Cheap Travel Money Discussion Area

park_gate

jamiejesus wrote: »

I had no time to get my money changed in England before I left, and now I´m here I have no cash! Cash machines baffle my head, with all these different charges and rubbish exchange rates, so I´m wondering what my best option for getting some Euros in cash is. I´m currently in Lanzarote.

I have a Santander Visa Debit card and also a Santander Zero Credit card.

There is a shop that sells cigarettes and spirits that does currency exchange but I don´t know if they accept cards and whether to trust them!

All help is appreciated.

That's easy, got to a Santander Bank and use your Santander Debit card to draw cash from their ATM. You will get an excellent rate provided the UK Santander account is your main account and you draw in Euros (i.e. don't let the cash machine debit in GBP)

Use your zero CC to buy goods.

Terry

jamiejesus

Cheers for the reply. The Santander branch has a ´Telebanco´cash machine outside it - not sure if this is theirs as it isn´t Santander branded.

cepheus

Same when buying in the tobacco shop make sure you pay in Euros. I didn't say anything and was automatically charged in Sterling!

KTF

jamiejesus wrote: »

I had no time to get my money changed in England before I left, and now I´m here I have no cash! Cash machines baffle my head, with all these different charges and rubbish exchange rates, so I´m wondering what my best option for getting some Euros in cash is. I´m currently in Lanzarote.

I have a Santander Visa Debit card and also a Santander Zero Credit card.

There is a shop that sells cigarettes and spirits that does currency exchange but I don´t know if they accept cards and whether to trust them!

All help is appreciated.

How are the ATM baffling? Almost every single one will ask you what language you want then produce the number of Euros that you ask for?

As mentioned above, use your Santander debit card in a Santander machine or use your Zero card to take out cash from any machine to get the inter-bank rate and only pay the cash advance interest.

stphnstevey

Santander DEBIT card no fees now for using ATM's abroad?

park_gate

stphnstevey wrote: »

Santander DEBIT card no fees now for using ATM's abroad?

1. Only in Spain and you use a Spanish Santander ATM

2. Only if it is for your main account in the UK

3. Only if you select to be debited in Euros at the ATM

I think there might be a Santander Zero Debit card that is world wide but I don't have one so I can't comment on it and there will be terms and conditions you will need to check out.

Terry

park_gate

jamiejesus wrote: »

Cheers for the reply. The Santander branch has a ´Telebanco´cash machine outside it - not sure if this is theirs as it isn´t Santander branded.

"Telebano" is Spanish for "Cash Machine"

Put your card in and see if you get a Santander Welcome message on the ATM screen.

If not cancel the transaction and remove card.

Terry

stilltheone

What charges apply if I use a Santander Cash Machine in Spain?

All main adult current accounts (those which are credited with at least £1,000 per month) could benefit from free cash machine withdrawals in Spain. Simply use your Santander Debit Card in a Santander branded cash machine in Spain to receive the withdrawal fee free. This means: No Cash Handling Fee AND No Foreign Exchange Fee will be charged.

We will not charge you for using a cash machine abroad but the cash machine operator may make a charge. If you?re given the option of paying in local currency or sterling, please make sure you choose the local option. If you choose sterling, it means that the retailer or bank will handle the conversion and may charge you a conversion fee or a foreign usage fee (or both)

FAQ

stphnstevey

Want to use the Sainsburys credit card in the USA and been trying to think of a way around the ATM fees - wondering if I went inside a bank, would they let me withdraw cash on the credit card over the counter, therefore bypassing the ATM fee?

(PS-if you don't know, Sainsburys has no cash advance or interest charges if balance paid off in full by end of month)

stilltheone

stphnstevey wrote: »

Want to use the Sainsburys credit card in the USA and been trying to think of a way around the ATM fees - wondering if I went inside a bank, would they let me withdraw cash on the credit card over the counter, therefore bypassing the ATM fee?

(PS-if you don't know, Sainsburys has no cash advance or interest charges if balance paid off in full by end of month)

Ask Sainsburys if they charge extra for this kind of transaction. The rate that you receive might be the bank's rate rather than the VISA/MasterCard rate.