Cheap Travel Money Discussion Area

John_Pierpoint

Don't forget that only half the Clarity cards need to be issued with a 1% a month charge for credit for that boast to be made in the advertising.
Some are charging 2%.

AdamantUK

The warning to only ever pay in pounds, not euros is not entirely always the best advice.

For example when purchasing tobacco products in Belgium (especially in Adinkerke), then the price for tobacco is set by law as xx euros. However, to reduce prices, they offer stupidly good rates to pay in pounds - both on card and cash.

This means they can effectively "reduce" the price of their product without breaking the law and means it's very often best here to have them do the conversion and take from your card in sterling rather than euros!

John_Pierpoint

AdamantUK wrote: »

The warning to only ever pay in Euros , not pounds, is not entirely or always the best advice.

For example when purchasing tobacco products in Belgium (especially in Adinkerke), then the price for tobacco is set by law as xx euros. However, to reduce prices, they offer stupidly good rates to pay in pounds - both on card and cash.

This means they can effectively "reduce" the price of their product without breaking the law and means it's very often best here to have them do the conversion and take from your card in sterling rather than euros!

Beware the possibility of dynamic currency conversion if you pay in Sterling; though in this case they are probably buying the fags that they sell to UK citizens in GBP anyway.

Same probably applies to Majestic Wine Warehouses (aka Calais Beer and Wine) a bit further along, where you can pay with your UK cheque book. It is at the first turning to the right after turning North onto the motorway feeder road into the port.

[I have switched round Pounds and Euros above, as that makes sense to me, and I think it is what you meant?]

jago25_98

Is there any travel cards with FSA coverage should the company go bust and also able to add a second named user? Caxton isn't FSA covered

Aaron

jago25_98 wrote: »

Is there any travel cards with FSA coverage should the company go bust and also able to add a second named user? Caxton isn't FSA covered

What do you mean by "FSA coverage"? "Caxton FX currency cards are issued by R Raphael & Sons plc, pursuant to licence from Visa Europe. R Raphael & Sons plc is a UK Bank authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority"

ModernSlave

Looked up the rate for buying rands and saw Asda was offering a reasonable exchange. Put in my postcode and found nearest Asda store and have just visited and been told they don't keep cash on site and you have to buy a currency card. :mad:
I dont think they should appear on the list if they don't stock the physical cash...

61ackadd3r

My family and I are due to holiday in Turkey this year, what is the best method to use for your spending money whilst there. Various sites have differing opinions so making the correct choice is proving to be difficult.

Our travel operator advised taking as much in cash (turkish lira) as our holiday insurance will permit then loading any additional funds on a pre-paid travel card.

Some websites advise to take a credit card but this can be baffling due to the different things that you are charged for whilst abroad e.g cash withdrawals, transactions in shops/restaurants.

What would you recommend as the safest and most cost effective method to spend money in Turkey ensuring you get the best exchange rate available.

KTF

A Halifax Clarity credit card. You could even preload it to avoid the interest charge.

dzug1

ModernSlave wrote: »

Looked up the rate for buying rands and saw Asda was offering a reasonable exchange. Put in my postcode and found nearest Asda store and have just visited and been told they don't keep cash on site and you have to buy a currency card. :mad:
I dont think they should appear on the list if they don't stock the physical cash...

Did you filter the list to include only stores with a BdeC?

I find it hard to believe they run a BdeC service with no cash of any sort - though I could understand them running out of less common currenceies like SAR.

davidanddeirdre

61ackadd3r wrote: »

My family and I are due to holiday in Turkey this year, what is the best method to use for your spending money whilst there. Various sites have differing opinions so making the correct choice is proving to be difficult.

Our travel operator advised taking as much in cash (turkish lira) as our holiday insurance will permit then loading any additional funds on a pre-paid travel card.

Some websites advise to take a credit card but this can be baffling due to the different things that you are charged for whilst abroad e.g cash withdrawals, transactions in shops/restaurants.

What would you recommend as the safest and most cost effective method to spend money in Turkey ensuring you get the best exchange rate available.

I can't comment specifically about Turkey, but my wife and I frequently visit the Eurozone and the Czech Republic (Czech crowns) and find despite having a Saga credit card and an HSBC premier debit card, both with minimal currency change charges, the consistently best rates we get for cash in these currencies are obtained in the UK in Superdrug and the Money Shop before we go... just got to keep it safe!