Cheap Travel Money Discussion Area

KTF

February 2009: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/1523569

ellielovesem

Thanks KTF, this does ring a bell now I'm reading it. I normally use it in Australia where I always knew I would be charged but was still massively behind the times with thinking it was free in Europe!

Looks like I will be scouring the travel money article to check possible other options.

xowhiteox

Hey could anyone offer me some advice, I'm going to Thailand for 6 months in november and will be spending around £8500 whats the best way to get the most out of my money?

NiftyDigits

xowhiteox wrote: »

Hey could anyone offer me some advice, I'm going to Thailand for 6 months in november and will be spending around £8500 whats the best way to get the most out of my money?

Metro Bank debit card or N&P Gold light account for cash withdrawals.
Halifax Clarity or Post Office Mastercard for purchases.
Withdraw cash from over the counter in banks or bank exchange booths or from AEON ATM.

Suanlum

Hi,
new here
Halifax use the rate set by mastercard at the time of the transaction and you cannot preload it.

We're going to Dubai in Dec and are looking for the best way to access cash whilst there.We have always taken travellers cheques to every place we've been including twice to Dubai (not for over 10 years) and rarely had any problems changing them.I'm surprised posters here and on other forums say they're difficult to change and get a worse rate as this is totally opposite to my experience(mostlyThailand,Malaysia,Singapore etc)

So I've read lot's of posts and done some research and am torn between Travellers cheques and Halifax Clarity or a combination of both and cash.
Has anyone got recent experience that might help?

Cheers.

KTF

Suanlum wrote: »

Hi,
new here
Halifax use the rate set by mastercard at the time of the transaction and you cannot preload it.

Yes you can

Suanlum

KTF wrote: »

Yes you can

Not according to the Halifax web site which states:

Can I put money on my card to increase my available credit whilst on holiday? Credit cards are not designed to be used this way. Using the card in this way breaches the product's Terms & Conditions, which state:
7.7 You must not make payments or transfer funds from another credit or store card to your account that would leave a credit balance on your account. We may return any funds that exceed the balance owing on your account to the account from which the money was sent.

KTF

Suanlum wrote: »

Not according to the Halifax web site which states:

Can I put money on my card to increase my available credit whilst on holiday? Credit cards are not designed to be used this way. Using the card in this way breaches the product's Terms & Conditions, which state:
7.7 You must not make payments or transfer funds from another credit or store card to your account that would leave a credit balance on your account. We may return any funds that exceed the balance owing on your account to the account from which the money was sent.

Yes, as per the t&c you cant but there is no block in place that prevents you from doing so.

Sometimes they even do it themselves when they apply the £5 'reward' payment and I have yet to have any returned.

Suanlum

pwoodwardbrickwork@msn.co wrote: »

Hi
Going to thailand for 5 weeks at the end of october
I have been before and used the fairfx pre load card but friends who travel with us used travel cheques and received a better rate at the banks
Am i better taking travelers cheques or getting debit card
Unsure what to do
Looked at metro bank card but dont live in london so awkard to obtain
Many Thanks
Paul

Last time we were in Thailand 2 years ago travellers cheques did get a slightly better rate even after paying the 33baht per cheque commision and they were easy to exchange.Best to take large( £100) denomination cheques.
Last I heard most Thai ATM's had a 150 baht(£3) charge to use them in addition to any charges or exchange rate loading your bank here hits you with.
If we were going to Thailand this year I would take traveller cheques some sterling notes and card(s) for emergency.Don't change sterling to baht here as the rate is usually much lower than the exchange booths in Bangkok arrivals hall.

geckofabulous

I'm going to Japan in a few weeks and so credit card or a debit card is not really an option. Has anyone got any recommendations, as I've tried the TravelMoneyMaximiser and haven't been too impressed by it in terms of accuracy