Cheap Travel Money Discussion Area

TakeThis

The_Shiners wrote: »

We're going to USA, Australia and New Zealand. Already got Halifax Clarity card but am looking to get a Sterling pre-paid Global card as back up. The Caxton fx is high up the 'best buy' list but it charges a 2.75% mark up on each transaction. The Escape travel money card doesn't charge for shop or ATM use, does anyone know if there is a catch here? Do they give a less favourable exchange rate?
Also in the small print of the Caxton card, it says it is not protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme.

Yes.

The best Sterling cards are already listed on this page. Little need to ask the question.

The_Shiners

Fair enough but does the mark up negate the difference in exchange rate? ie. £8.25 for a £300 purchase.

dzug1

Escape's exchange rates don't look particularly good - marginally better than say the Post Office whose rates aren't that good.

In general these prepaid cards are not protected by any compensation scheme

TakeThis

The_Shiners wrote: »

Fair enough but does the mark up negate the difference in exchange rate? ie. £8.25 for a £300 purchase.

Did you understand my post at all? Kalixa is free until the 14th. No mark up on purchases whatsoever.
Top up via Bank Transfer.

The_Shiners

I came on here for advice, not to be given abuse!!

The Kalixa card charges for ATM withdrawals. We're on holiday for 1 year, that's going to be a lot of £2.25's.

TakeThis wrote: »

The best Sterling cards are already listed on this page.

I might be looking in the wrong place, could you supply a link please?

TakeThis

The_Shiners wrote: »

I came on here for advice, not to be given abuse!!

The Kalixa card charges for ATM withdrawals. We're on holiday for 1 year, that's going to be a lot of £2.25's.



I might be looking in the wrong place, could you supply a link please?

You are being given the best advice, you just appear to ever so slightly blind to it.

Since you appear unable to work it out for yourself, let me couch it in simple terms.

Caxton Global: 2.75% across the board. £200 withdrawal or spend; £5.50 in (hidden)fees.

Escape Travel: Pay £9.99 for the card and lose 2 to 3% on the exchange rate. £200 withdrawal or spend; £4 to £6 in (hidden)fees.

Kalixa: No charge on purchases and a £2.25 ATM fee. £200 spend; no fees. £200 withdrawal; £2.25.

Cash Passport Globe: £200 spend or purchase; £2.98. Can be brought down to £1.98 on initial load by purchasing card via Cashback website.

Get it now?

We are being helpful, but don't like to insult people's intelligence by spelling it out unnecessarily.

The links are in post #1783.

dzug1

The_Shiners wrote: »

I came on here for advice, not to be given abuse!!

The Kalixa card charges for ATM withdrawals. We're on holiday for 1 year, that's going to be a lot of £2.25's.

And it's a lot of 2.75% or so exchange rate reductions on the majority of cards

The_Shiners

TakeThis, you beat me to it. I was in the process of typing to ask for a full breakdown of prices. You've supplied exactly what I was after thank you.
I knew the fees that each card charged but it wasn't so simple to find their exchange rate.
Sorry it took such a long road for you to get what I was after, perhaps bear this in mind when someone else asks.

Many thanks again.

TakeThis

The_Shiners wrote: »

TakeThis, you beat me to it. I was in the process of typing to ask for a full breakdown of prices. You've supplied exactly what I was after thank you.
I knew the fees that each card charged but it wasn't so simple to find their exchange rate.
Sorry it took such a long road for you to get what I was after, perhaps bear this in mind when someone else asks.

Many thanks again.

Hopefully they'll find the breakdown.

Claremac

Would be grateful for some help here. We are going to Florida for 3 weeks in the summer and our current Credit Cards are not on the list of best buys so need a new one. I need to apply now as I need to book some things in Florida now. I was going to go for the Halifax Clarity when I realised (with horror!) that we now qualify for the Saga one - but only just. It looks as though it would be a better deal for us as you don't pay interest on cash withdrawals if we need them but everything else looks good as long as you pay off in full. The travel money link though says that there is an annual fee for the Saga one. I can't find any evidence of this though. Does anyone know please?

Also, my husband will have no problems getting a card but I don't earn enough. Would I be able to get a card on his account. All our finances are in joint names.