GIfting in another Currency

Scully's_Girl

In September my OH & I are going to Sydney for a friends wedding. We want to give a gift of about £200 (which comes to around A$500). However, we do not want to carry that much cash with us, as we will be going to China for 2 weeks prior to flying to Sydney. I also do not want to write a cheque, since she might have to pay cashing charges. What is the best way to give someone a monetary gift in another currency, that is also safe to carry around another country?

Sooler

Open a Nationwide Flex Account

Pay the money in before you go and withdraw cash using the debit card when you get there.

See Martins article here ...

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/cgi-bin/viewnews.cgi?newsid1106765397,71685,#bb
The Top Debit Card. The Nationwide's Flexaccount Visa Debit card trumps all the other cards as it doesn’t load anywhere in the world, is free of interest (unless you’re overdrawn) and doesn’t charge for withdrawing cash.

Scully's_Girl

That is so funny you should mention that! For this trip, we did apply for the Nationwide Gold Card (because of what I read here). We put the entire cost of the trip on the card at 0% till February, and will purchase anything we need with the card while abroad.
The flex is different though isnt it? I realise I will not be able to withdraw money on the credit card because Im sure that would be like a cash advance, which is standard. Looks like we are quickly becoming a Nationwide family. I will look into the Flex.