El Gouna, Egypt + spends

Trish1968

In a real dilema this year. When we have travelled to Europe we have always used our Nationwide debit card to withdraw cash when we needed it. But, I have read some posts that have warned that in El Gouna people have had their debit cards refused in the cash machines, also that some of the UK cash machines out there charge more for withdrawals than the local ones. In addition to this, Nationwide are now charging for withdrawals outside of Europe.

Our dilema is this, do we get Travellers Cheques, pay the 1% commission on purchase and then change them over there for more commission and a potentially lower exchange rate. All for the peace of mind that we will have access to money. Or, do we just use our Nationwide debit cards where it would seem the charges are only 0.85% or there abouts and risk our cards may be rejected and we are stuck aborad with no money :eek: or will then get charged unknown rates when we withdraw tha cash.

Any advise would be really welcomed.

llindsey

If you dont want to take all cash, I personally would take sterling travellers cheques.
I was just outside el gouna a few weeks ago and had problems using my card anywhere! even in the bank machines!
the duty free at the airport doesn't even accept cards.
by taking sterling you will get a much better exchange rate over there when converting to E£ than you would here.

Trish1968

Thanks Llindsey. You have made up my mind. We will take a bit of E£ to get us throught the first few days until we aclimatise ourselves and Sterling travellers cheques. Safest bet for us I think.

bcl999

llindsey wrote: »

If you dont want to take all cash, I personally would take sterling travellers cheques.
I was just outside el gouna a few weeks ago and had problems using my card anywhere! even in the bank machines!
the duty free at the airport doesn't even accept cards.
by taking sterling you will get a much better exchange rate over there when converting to E£ than you would here.

Was this a Nationwide Visa debit card? I've used mine at cash machines all over Egypt and had no problems. I only ever took travellers cheques the 1st time I went and had more hassle with them than the card.

Trish1968

Hi, yes it is a Nationwide debit card we would use. I have spoken to the Nationwide and they say they are not aware of any problems with withdrawing money from their cards. I really don't know what to do now. It would be much easier to use the cards out there than exchange travellers cheques but exchanging travellers cheques is better than not being able to get hold of any money at all. The reports of problems are few, probably compared to the amount of people who do actually have no problems.

shykins

as i understand it is something to do with the chip on our cards.. when we go we always use the machine outside the audi bank in Tamr Henna and that always seems to work for us (ours isnt a nationwide card tho)

generally speaking u get a better exchange rate out there then u will at home. also a lot of the shops are more than happy to take sterling

btw el gouna is fantastic have a great time

hth

bcl999

Trish1968
My previous post was a question for llindsey. I quoted her message in it as she doesn't say what type of card she had problems with.

Trish1968

Sorry for misunderstanding the post.

We have decided to take the debit cards after all. We think there will be enough cashpoints that we should get money somehow and will be better on the exchange rate.

Thanks everyone for the help.