Cheap Travel Money Discussion Area

richard_smith_2

It seems amazing really but I've found one of the best places to stop the scam of charges on cards is at the humble post office instantly over the counter. I got a travel money card for free with a much better rate of exchange than cash and there were no charges for shopping, meals etc. It does have one catch though. They do charge a standard £2 when you take cash out at a cash point. Pretty tiny niggle though. I used it in Peniscola in Spain last year with no problems and no charges paying for the bank manager's golfing holiday, and hopefully it helps keep them all open in the long run.

sky_rat

I am going to Florida in September but I do not want to walk around with lots of cash on me.

No one seems to talk about travellers cheques anymore ?

Are travellers cheques more expensive then carrying cash or using a credit card ?

Chalkie77

Hi Everyone,

I'm sorry if I'm rehashing old questions but I've read and read and can't seem to find my answer.

I am going on honeymoon in November and we are lucky enough to have been bought a cruise down the Nile (very excited)! I am unsure what to do about spending money though. With a terrible credit rating getting a credit card for spending is out of the question, and though we will have saved spending money I'm not keen on taking all cash (plus wouldn't know whether to take £s or local currency) and am unsure travellers cheques would be able to be exchanged on the boat.

The possibility of a pre-paid card crossed my mind but are only available in $s and euros - which would you get?? I know it would exchange for local currency but worry about how many places would take it / if there would be many available ATMs in port or on the boat.

I am so worried about it as it is our first holiday together - we've never been able to afford such a trip!

All help and advice greatly received - plus any about Egypt and Nile cruises as the cost of the bar bill and expected tipping at the end of the voyage are also worrying.

Many thanks in advance.

sarahvashti

Just to advise everyone to be aware. We changed our money by ordering online and collecting from the post office as it said there were no charges over £500 and they would not charge us for using our debit card. We still got charged 5 quid though and they said the bank will have done it. So things are not always as good a deal as they first appear!

LondonZoe

I have the Platinum Amex cashback credit card that Martin loves so much & was planning to use it all the time on my forthcoming trip to Chicago. I know that there will be a 2.99% loading fee on my purchases but given that I'm getting 5% cashback at the moment on my entire spend surely that has still got to leave me quids in, right?

Can anyone spot any flaws in my logic here? The article seems to forget that by using a cashback card abroad you might be at least negating some of the additional fees you're incurring.

gnats_chuff

Chalkie77 wrote: »

Hi Everyone,


The possibility of a pre-paid card crossed my mind but are only available in $s and euros - which would you get?? I know it would exchange for local currency but worry about how many places would take it / if there would be many available ATMs in port or on the boat.
.

I'd go for a sterling prepaid card like Caxton FX (not sure if Fairfax or Travelex have one) - load in pounds and then use it like a debit card. They convert into local currency when you use it at good rates- and they have just stopped charging ATM fees. I have a euro and new sterling one (euro for a couple of years now) and have used them without a hitch (I travel quite a lot for business as well as Hols). And just get cash out when you need to from the ATM (not sure they will have one on the boat tho'

Never been to Egypt - have a great time!

gnats_chuff

keith160377 wrote: »

I would like peoples advice on what is the best option? At present I am thinking about taking about £400 worth of Colombian Pesos in actual currency and then putting the rest on my credit card so that I will spend the £400 first and then I would have to withdraw on the credit card. I believe that I will be charged £3 for the with drawal and 2.75% in Foreign exchange fee. So for example, if I withdrew £250, it would cost me £259.

I have heared about these 'Pre Paid Cards' but I haven't seen any that support Colombian Pesos. Also, can I use these as a credit card and what are the rates of withdrawal?

Columbia must a be an exciting place to visit - have you been before?

doshunta

Hi,

I have a Nationwide Flex Account and want to withdraw Eur 2300 to pay owners of our holiday apartment in cash next week (don't worry we know them!).

Ideally I don't want to withdraw in lots of small amounts for security reasons but I think this is the only way if it's only card withdrawls that are free.

So what's the maximum I can take out ... over what time period?

Then I can tell the owner when he can expect to get paid!:rolleyes:

Cheers!
:beer:

Somebody

doshunta wrote: »

Hi,

I have a Nationwide Flex Account and want to withdraw Eur 2300 to pay owners of our holiday apartment in cash next week (don't worry we know them!).

Ideally I don't want to withdraw in lots of small amounts for security reasons but I think this is the only way if it's only card withdrawls that are free.

So what's the maximum I can take out ... over what time period?

Then I can tell the owner when he can expect to get paid!:rolleyes:

Cheers!
:beer:

Maximum withdrawal £300 per day according to Nationwide website.

daveround

I'm looking to open a new account for a few trips abroad. The stand-out cards seem to be the Santander zero card and the Nationwide Flex card. I've also heard mention of the pre-paid cards.

Surely the best solution is the pre-pay on the Santander card though. There doesn't appear to be a fee for this, there is no fee for paying on card abroad and you can even withdraw cash for free = totally free?? - am i missing something?

For me Nationwide would be the next best because I'd only get hit with a 1% charge and their introductory cash offer more than covers this.