Best card(s) for travelling

adw999

I am going traveling in September for a minimum of 8 months to South East Asia and Australia. I have roughly half the money I will need saved up but have got a working visa for Auz to earn the rest. I'm wondering what will be the best method of taking money? Credit and debit card? I'd like an overdraft just in case I do hit the hard times. Any suggestions?

Thanks

Incapuppy

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/travel/cheap-travel-money

Donnie

Nationwide Visa Debit.
Santander Zero Mastercard Credit.

Fill 'em both with cash and off you go.

adw999

Is debit the best one to go for? The page linked to says pre-paid card?

If it makes any difference, I'm a graduate (graduate card?)

Donnie

adw999 wrote: »

Is debit the best one to go for? The page linked to says pre-paid card?

If it makes any difference, I'm a graduate (graduate card?)

Has the standard of education fallen so low? Are you unable to absorb simple information? You have asked a question and you have been given the answer.

adw999

If you follow the guide on that page you will see it states:

Here you have three options, and the difference between them is relatively small...

• Get travel money before you go.
  
  Read the Cheapest Travel Money section which includes a free tool to compare the top exchange rates.
• Get a special prepaid card for added security.
  
  To avoid carrying wads of cash, Prepaid cards can be acquired much quicker than credit cards. You load cash on, then use it in shops and restaurants just like a debit or credit card. They also offer security advantages over cash; if the card is lost or stolen, the whole balance will be refunded safely to you, minus a fee of around £10. However, you can only spend in Euros or US Dollars on one. Read the Best Prepaid Cards section.
• Use your existing plastic.
  
  Using your existing debit card (barring those above) or a credit card, which is paid off in full at the end of the month so there's no interest, isn't particularly expensive.
  
  If you're going to do it, the best way is to pay for things on the card, rather than taking cash ouit of a machine and spending that, as then you avoid the fees both debit and credit cards charge for withdrawing cash abroad. If you are going to withdraw cash, then fewer, bigger transactions is cheaper than lots of little ones.

Has your level of ignorance come so high that you can't realise your opinion will differ from others?

ferien_uk

You should look into opening an Aussie bank account before you go and transferring some money into it. You'll need one anyway if you are going to be working there. There are a few to choose from, but I can recommend Commonwealth.