Cheap Travel Money Discussion Area

CarolynCh

CarolynCh wrote: »

Thanks zagfles and murphydavid I will try that. Yes, it was after I had entered the PIN. It wasn't a huge amount in this instance but this has happened more than once - the amount of profit that the merchant services people must be making from this is huge. There is also a problem when the shop assistant does not know English and assumes that the dialogue means that the transaction has failed, presses cancel and asks you to pay in cash!

Sent a message to Nationwide and they have refunded 52p which they say is the difference. It wasn't a large transaction but it's the principle I have a problem with - the fact that a shop assistant can change what I have authorised is quite scary! I have asked Nationwide to make sure that it is recorded as a complaint - hopefully if enough people complain something might be done.

mcbob_2

Update on my N&P Gold light account.

Used this debit card in more than 10 countries, from Canada to China and still impressed with the rates and ease of use.

The conversion rate is the same as Visa's Wholesale rate, with no other charges. Found this card an absolute god send in parts of Asia where I need to withdraw local currency and not get stung with fees or commission. I took out over 5k sterling abroad this year and have saved a fortune in fees/charges.

The only minor issue I have with N&P is that faster payments from my HSBC account always take 24 hours, and are not instant like other accounts, but I believe that's more to do with how N&P have implemented faster payments.

Overall, highly recommend this account if you don't want to use a credit card

paintfly

I was a click away from ordering the Caxton fx Global because it doesn't charge for ATM withdrawals, but now realise its exchange rate is very poor.

I'm travelling to Thailand (where the Global Passport doesn't work) & was also planning on using the Post Office credit card for "no charge/0% interest" card purchases.

I live in London, so is the Metro Bank card now my best choice for "free" ATM cash (if I can find an Aeon ATM)? Haven't had time to look it up yet, so I'm not clear yet whether this is a pre-paid or credit card. If the latter, I assume it would it obviate the need for the PO credit card?

I really wanted to have a pre-paid as back up & save having to carry too much cash (the PO pre-paid charges for withdrawals), but having read about not being able to get your money back without punitive charges, I'm beginning to doubt the idea. I intend to pay off & cut up all these cards when I return.

NiftyDigits

paintfly wrote: »

I was a click away from ordering the Caxton fx Global because it doesn't charge for ATM withdrawals, but now realise its exchange rate is very poor.

*I'm travelling to Thailand (where the Global Passport doesn't work) & was also planning on using the Post Office credit card for "no charge/0% interest" card purchases.

I live in London, so is the Metro Bank debit card now my best choice for "free" ATM cash (if I can find an Aeon ATM)? Haven't had time to look it up yet, so I'm not clear yet whether this is a pre-paid or credit card. If the latter, I assume it would it obviate the need for the PO credit card?

I really wanted to have a pre-paid as back up & save having to carry too much cash (the PO pre-paid charges for withdrawals), but having read about not being able to get your money back without punitive charges, I'm beginning to doubt the idea. I intend to pay off & cut up all these cards when I return.

*From whence did you glean this misinformation?
Notwithstanding, get the Metro Bank card for cash withdrawals and use the Post Office Mastercard for purchases. If you can't find an AEON machine, go to a bank counter or booth and withdraw over the counter(passport in hand).
No need for a Prepaid card, other than for a well hidden backup measure. Cash Passport Globe in that case. Don't withdraw over the counter using a Prepaid card.

paintfly

Ah yes, seems I misread the 3rd bullet point here:
http://www.travelex.co.uk/uk/cash-passport-globe.aspx
thinking it said Thailand was not on the list of suitable countries.:o
But it seems I don't need it anyway.
Thanks for the clarification:j

Jon_01

Morning all,

Can the seasoned travelers on here give me a pointer as to which is the best card for a 2 stop holiday?

My wife and I will be in LA for 3 days and then Auckland for 11.
I've read the MSE pages on cards and I 'think' I should get either a Tavelex Cash Passport Global or a Kalixa.
I was thinking of getting us a card each, one with £500 and one with £1000 (plus some cash in US $ and NZ $).

Any options on which is better? or anything else I might have missed?

Many thanks...

NiftyDigits

Jon_01 wrote: »

Morning all,

Can the seasoned travelers on here give me a pointer as to which is the best card for a 2 stop holiday?

My wife and I will be in LA for 3 days and then Auckland for 11.
I've read the MSE pages on cards and I 'think' I should get either a Tavelex Cash Passport Global or a Kalixa.
I was thinking of getting us a card each, one with £500 and one with £1000 (plus some cash in US $ and NZ $).

Any options on which is better? or anything else I might have missed?

Many thanks...

Kalixa card is better for cash withdrawals larger than the equivalent of £150 and for purchases. Purchase via TopCashBack to get the card fee back and top up via Bank Transfer.

Globe card is better for smaller cash withdrawals. Purchase via TopcashBack for a 0.5% rebate of your initial topup.

Any reason why not a mainstream bank card?

Jon_01

NiftyDigits wrote: »

Kalixa card is better for cash withdrawals larger than the equivalent of £150 and for purchases. Purchase via TopCashBack to get the card fee back and top up via Bank Transfer.

Globe card is better for smaller cash withdrawals. Purchase via TopcashBack for a 0.5% rebate of your initial topup.

Any reason why not a mainstream bank card?

Doubt I'd get a mainstream card. I was very ill for long time some years back. Nat West didn't think that was any reason why I should not pay their loan back, so trashed my credit file...

Is there any mileage in getting one of each card then and using them for different transactions ?

cupcake4

Going to Prague at Christmas and as I have a Nat West debit card (bad ATM charge), I almost decided to open a Metro Bank account and use Metro Bank Debit Card in Prague (no fees). However, I've just read posts re AEON machine. What is this, will I have to find this machine to use my Metro Bank Debit Card in Prague. Now worried whether I will to be to access my cash when I need it.

dzug1

cupcake4 wrote: »

Going to Prague at Christmas and as I have a Nat West debit card (bad ATM charge), I almost decided to open a Metro Bank account and use Metro Bank Debit Card in Prague (no fees). However, I've just read posts re AEON machine. What is this, will I have to find this machine to use my Metro Bank Debit Card in Prague. Now worried whether I will to be to access my cash when I need it.

Prague is not in Thailand.......