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holiday money
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dave030445
Posts: 1,001 Forumite


in Credit cards
Hi all after reading all about travel money i was pleased to read that the nationwide debit card was the best to use. which we have. We have just booked up a holiday in greece and was wondering what the best way of taking money.We are looking at spending about £1000 on holiday. My question is am I better of getting the money in euros before i go (in england). Or wait till we get to greece and draw out the cash, £1000 from the airport cash machine or travel booth. Or am i better just using my debit card, on holiday on a day to day basis. Ive read that nationwide dont charge you for using your card abroard but the visa exchange rate is worse. please help
dave
ps what a great site
dave
ps what a great site
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Comments
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Otheres will be along to answer your question.
I would just urge you in Greece not to let your card out of your sight. Depending on where you go, some restaurants will want to take your card out the back to run it through the machine. We got caught like that in the Algarve and fraudulent transactions appeared on the account 18 months later in Hong Kong - the only time the card went out of my sight was when a petrol attendant had to use the machine "out the back and will only be a moment".0 -
You will pay more for getting Euros here.
So use cash ATMs and card.
Don't use dynamic curreny conversion.
Pay in local currency (Euros?).
If a retailer offers to charge you in GBP then say no, because their exchange rate will almost certainly be worse than Nationwide.
Let Nationwide do your conversion.
Be very alert as they might not give yo the choice, so you need to be insistent to pay in Euros.
Carry some cash (sensible amount). I don't know Greece but credit cards are not as widely accepted in some places as the UK.0 -
Hi - Greece regular. I have always taken a few EUROs in cash before I go but used the ATMs to withdraw EUROS to use as cash as and when needed.
Always withdraw cash in EUROS not GBP. If you do opt to use your card in restaurants / car hire etc, make sure you opt to pay in EUROS not GBP as Lisyloo has already advised. This will save you a bundle. Nationwide also use the interbank rate for currency conversion so you will save money getting it out of an ATM rather than changing money at a bureau de change or even before you go. Also always ask for a receipt and keep it - and cross check to your statement on return.
Have a look on the VISA and mastercard websites to see where suitable ATMs are located. Some smaller towns/villages do not have access to standalone Bank ATMs and have the cash machine type that you have to pay a few Euros to use - often located in car hire/excursion agents etc.
I personally would not pay for meals etc with the DD Card - just use it for withdrawing the cash and pay everything else with cash - that way you can lock it away when not using it. If you can take some with you it will avoid the Airport cash machine - which will generally charge you extra to use it ... you will want to buy water as soon as you get off the plane anyway. Although cheaper to buy bottles of water in the departures lounge in the UK
What part of Greece are you off to ? - there are a few different regs that might apply.
Have fun - very jealous - having to skip Greece this year - the first time in 26 years0 -
hi thanks for all your advice iits been very helpfull we are off to zante there hopefully be cash points there0
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You won't be able to draw out £1000 in cash all in one go - both the cash machines and your card will have limits0
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The best way I have found anywhere, is to get a free Travelex card. You can order it online. You literelly load the card with your choice of currency, and then use it with no fees or charges when you're out of the country. You can add money to it by phone or by online banking. Transfer it in the morning, and the money wil be on the card by the afternoon. You can use it to take money out of cash machines or use it like a debit card wherever you see the VISA sign.
The rate is locked in when you purchase the currency so you don't have to worry about the rate going up or down and wondering how much you use. You will be given a log on so you can see whenever you have access to the internet what your balance is, or you can also take a print out from some cash machines.
I used this card recently in Australia and found it brilliant, I wouldn't ever use anything else.
I agree with one of the comments above, don't let it out of your sight!0 -
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i will do that but want to take a £200 in euros where is the best place to get this0
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You meant to say Euros here.
Thanks, will edit.0 -
dave030445 wrote: »hi thanks for all your advice iits been very helpfull we are off to zante there hopefully be cash points there
Most of the larger restaurants will take cards but cash is still preferred in the smaller ones. Of all the times I have been to Greece I have never been offered to pay in £ on a card, always Euros (unlike Spain where they seem much keener to make you pay in £).
If you dont have a Nationwide account then have a look here for the best places to get cash beforehand:
http://travelmoney.moneysavingexpert.com/0
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