Cheap Travel Money Discussion Area

seddongal

Just passing on some information

My metro bank debit card was accepted in ATMs in Switzerland, China and Thailand with no problems. I did inform them of where I was going.

I am now going to close my nationwide accounts!

fazza_2

Hi all,

Been wading through all the info on worldwide cards and completely bamboozled myself! Is the Travelex passport the cheapest way of taking a card & accessing cash? Or would I be better going for the Sainsburys card and cancelling when I return? Does anyone have any experience of either of these?

For obvious reasons, I don't want to be carrying large amounts of cash or t/cheques but will need access to both cash and credit cards whilst there. Any info gratefully received whilst I head into the kitchen to make a brew and use the teabags in a darkened room!!!! :cool:

Thanks

Nessie23

fazza wrote: »

Hi all,
Is the Travelex passport the cheapest way of taking a card & accessing cash? Or would I be better going for the Sainsburys card and cancelling when I return? Does anyone have any experience of either of these?
Thanks

Hi Fazza, here go a few options.

No fee Debit cards (for withdrawing money out of ATMs):

1. Metro Bank debit card
2. Cumberland Building Society (provided you are within their catchment area)
3. Norwich and Peterborough Building Society (From Jan. 2011)

No fee Credit cards for purchasing

1. Halifax Clarity*
2. Santander Zero*
3. Post Office

*Can be used for withdrawing money at ATMS, no cash advance fee charged, however you will have to pay interest on the money withdrawn typically between 1-2% per month.

The Sainsbury's credit card is good in terms of having no fees for both purchases and cash withdrawals, however they do have the £5 per month fee. I would only consider using it if the travel insurance included was any good (and cost effective) for you.

I have used Metro bank, Post Office and Santander cards abroad with no problems.
Haven't used the pre-paid cards so I will leave it to others who know more about them to comment.

Finally I am assuming you have seen MSE's article on travel money, but if not it is worth a quick read http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/travel/cheap-travel-money?dd

Nessie

leew

Does anyone know how to pay off a Post Office credit card online? i used to do it in branch but i'd like to save the hassle.

The PO website is the worst i've ever seen! you can't do anything on it once logged in except view transactions and then there is no detail to that!! shocking.

I will be using it in the States from tomorrow.

Baldur

leew wrote: »

Does anyone know how to pay off a Post Office credit card online? i used to do it in branch but i'd like to save the hassle.

Tried calling them? - http://www.postoffice.co.uk/portal/po/content1?catId=34100665&mediaId=34300678#19700229

Who can I call for assistance?

fatducks

I am soon going to France; for my visits I have previously used the Nationwide Debit card - which I obviously wont be doing this time. All I need to do is get cash in Euros whilst I'm there. What is the cheapest method of doing this from ATMs please - can anybody help me? I have read all the threads and Martins tips but am still confused:exclamati

Baldur

fatducks wrote: »

I am soon going to France; for my visits I have previously used the Nationwide Debit card - which I obviously wont be doing this time. All I need to do is get cash in Euros whilst I'm there. What is the cheapest method of doing this from ATMs please - can anybody help me? I have read all the threads and Martins tips but am still confused:exclamati

I've replaced my Flex account VISA Debit Card with Metro Bank's Mastercard Debit Card, which offers essentially the same as Nationwide used to prior to November 1st (Mastercard rate with no loading/fee).

If you live within their branch area, Cumberland building society offers free Debit Card & ATM use worldwide also Norwich & Peterborough Building Society will be offering the same from 1st January on their Gold Classic & Gold Light accounts.

Losinmoney

Spending in Egypt

Just got back from Egypt, and posting this in case it helps anyone. Might not be the keenest moneysave, but it's what I did. I was in Cairo, Alexandria, Mersah Matruh, Aswan, Luxor and a Nile cruise.

Cash - I changed £100 into Egyptian pounds at M&S, before leaving the UK. I then changed more sterling into Egyptian pounds out there, at the hotel, at a better rate than you can get in the UK. Sellers just wouldn't take sterling at all out there, but they love US Dollars! Next time, I'm taking some, which I will change over here when I see a decent rate. US$100 would be a good emergency fund I reckon.

Cards - could not get a new credit card in time, so tried my Nationwide Gold card. It worked once, with the PIN number, but next time I presented it, with a signature, it was declined! despite my having rung Nationwide (on an 0870 number!) before leaving with my dates and destination details. I couldn't be bothered to ring them again from Egypt. So it was back to good old Natwest, my trusty Mastercard, which charges more but at least was usable to pay for food and drink in the remaining 4 places, in restaurants and on the cruise boat.

Think I should have taken my Fairfx card with me, and withdrawn cash at ATMs. Anyone on here done this?

CountryGoose

seddongal wrote: »

.

I am now going to close my nationwide accounts!

Oh no. For more inconvenient to leave them open with 10p in. Or a monthly transfer in/out of £1......

fazza_2

Nessie23 wrote: »

Hi Fazza, here go a few options.

No fee Debit cards (for withdrawing money out of ATMs):

1. Metro Bank debit card
2. Cumberland Building Society (provided you are within their catchment area)
3. Norwich and Peterborough Building Society (From Jan. 2011)

No fee Credit cards for purchasing

1. Halifax Clarity*
2. Santander Zero*
3. Post Office

*Can be used for withdrawing money at ATMS, no cash advance fee charged, however you will have to pay interest on the money withdrawn typically between 1-2% per month.

The Sainsbury's credit card is good in terms of having no fees for both purchases and cash withdrawals, however they do have the £5 per month fee. I would only consider using it if the travel insurance included was any good (and cost effective) for you.

I have used Metro bank, Post Office and Santander cards abroad with no problems.
Haven't used the pre-paid cards so I will leave it to others who know more about them to comment.

Finally I am assuming you have seen MSE's article on travel money, but if not it is worth a quick read
Nessie

Hi Nessie,

Many thanks for this, especially the c card info as it's a lot less when you break the apr down like that. I've looked at metro and cumberland (i'm travelling beginning dec so the other one isnt an option unfortunately). I am out of the area for cumberland, is metro only available to londoners?

thanks again!:)