Best combination of cards for travelling abroad

smiddle3

Hi Guys,

Just a quick one...I am going travelling in 4 weeks' time and will be visiting different continents (Asia, Australasia and North America). I will be taking my Nationwide Flex Account Debit Card but I am also wanting to take a credit card to put any larger purchases on that I may need to make (long hostel bookings, excursions etc). I was hoping to use a 0% card and pay back the minimum each month (and, hopefully, if still having funds left in the my current account at the end of the trip paying it off in full then). I'm just a bit confused as judging from the articles on the site the best 0% card for spending is the Tesco card at 12 months 0% but then there is also the Santander Zero card which, while I believe charges a rate of 27%, does not charge for worldwide loads or withdrawing cash. Can someone please advise me on this as I feel I'm just getting more and more confused thinking about it!

Cheers

CannyJock

Santander Zero has 0% on purchases for 3 months.

http://www.abbey.com/csgs/Satellite?appID=abbey.internet.Abbeycom&c=Page&canal=CABBEYCOM&cid=1210610544537&empr=Abbeycom&leng=en_GB&pagename=Abbeycom%2FPage%2FWC_ACOM_TemplateB2

If you want longer to pay, even though it'll cost up to 3% more for their currency conversion rate, have a look at the full list or 0% purchase cards.

Gulpiyuri

Hi CannyJock,

In any case, I understand that those "0% purchase cards" doesn´t apply for non-sterling purchases, is that correct?

Cheers

NickX

Gulpiyuri wrote: »

In any case, I understand that those "0% purchase cards" doesn´t apply for non-sterling purchases, is that correct?

That is not correct. 0% purchase cards do apply to non-sterling purchases. Most cards will impose a fee in the order of 2.75% for processing the currency conversion.

Santander Zero, Post Office and Nationwide are the best cards for usage abroad because of the zero (or 0.84% for non-EU countries with Nationwide) foreign currency transaction fee.

smiddle3

Cheers for the replies guys. So baring in mind that the purpose of me taking a credit card with me is just to pay the minimum amount back each moth and then look at balance transferring or, hopefully, paying off once I return next Augugst - which card would you suggest is best? Will the Santander card not charge me extortionate amounts of interest?

brookadyn

You will almost walys get charged when abroad. It doesn't take the banks any extra effort, just a click of a button but regardless they charge.

td_007

smiddle3 wrote: »

Cheers for the replies guys. So baring in mind that the purpose of me taking a credit card with me is just to pay the minimum amount back each moth and then look at balance transferring or, hopefully, paying off once I return next Augugst - which card would you suggest is best? Will the Santander card not charge me extortionate amounts of interest?

The santander card will be most suitable as you will avoid any foreign exchange fees and if you set up a direct debit for the min amount you will have 3 months at 0% for purchases. However, if you are not sure that you will be able to clear your balance at the end of 3 months, you will have to work sharpish to get hold of a new BT card.

flyingscotno1

Of course with Santander cards it seems best to apply in advance of going- can be slow going- and apply in branch.

Lochsideman

I've lost track of what Nationwide are doing. They used to have no charge on purchases made abroad (i.e no foreign exchange charge on the sale).

Then I thought they said that they would start charging this year.

But I've just heard that in Western Europe - specifically Belgium and Germany in my case - they are not charging the kind of 2.75% that credit cards charge for these overseas purchases. (Just a small Visa imposed fee of less than 1 Euro)

Does anyone know the exact situation?

dzug1

In Western Europe (basically anywhere that uses the euro plus a few others) Nationwide are still making no charge - not even €1.

Outside Europe they are passing on a Visa charge of currently 0.84%. It was to have been 1% but Visa have abandoned/postponed the increase to 1%.

YorkshireBoy

Lochsideman wrote: »

Does anyone know the exact situation?

http://nationwide.co.uk/current_account/foreigntransactions.htm