Cheap Travel Money Discussion Area

John_Pierpoint

KTF wrote: »

Most ATMS wont charge you to take money out so the only 'charge' will be the cash advance interest that you will get charged by the Halifax.

Just as in this country don't assume that ATM's in garages, shopping centres and 7-11 type stores will be free of a withdrawal charge.

I'm not sure of your list of countries but even large banks might have programmed their ATM System to recognise a foreign card (or someone pressing the "English" button ?) and have a go at charging a dollar a transaction plus "dynamic currency conversion" with or without telling you in advance.

park_gate

stilltheone wrote: »

I'm bored of telling people to get a Sterling Card. They just seem slow to learn. The term 'free ATM withdrawals' attracts them like flies. Not unlike the term 'commission free' a few years ago(that one is still pulling them in).

Does the £3-00 ATM fee + 2.99% of amount drawn make this a card from hell?

Terry

adindas

kaspani;
Your case is slightly different with the cases in this thread as it is not travel money, but you need the convenience and less expensive way of moving money between the two accounts in two different countries e.g. in the UK and FR.

There are an open ended possibilities which depends on your circumstance such as how often you need the money in both countries, it is just for one transfer or many transfers, the sum of money you are likely to move. If you are talking about £5000 or above it will be significantly different in case it is just a few hundred pounds, etc. ...

The solution might be to use Fx Broker, Using City Banks in both countries, etc, inter banks transfers, etc. There are an open ended possibilities ...

Martin's has produced a great article which I believe will answer your question and make you able to make an informed decision. Just in case you have not read it, it is available here.

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/banking/foreign-currency-exchange

Happy reading ....

kaspani wrote: »

Dear Forumites,

I have a question re: changing Euros back into Pounds and I need your advice. (If this is posted in the wrong forum please advise)

My situation is, I have been working in paris for the last 6 months and have been paid in Euros into my French bank account. At the end of the month I will return back to the UK. I will close my french euro account and transfer all my money into my UK (GBP) account.

My questions to you all are; 1) Is this the right thing to do? 2) Is there a better thing to do in order to maximise my bank balance?

Obviously in France I can take out my Euros just like we all do with GBP on the UK highstreet, ie. at no exchange rate charge. It is my thinking that there must be some (legal) way of maximising the value of these Euros. Either by transferring directly to my UK account. Or by withdrawing a few 100 Euros and keeping them for a future trip to Europe (if the rate is going to get worse for GBP) or whether there is some other way.

I look forward to your thoughts and thanks in advance.

Cheers,

KD

dzug1

Pete_Skinner wrote: »

Thanks dzug1.I have the Halifax clarity card & will visit USA, The Cook Islands, NZ, China & Hong Kong.So can i only avoid charges by using the right ATMs?

In the US most ATMs will charge you a small amount - as they would a local withdrawing cash. It's because they charge, not because you are foreign. I've no detailed knowledge of your other destinations.

It would be the same whatever card you use.

stilltheone

park_gate wrote: »

Does the £3-00 ATM fee + 2.99% of amount drawn make this a card from hell?

Terry

I haven't the foggiest idea as to what you are referring? Is there a missing link?

dzug1

stilltheone wrote: »

I haven't the foggiest idea as to what you are referring? Is there a missing link?

I suspect he's referring to a particular card and making the illogical conclusion that all cards are the same.

Which card - not a clue.

stilltheone

dzug1 wrote: »

I suspect he's referring to a particular card and making the illogical conclusion that all cards are the same.

Which card - not a clue.

The closest to his description is the Neteller Sterling Card at £3 and 2.95%.

abandonded

Off to Florida in a couple of weeks and am thinking of taking £1000 of $s in cash and perhaps another £3000 in another form.
a) Where I get the best exchange rate today for the cash, and;
b)in what form should I take the rest of the spending money?

dzug1

abandonded wrote: »

Off to Florida in a couple of weeks and am thinking of taking £1000 of $s in cash and perhaps another £3000 in another form.
a) Where I get the best exchange rate today for the cash, and;
b)in what form should I take the rest of the spending money?

http://travelmoney.moneysavingexpert.com/ will tell you all you need to know.

yellowfolder

Hi,
I'm abroad at the moment and have brought with me a Halifax Clarity card and one of the "bad" debit cards (which I use at home). I need to withdraw some cash but unfortunately I got allocated the higher interest for my Halifax Clarity card (21.9%). Does this mean that I will get charged 21.9% of the value of my withdrawal per day until I pay it off ie. £21.90 per £100 withdrawn?

Thanks