Cheap Travel Money Discussion Area

NiftyDigits

dzug1 wrote: »

Most SA countries have some cash machines that dispense $US instead of local currency. Though the idea is you spend the $$ rather than change them


No idea what markup local moneychangers would make if you did want to change them though

I've been to a few South American countries and haven't come across these.
It is certainly not something on which I would depend.

tgh_2

I'm travelling to USA next month (San Diego, LA, Vegas) for two weeks and not sure what the best way to sort my money is.

I'm looking to take about £1,500, £500 in cash and the other £1,000 preferably on a card so that I can take out two lots of £500.

Would the Kalixa be my best bet?

NiftyDigits

tgh wrote: »

I'm travelling to USA next month (San Diego, LA, Vegas) for two weeks and not sure what the best way to sort my money is.

I'm looking to take about £1,500, £500 in cash and the other £1,000 preferably on a card so that I can take out two lots of £500.

Would the Kalixa be my best bet?

Kalixa Pay ATM limit is £300 per day. So only US$500 per day in cash. But of course you can use it additionally for purchases.
Still better than any other Prepaid card with 0.77% in total shaven off the full Mastercard rate for a US$500 ATM withdrawal and the full rate passed on for purchases.

tgh_2

NiftyDigits wrote: »

Kalixa Pay ATM limit is £300 per day. So only US$500 per day in cash. But of course you can use it additionally for purchases.
Still better than any other Prepaid card with 0.77% in total shaven off the full Mastercard rate for a US$500 ATM withdrawal and the full rate passed on for purchases.

So I'd be charged £2.30 every time I withdraw £300?

And I can just use it like a normal card to pay for goods over there, without a fee?

Thanks for your help.

NiftyDigits

tgh wrote: »

So I'd be charged £2.30 every time I withdraw £300?

And I can just use it like a normal card to pay for goods over there, without a fee?

Thanks for your help.

£2.25/US$3.90. That is less than any other prepaid card for the withdrawal of US$500.
As an example, even the best US$ Prepaid cards are taking 3 to 4 cents off for every Pound. So a £300/US$500 draw would cost you between US$9 to US$12. Also the same for purchases.

Yes.

Try to avoid ATMs in the USA that charge their own fee to withdraw cash.

tgh_2

NiftyDigits wrote: »

£2.25/US$3.90. That is less than any other prepaid card for the withdrawal of US$500.
As an example, even the best US$ Prepaid cards are taking 3 to 4 cents off for every Pound. So a £300/US$500 draw would cost you between US$9 to US$12. Also the same for purchases.

Yes.

Try to avoid ATMs in the USA that charge their own fee to withdraw cash.

Great, thanks a lot! Looks like that's definitely the best way, I'll just take £500 in dollars and then the rest on the card and use it at shops, restaurants etc. and deposit more cash when needed.

SLHM

I've just been declined a Ukash prepaid travel MasterCard, despite it not being a credit card and having a completely clean credit score! The phone operator was not able to tell me why I'd been declined and stated that I could only apply once. Bizarrely my husband applied the same day and had his processed.

Terrible experience and poor customer service, having waited on the phone for 20 minutes and then given no explanation.

The article states there is limited feedback on Ukash so I thought I would share mine.

Not impressed.

bernadettebigbird

Hi all, my son is going to Singapore in 3 weeks time for an 8 week internship. What is the best way forward with money? Some cash and a prepaid card possibly or travellers cheques?

NiftyDigits

bernadettebigbird wrote: »

Hi all, my son is going to Singapore in 3 weeks time for an 8 week internship. What is the best way forward with money? Some cash and a prepaid card possibly or travellers cheques?

Same as everyone else. Scroll back a page or two and make your choice.

This is a good option

Mike_Delta

Dear MoneySavingExpert forum, like SLHM I was declined a Ukash prepaid travel MasterCard, despite it not being a credit card and my having a completely clean credit score and never being refused ANY card in my life before! Their system would not allow me to register at first and after waiting 15mins on the phone they advised me to delete ALL browser history and finally my registration was accepted. I then applied for the travel card which failed and I was then told I was blocked from their system. I emailed a complaint and this is the reply:-

Ukash has an identity checking system which analyses all our customers applications. This system is based on many criterias and it declined your application.When the application is declined automatically the account is deactivated.

You are currently prevented from using Ukash.

You will not be able to use our system or products in our website.



Either they are INCREDIBLY picky (address not posh enough?) or their IT system is C..P. Good luck if you manage to get one.