Cheap Travel Money Discussion Area

sunflowersuffolk

We are going to US on road trip for 16 days in a couple of weeks, and stupidly have not applied for a recommended card and its too late now. I have booked a fair few hotels direct, and they take the first night straight away when you book. However we will still need a considerable amount for remainder of hotels, food petrol etc. Car hire will have to be on the credit card. We have Co-op+ Natwest Gold debit card, + Halifax mastercard.

I was going to get a Fairfax dollar card, but find it hard to guess how much we'll need.I know we can top up abroad, but not everywhere we go will have web access (Yosemite) I'd rather put more than we think we'll need on card, but seems its quite expensive to get your unused money off card at the end of holiday. We don't want to leave it on card. I'v emailed Fairfax as I couldn't find exact costs. I know there is a £10 refund fee plus other costs.

I understand Barclays have reciprocal agreement with Bank of America for no fee using debit card with their ATMs, just 2.99% currency charge?

Do you think its still a better deal getting the cash card even with the cost of recovering the balance? should I get the dollar card or the anywhere, so I can use balance when back in UK. thanks

NiftyDigits

sunflowersuffolk wrote: »

We are going to US on road trip for 16 days in a couple of weeks, and stupidly have not applied for a recommended card and its too late now. I have booked a fair few hotels direct, and they take the first night straight away when you book. However we will still need a considerable amount for remainder of hotels, food petrol etc. Car hire will have to be on the credit card. We have Co-op+ Natwest Gold debit card, + Halifax mastercard.

I was going to get a Fairfax dollar card, but find it hard to guess how much we'll need.I know we can top up abroad, but not everywhere we go will have web access (Yosemite) I'd rather put more than we think we'll need on card, but seems its quite expensive to get your unused money off card at the end of holiday. We don't want to leave it on card. I'v emailed Fairfax as I couldn't find exact costs. I know there is a £10 refund fee plus other costs.

I understand Barclays have reciprocal agreement with Bank of America for no fee using debit card with their ATMs, just 2.99% currency charge?

Do you think its still a better deal getting the cash card even with the cost of recovering the balance? should I get the dollar card or the anywhere, so I can use balance when back in UK. thanks

Cash Passport Globe is a better option, especially as you can get one in as little as four hours.

If in or near London, get a Metro Bank debit card.

Snapelover

I am going to The Netherlands on Thursday with my daughter, we are staying with family and will be returning home on the following Monday.. What is the best thing to do for spending whilst there? I have a Halifax Clarity card.

NiftyDigits

Snapelover wrote: »

I am going to The Netherlands on Thursday with my daughter, we are staying with family and will be returning home on the following Monday.. What is the best thing to do for spending whilst there? I have a Halifax Clarity card.

Use the card and clear the balance when you get home. Negligible interest to be paid.

kefrif

PHIL.B wrote: »

We have just returned from Orlando with 5 of us having the FairFX card loaded in dollars,fine to use as a debit card,couldn`t find an ATM in 14 days you could withdraw from!!!!
Won`t be taking again.!!

Hi PhilB,

This may be a bit late to be of use to you, but I've been to Orlando 7 times in the last 10 years - here's a rough list of ATM's used that worked. Staying on I-Drive, I could use it at all the Walgreen stores there, any GE Money terminal (loads in Universal), all ATM's I came across in Disney (the one at the TTC was used HEAVILY, believe me!), and the Suntrust at MCO airport.

Thanks, and I hope the above helps out on another visit,

Kefrif.

John_Pierpoint

kefrif wrote: »

Hi PhilB,

This may be a bit late to be of use to you, but I've been to Orlando 7 times in the last 10 years - here's a rough list of ATM's used that worked. Staying on I-Drive, I could use it at all the Walgreen stores there, any GE Money terminal (loads in Universal), all ATM's I came across in Disney (the one at the TTC was used HEAVILY, believe me!), and the Suntrust at MCO airport.

Thanks, and I hope the above helps out on another visit,

Kefrif.

Did they all give out the cash without taking a commission?

Something that is a problem in the UK - will the shop in a service area agree to a "cash back"?

I've found several chains of foreign ATMs, especially in retail situations, want a commission.

BinB42

KTF wrote: »

The Clarity is the cheapest option as you get the inter bank exchange rate with no loading.

If you pre-load it before you go or pay it off as soon as you take some money out then you can minimise the interest charge as well.

KTF
I to would like to say “thank to you and Martin” and all the contributors, and I have a question about the Halifax Clarity Card.

I do all my Banking on the internet and I am in Spain in November, I run out of Euros so obtain from the local ATM €500 about £420 aprox with a Clarity Card. (There is no outstanding balance and the card is clear), I now go on to my Halifax Bank account on the internet the same day, and transfer £450.00 from my current account to my Clarity Credit Card which will clear the balance, the question now is are there any interest charges to be paid when the statement arrives later in the month, if there are none this would be the best way to withdraw € when abroad as there would be no charges.

Can any one spot a problem
BinB42

KTF

If you clear the balance as soon as you see the amount appear on the card then the only interest that will be charged (if any) is for the time the transaction appears on the statement until it is paid.

If that happens on the same day then there is no interest. Even if it is a few days the interest will be a few pence at most.

Jo4

I thought Martin said not to have a Santander card because of its charges when he was on This Morning this morning but when I looked at this link http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/travel/cheap-travel-money#howgood Santander Zero credit and debit cards seemed to be one of the best to use abroad.

Are the Santander Zero credit and debit cards alright to use abroad or are there better cards?

NiftyDigits

Jo4 wrote: »

I thought Martin said not to have a Santander card because of its charges when he was on This Morning this morning but when I looked at this link http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/travel/cheap-travel-money#howgood Santander Zero credit and debit cards seemed to be one of the best to use abroad.

Are the Santander Zero credit and debit cards alright to use abroad or are there better cards?

The Zero Credit and Zero Debit are excellent for travel, but better still are the Metro Bank Credit and Debit card.