Cheap Travel Money Discussion Area

grahamy09

I had $ 500 left over when i came back from Florida. I was going to keep them for a return trip , but we have picked a Greek island instead. My question is do i change my dollars here in the UK or take my dollars with me to Greece and change them there.
thanks Grahamy

zagfles

Geege wrote: »

Just to throw a spanner in the works...

Nationwide Select Credit Card
(for existing customers, which I am)

Limited Time Offer: 0% for 26 months on Balance Transfers, with a fee of only 0.75% (minimum £5.00). This is a limited time offer, available on applications made before 31st March 2014. Nationwide reserves the right to withdraw this offer at any time.

0% on purchases for 15 months

Cashback: 0.5% unlimited cashback on all your sterling purchases

Unlimited commission-free purchases abroad

Cash fee 2.5% (minimum £3.00) of the amount withdrawn on each cash advance.

Balance transfer fee
0.75% (minimum £5.00) of the amount of each balance transfer.

Foreign usage

"Yes, that's right, the Nationwide Select Credit Card features commission-free purchases abroad. Quite simply all purchases overseas will be free of any commission charges. That's great news for your holiday spending".

Compare the costs of using your card abroad - Visa Exchange Rate

Cash Fee 2.5% (min £3.00) of the amount withdrawn on each cash advance

It seems the only downside now in getting the Nationwide Select Credit Card over the Halifax Clarity is the Cash Withdrawal fee.

For the long term (considering I could benefit from the balance transfer deal), this new offer seems to be the best option, what do you think?

You'll probably pay interest on cash too - I doubt the 0% will apply to cash advances. I'd go for both like I said above, cards do get blocked abroad so you need at least two options. Ask on the credit cards board if you're worried about credit rating but I wouldn't have thought applying for 2 will have much effect.

zagfles

grahamy09 wrote: »

I had $ 500 left over when i came back from Florida. I was going to keep them for a return trip , but we have picked a Greek island instead. My question is do i change my dollars here in the UK or take my dollars with me to Greece and change them there.
thanks Grahamy

No brainer. Take them there. If you change them here most places will change them to GBP then to EUR so you'll get two lots of exchange costs which for cash in the UK is generally a rip-off.

grahamy09

zagfles wrote: »

No brainer. Take them there. If you change them here most places will change them to GBP then to EUR so you'll get two lots of exchange costs which for cash in the UK is generally a rip-off.

thanks , i will do .
i wasn't sure of the rates i would get over there,

chris_aaaaa

OK, apologies for not finding the answer in the thread, I am sure it is there if I could just find a search to get it.

If I get a FairFX card, which debit card can I use to credit it for free (in order of least hassle for me) I can use Smile, 1st Direct, HSBC and Metro.

I assume some of the banks will consider it a cash advance and make a charge.

Chris

(Planning US trip - but cannot get a clarity card due to an existing zombie card that just will not die).

SallySunshine

I've used my FairFx card for years, always use my debit card to buy euros, never a charge.
The only charge is when withdrawing from an A.T.M.
It is 1.5e in Europe per withdrawal, but since we usually draw out the maximum allowed by the bank it's no big deal.

Also occasionally have had euros delivered to me at home.
Absolutely first class, speedy next day recorded delivery, free over a certain sum bought.

I can't fault them.

chris_aaaaa

I called a couple of banks in the end, secure messaging was a bust!


Coop/Smile will charge, feel sorry for them, they are on their uppers
First Direct say they do not.


FairFx - have at least answered emails promptly and intelligently.

SallySunshine

Funnily enough it never occurred to me that any bank would charge when using a debit card, since the money is taken immediately from your bank account.

Certainly would never entertain a bank that did!

Bear_Swanlake

Hi there,

Having read all the information on the website about travel credit cards and pre-paid travel cards I am still at a loss as to which one to get.

These are my trip details:

Peru - 2 weeks (cash withdrawals mainly)
Peru, Bolivia, Chile and Argentina - Overlanding trip for 6 weeks (lots of cash withdrawals and bookings of activities)
Argentina - 5 weeks (cash withdrawals)
USA - 3 months (almost zero cash withdrawals, but emergency money and credit card)

I currently have a HSBC Debit Card and a M&S Credit Card.

I used both these on my recent trip to Thailand but the bank charged me a lot and I even went overdrawn on the odd occasion - nightmare!
Can anyone please shed some light on which card (if any) I should get?

I leave for Peru on 15th March!

Any help would be fantastic :j

NiftyDigits

Bear_Swanlake wrote: »

Hi there,

Having read all the information on the website about travel credit cards and pre-paid travel cards I am still at a loss as to which one to get.

These are my trip details:

Peru - 2 weeks (cash withdrawals mainly)
Peru, Bolivia, Chile and Argentina - Overlanding trip for 6 weeks (lots of cash withdrawals and bookings of activities)
Argentina - 5 weeks (cash withdrawals)
USA - 3 months (almost zero cash withdrawals, but emergency money and credit card)

I currently have a HSBC Debit Card and a M&S Credit Card.

I used both these on my recent trip to Thailand but the bank charged me a lot and I even went overdrawn on the odd occasion - nightmare!
Can anyone please shed some light on which card (if any) I should get?

I leave for Peru on 15th March!

Any help would be fantastic :j

N&P Gold Classic Current Account would have been the choice for a debit card. Halifax Clarity for CC. but you don't have enough time.

Five working days is not enough to be sure to receive the card.

Both of your cards charge around 3% per transaction. Though of course, you should not use the credit card for cash withdrawals.
There seems a preference for Visa cards in that region. See here

You're a bit stuck, but your current cards are not terrible.