFX card. This way, I could buy something and then get up to $50 cash without having to pay the $2 ATM fee to FairFX. Has anyone tried this?

Cheers,
Sam

CountryGoose

sjb2016 wrote: »

Hi everyone,

I'm taking the family on the old jet propelled sleigh to see Grandma in the States for Thanksgiving. I think I'm going to get a FairFX card. Although I'll probably use the card for most things, I would like to be able to get cash out for free using the cashback facility that Wal-Mart and many other retailers offer. On my US debit cards, cash back was treated like a purchased item, so never any fee. I'm wondering if the same applies to the FairFX card. This way, I could buy something and then get up to $50 cash without having to pay the $2 ATM fee to FairFX. Has anyone tried this?

Cheers,
Sam

That should work, though you will still pay the 1.5% loading on the card.

Aren't most of the ATMs in Walmart free anyway?

sjb2016

Hi CountryGoose,

What loading fee are you talking about? My understanding is that it's free to load Pounds (that get converted to US dollars, as it's a dollar card), and there is no fee to purchase things in the shops. The only fee would be getting the money off the card back in the UK or withdrawing from an ATM in the US ($2 a pop).

In regards to Wal-Mart cash machines, I think it's a mixed bag. The one at the closest Wal-Mart to Grandma's is free for that bank's customers only (At least how it used to be).

CountryGoose

sjb2016 wrote: »

Hi CountryGoose,

What loading fee are you talking about? My understanding is that it's free to load Pounds (that get converted to US dollars, as it's a dollar card), and there is no fee to purchase things in the shops. The only fee would be getting the money off the card back in the UK or withdrawing from an ATM in the US ($2 a pop).

In regards to Wal-Mart cash machines, I think it's a mixed bag. The one at the closest Wal-Mart to Grandma's is free for that bank's customers only (At least how it used to be).

I see the confusion. I was talking about the exchange rate loading and didn't make myself clear. There's no fee to load money on the card, but there is a 1.5% commission fee for any spend - ATM, or over the counter in the shops. The £ is converted to $ on the day of spend.

Generally, you're better off using a cheap credit card for spending (Clarity, etc,) as they do not charge a commission or add to (load) the exchange rate.

Losinmoney

Does anyone know the best way to spend in Egypt after 1 Nov, when Nationwide debit card's advantages have gone? I need spending money, which I could change here, then top up with Natwest debit card? And money for trips/ excursions, which I could put on credit card - is the Nationwide one better than Natwest mastercard one still?

Nessie23

Losinmoney wrote: »

Does anyone know the best way to spend in Egypt after 1 Nov, when Nationwide debit card's advantages have gone? I need spending money, which I could change here, then top up with Natwest debit card? And money for trips/ excursions, which I could put on credit card - is the Nationwide one better than Natwest mastercard one still?

Hi, for spending on the credit card you have three main alternatives (with no loading on the credit card):
1. Santander Zero
2. Post Office Credit Card
3. Halifax Clarity

For withdrawing money out the main debit card I can think of is Metro Bank. Exchange rate on Metro Bank debit card is very similar to Nationwide prior to the 1st November hike.

You can also consider the Halifax credit card for withdrawing cash, as it has no cash withdrawal fee, but it will charge interest on the money withdrawn, typically 1.2% per month. There have been many discussions on this and other threads about paying into the account as soon as the transaction shows to minimise interest payments - worth having a look.

Can't comment much on pre-pay cards as I haven't used them. Check MSE's article http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/travel/cheap-travel-money?dd

:cool:

Robinhood

I'm off to to New Zealand after Christmas and was wondering what's best for spending out there. Last time, nearly 3 years ago, I used my Nationwide Credit Card along with their Flex Account Debit Card for cash withdrawals. That's what I was planning to do again until I read about the hike in overseas charges!

jonesjw

Has anyone successfully made cash withdrawals with a Halifax Clarity or Santander Zero AND THEN PAID THE BALANCE OFF WITHIN A FEW DAYS & ONLY BEEN CHARGED A FEW DAYS INTEREST ? (Rather than a whole month's interest?) I know this should be possible in theory, but has anyone done it & proved there are no problems.
Also, Halifax offer 3 different rates. I have significant savings invested with the Halifax, but am the type of customer who always pays the credit card off in full, so they won't make much money out of my credit card. Am I likely to be offered their lowest interest rate?

adindas

1. Yes I have done that with Santander Zero. I have Halifax Clarity Card but have not tried it this way.

2. I am in the same boat with you. I got 12.9 APR and £4800. Credit limits.

Hope this will clear your doubt

ADINDAS

jonesjw wrote: »

1. Has anyone successfully made cash withdrawals with a Halifax Clarity or Santander Zero AND THEN PAID THE BALANCE OFF WITHIN A FEW DAYS & ONLY BEEN CHARGED A FEW DAYS INTEREST ? (Rather than a whole month's interest?)

2. Also, Halifax offer 3 different rates. I have significant savings invested with the Halifax, but am the type of customer who always pays the credit card off in full, so they won't make much money out of my credit card. Am I likely to be offered their lowest interest rate?