Cheap Travel Money Discussion Area

jnm21

Could I suggest you look at the FairFX Anywhere card (1.5% on all transactions, no ATM fee abroad), then try to see if you can better that? Do let me know if you do (I am trying to).

iblametheparents

jnm21 wrote: »

Could I suggest you look at the FairFX Anywhere card (1.5% on all transactions, no ATM fee abroad), then try to see if you can better that? Do let me know if you do (I am trying to).

I've been looking at exchange rates for Turkish Lira for when I go on holiday in September and their exchange rate minus 1.5% is worse than my Visa Debit card's exchange rate minus a 2.75% load for transactions AND the 2% ATM fee!

jools39

jnm21 wrote: »

Could I suggest you look at the FairFX Anywhere card (1.5% on all transactions, no ATM fee abroad), then try to see if you can better that? Do let me know if you do (I am trying to).

I have been looking at similar things and maybe the CaxtonFX card is better for cash withdrawls only? I think it will depend on how much you are going to use it and for what amounts?

If I read it correctly the Caxton does not charge for using ATMs but is a slightly worse rate than the FairFX one which charges €1.50/$2 to withdraw cash from an ATM?

I need to withdraw small sums of €50 - €100 on a regular basis so guess that the Caxton one would be better for me?


In gbysea's case I realise that you dont need Euros, but they do a Global version as well which has no charge for ATM use and the exchange rate applied is fixed at 2.5% from the prevailing interbank rate, which I guess is better than most tourist rates available?

If anyone can help clarify this it would be appreciated!

malc_b

jnm21 wrote: »

Could I suggest you look at the FairFX Anywhere card (1.5% on all transactions, no ATM fee abroad), then try to see if you can better that? Do let me know if you do (I am trying to).

Or Halifax Clarity (Santander Zero?) . Credit cards with no ATM fee but you do pay interest from day. But, pay that off after 1-2 weeks and it works out at ~0.3-0.6%

Grey_Dave

juliakerensa wrote: »

We are going to Indonesia in a few weeks. At the moment the current plan is to change what we think we will spend into the Indonesian currency here and take it rather than use any cards because we won't be at places which accept them. The alternatives are taking cash out at ATMs but we don't want to rack up all the charges. Does anyone have any better ideas?

I go to Indonesia pretty regularly, and I can confirm that all the airports have ATMs, as do most towns on most islands. Credit card acceptance is mostly limited to major cities, except on Bali where they are more accustomed to plastic.

So stock up on cash before you go off the beaten track. And I would advise against taking Sterling or dollars to change at local Exchange Offices, especially in Bali.

martinrlfc

I have recently applied for and obtained the Halifax Clarity card ready for my holiday to Italy. First time i have gone away without sorting my money beforehand and i have to admit i am very uncomfortable about going away without cash.

Could anyone reassure me with a couple of things?

- Why pre-load the card prior to going? (will this have any benefit other than increasing the credit limit)
- What is the likelyhood the card will be blocked for withdrawing large amounts in a different country to my residence? (thus leaving me with no funds)

Any help advice from people in the know would be hugely appreciated.

Martin

jools39

martinrlfc wrote: »

I have recently applied for and obtained the Halifax Clarity card ready for my holiday to Italy. First time i have gone away without sorting my money beforehand and i have to admit i am very uncomfortable about going away without cash.

Could anyone reassure me with a couple of things?

- Why pre-load the card prior to going? (will this have any benefit other than increasing the credit limit)
- What is the likelyhood the card will be blocked for withdrawing large amounts in a different country to my residence? (thus leaving me with no funds)

Any help advice from people in the know would be hugely appreciated.

Martin

I travel on a weekly basis and have not exchanged any money in advance for years.

All main ports of entry tend to have ATMs and up until now I have used ATMs with my Nationwide card without any problems.

With cards that give a free service this saves having to carry around large sums of cash, and I usually withdraw €50 - €100 at a time.

It may be an idea to tell your card provider that you are going abroad, and maybe which country(s) so they do not stop your card for possible fraudulent use. I have informed mine and never had a problem.

I will miss the Nationwide free withdrawls as I average a cash withdrawl abroad about once a week on average over a year, which means the fees would add up rather!

jnm21

iblametheparents wrote: »

I've been looking at exchange rates for Turkish Lira for when I go on holiday in September and their exchange rate minus 1.5% is worse than my Visa Debit card's exchange rate minus a 2.75% load for transactions AND the 2% ATM fee!

With the anywhere card they use the mastercard wholesale rate (I emailed them to check, the reason being another thread). This should be about the best you will get & I would expect that mastercard & visa will be very close - you could check on their web sites (use the mastercard usa, not UK - I found very little info on exchange rates on the UK site).

I would strongly doubt that the rate (after 1.5% fee, which by the way is not rate adjustment, but a fee after conversion, which is very minorly a benefit) you get would be worse, or even nearly as bad as either Visa rate minus 2% or 2.75%.

loopy_lass

ok as everyone knows on here im not the brightest of stars, so can i ask a few "simple" questions about the FairFX currency card.
1) i load it with uk £s correct?
2) how do i get egyptian pounds to spend?
3) how do i use the card is is ATM cash withdrawal or can i use it to pay for stuff over there?
4) if i pay for something in a shop and ive got UK£s on the card how does it pay in egyptian money?

told you it was simple! sorry.... loops

iblametheparents

jnm21 wrote: »

With the anywhere card they use the mastercard wholesale rate (I emailed them to check, the reason being another thread). This should be about the best you will get & I would expect that mastercard & visa will be very close - you could check on their web sites (use the mastercard usa, not UK - I found very little info on exchange rates on the UK site).

I would strongly doubt that the rate (after 1.5% fee, which by the way is not rate adjustment, but a fee after conversion, which is very minorly a benefit) you get would be worse, or even nearly as bad as either Visa rate minus 2% or 2.75%.

My mistake, I was looking at their currency exchange rates.