Prepaid Card abroad?

Iain-Le-Roi

I am going travelling in Colombia and Brazil in November/December which is just as Nationwides flexaccount stops giving free withdrawals. After doing some reserach it appears that a prepaid card might be the best alternative?

Can anyone reccomend a prepaid card or any other solution that will be best for withdraing money abroad (and purchasing) and keeping costs down?

Thanks

Iain

Dick_Turpin99

Fair FX every time:beer:

BenEvans

I recently used the Phones4u travel money Euro card in Germany, had no problems, and as I've said before the marginally worse exchange rate compared to FairFX was made-up for by free ATM usage and the cashback scheme (hundreds of retailers put money on your card when you shop from them online). It's much better than travellers cheques or taking a big wad of cash with you!

I think to use it where you're going you'd have to get the Sterling card, and the exchange rate will be worked out as you withdraw overseas.

JA1000

I've had a nightmare with the escape travel card failed to work in endless shops hotels and even some cashpoints, shame as it has potential but just doesn't work and has to be supported with back up.

Bob_the_Saver

!!!!!!_Turpin99 wrote: »

Fair FX every time:beer:

Seconded. FairFx Anywhere card.

sevenupcan

I've heard good things about the Fair Fx card. My friend used it in America and proved to very good because it was is to load money onto via the web and phone with no charges for cash withdrawals.

BenEvans

JA1000 wrote: »

I've had a nightmare with the escape travel card failed to work in endless shops hotels and even some cashpoints, shame as it has potential but just doesn't work and has to be supported with back up.

I think that's the same one I used, which is weird as it worked fine for me! Never used FairFX.

bobkerry

it depends on the facilities offered the by company..prepaid cards are sometime used in abroad too and sometime not so try to first rectify whether it will be sued or not and then make use of it, otherwise you might face some problems too

farci

Iain-Le-Roi wrote: »

I am going travelling in Colombia and Brazil in November/December which is just as Nationwides flexaccount stops giving free withdrawals. After doing some reserach it appears that a prepaid card might be the best alternative?

Can anyone reccomend a prepaid card or any other solution that will be best for withdraing money abroad (and purchasing) and keeping costs down?

Thanks

Iain

Check availability of MasterCard vs Visa outlets on their websites. I use FairFx and find it very good in Europe. However, it is a MasterCard and in Ghana, for instance, I had a problem as Visa availability is much better.

jen245

Another vote for fairfx. If you dont want to be charged for withdrawing at ATMs, there is also the Caxtonfx card, another good one, although the rate is slightly less than fairfx

Dick_Turpin99

The exchange rates seem quite close between FairFX & the official exchange quoted on BBC......for example the other day was 1.6070, FairFX offered 1.5750 and it seems to run at that kind of difference.
As others correctly say there's an ATM fee which for me is $2 per transaction and a limit of $1,000 per day