Cheap Travel Money Discussion Area

JeremiahT

Hi there,

Off to Cyprus at short notice on Sunday so I can't apply for best value credit cards. It seems my only option is to get 500 Euros in cash at Tesco and then I have a choice to a) obtain a Travelex prepaid currency card loaded with 500 Euros or b) use my MBNA credit card.

My question is which is likely to be best value for point-of-sale purchases - the credit card with its (apparently competitive) wholesale exchange rate, or a Travelex card at whatever exchange rate that one uses?

Regards

MK_Oz

Hi there!

I was wondering if someone is able to help with my query before I dream of talking to a bank.

I'm going to go and live in Australia for a year. I have savings from the UK but am wondering what the best way is to access these UK funds without getting charged.

Any pointers would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!!!!

lyndsaywolfe

Does anyone know that it you have the Santander Zero card and pay money into the account so the credit card is in credit - would you avoid the 27% intereest for withdrawing cash?

whatusername

MK_Oz wrote: »

Hi there!

I was wondering if someone is able to help with my query before I dream of talking to a bank.

I'm going to go and live in Australia for a year. I have savings from the UK but am wondering what the best way is to access these UK funds without getting charged.

Any pointers would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!!!!

I think one way or another you will get charged something, best bet i would think would be to open an account in Oz and wire when the exchange rate is good.

ewol

Hi Guys,

I've tried to search for information but there is just so much to go through and it left me a bit confused

I'm going travelling to Australia, New Zealand and USA in March.

I currently have
NatWest Student/Graduate Account: with £2000 overdraft limit (using all of it)
NatWest Student Credit Card: with £500 limit, only use for online transactions and have Direct Debit for minimum payment but always pay off in full anyway, have had for over a year now.
NatWest Easy Access E-Savings Account: where i'm storing my money earnt from current job at a crap rate.

I understand I am going to get severly shafted if I was to use these cards abroad.

Therefore I should apply for a Santander Zero Credit Card and a Nationwide FlexAccount?

What is the best way of doing this? I've read about delays/problems if people have not applied for the Santander card in branch? Also will Nationwide accept my application as I will basically be using it for abroad purchases (won't tell them that though!)

cheers,

Baldur

ewol wrote: »

Also will Nationwide accept my application as I will basically be using it for abroad purchases (won't tell them that though!)

The application for a Flex account requires you to specify whether you intend to use it as your main account or not.

If not, your best bet is to tick the box against 'I am opening an e-Savings, e-Savings Plus or e-Bond', as the minimum opening deposit for an e-Savings account is only £1.

robinson79

Hi all,

I need a card that I can use in Australia and Asia. I only have a Solo card as I am bankrupt but I won't be able to use that over there. Any ideas?

Thanks in advance :beer:

Baldur

robinson79 wrote: »

I need a card that I can use in Australia and Asia. I only have a Solo card as I am bankrupt but I won't be able to use that over there. Any ideas?

Prepaid cards, maybe?

s.f.78

Hi,

If holidaying wasn't expensive enough its a right rip off when one needs to change their left-over hols money back to sterling. My family and I were lucky enough to go on hols to Orlando this year. We had taken a lot of money both on our Martin Lewis recommended preloaded card + about $700 cash. But when we came home and wanted to exchange our $'s the travel agent is giving us a s---y price, in fact we would be losing about £100 in the deal! Is there any way around this problem, there must be, there has to be. Please somebody help us. Its nearly Christmas!! Thanks,

David.

robinson79

Baldur wrote: »

Prepaid cards, maybe?

Yes I know that, I was asking which one :p:rolleyes:

Anyway, think I'm going for the Travelex one