Credit Cards Abroad Article Discussion Area

System

Hi, we are off on our hols soon and would like to know which credit card would be best to use (in Portugal) Sainsburys Visa or NBNA. Cheers ???

System

STUDENT 100

Our son and daughter both have a card on their dads Nationwide credit card. Perhaps your parents would help out. You would of course repay!!!!!

student100

Just to post some figures: At the weekend I paid $20 USD on my Accucard (over the internet). It showed up on my account online at a value of £11.25.
According to the interbank rate that day from this site, and adding 2.75% would have cost me £11.21 for $20. So the Mastercard exchange rate can't be that far off the interbank rate.

Using Halifax's current foreign currency rate, $20 would have cost me £11.26.

So there really doesn't seem to be much in it between spending on a CC (with 2.75% loading) and spending cash (at one of the best rates available).

Of course, if you can get a CC without the 2.75% load then that is your best bet.

System

i'm really confused by all of this a could do with some help, i have barclays credit and debit and nationwide flex credit and debit. i'm travelling around europe for a month and was planning to buy travellers cheques and then simply withdraw cash when needed.

which set of cards would be best to take? i have £1000 interest-free overdraft on the barclays which i'm using to finance the trip but i can easily move that over to the nationwide.

is the nationwide card as universally recognised? as its a visa is there no difference between it and the barclays. if i wanted to take out 200 euros would barclays charge me a fee and nationwide not?

what are the disadvantages of travellers cheques?

sorry if these all sound like really simple questions, i'm just a clueless 19 year old ;D

MSE_Martin

Susie - go with nationwide - you're right its a visa so its as universally accepted as the Barclaycard - and its by far the cheapest way to spend.

Enjoy your trip

martin

System

I have read so much about Nationwide not loading its users on debit card cash withdrawals. Has anyone every thought about using Citibank's debit card?

Last year, I used Citibank's debit card in singapore, taiwan and hong kong for cash withdrawals and purchases. On my return my bill statement did not indicate any loading.

As I am going away at the end of June, I wonder if it is still a good idea to use Citibank debit card for cash withdrawals, or have I misunderstood the terms and conditions of Citibank debit card?

System

rightyo, nationwide it is!

many thanks for your help

System

Having read all postings - they all talk Credit cards - What is the best way to pay a bill in Euros?
I have a Lloyds TSB debit card and an Intelligent Finance debit card as well as a handful of credit cards ( Mbna,Tesco,Natwest,Mint .... I could go on!)
Surely they all have different exchange rates?!

Excellent site martin- Thank you!

Galstonian

or have I misunderstood the terms and conditions of Citibank debit card?

I think you might. The loading will not explicitly stated on regular statements, it will be buried in the T&C which you will need to check. You could always give them a call and ask but best to get them to send you a paper copy too.

Galstonian

Surely they all have different exchange rates?!

Surprisingly, no they don't. You will get charged the published Visa or Mastercard rate plus any loading percentage on the day the transaction is posted to your account. The rates used are very good and certainly beat tourist rates for cash or travellers cheques. I'm not sure if current Visa and Mastercard rates are readily available to the public but I'm sure I've seen some historic ones on the 'net.