Pre paid credit card for travel in Thailand - advice please.

Bob_Bridges

Daughter off to Thailand for 4 weeks.

Can anyone recommend a pre-paid card for use in this part of the world.

Or other way of carrying money around.

Thanks in advance,

Bob

Jammi

Bob_Bridges wrote: »

Can anyone recommend a pre-paid card

FairFX or CaxtonFX prepaid cards

knighterrant

My experience in Thailand (I've been many times) is that it's best to exchange money when you're there because you get a much better rate. But you'll be concerned about your daughter carrying cash so I can understand your thoughts about getting a pre-paid card. Based on my bad recent experience with First Choice I'd say DEFINITELY DON'T USE THEM.

I bought a pre-paid money card from First Choice to use on holiday in Florida last month because my credit card was stolen just before we left the UK. They told me that it worked just like a credit card, but it was rejected by every ATM that I tried it in and by every retailer that needed my PIN. The First Choice website always rejected my password when I tried to log in so I had to request reactivation and wait for an email from them before I could check my balance. (They said I could check the balance by text or phone call, but that would have been expensive from the USA to the UK so I didn't try.) When I eventually managed to get into my account online it seems to have given the wrong details about my balance. So with the card still not working I decided to phone the UK (at £1.50 a minute!) and got through to a very slow customer services rep who eventually said he couldn't help! After spending over £50 on fruitless phone call and Internet usage, and waiting a few more days, the card finally worked again, but only where my PIN wasn't required!

My letter of complaint when I arrived back in the UK was treated with contempt. First Choice didn't even apologise for all the inconvenience and grief. They also said they wouldn't compensate me for the excess costs I'd incurred. They just didn't care.

With a useless money card and cash rapidly running out, I used my Debit card for major purchases. I was reluctant to do this because Alliance & leicester charge £1.50 for every overseas transaction. But I wish that I'd used it more and not bothered with the money card in the first place. My statement shows that I got a much better exchange rate with my debit card than I did buying cash and money card from First Choice, so even with the £1.50 "handling fee", the Alliance & Leicester card worked out to be cheaper.

So my advice based on my experience is DON'T get a money card. They're not as good as the sellers tell you and can lead to loads of frustration and grief because they DON'T work like credit cards. You'll be best off shopping around for cash at the best rate near where you live (not at the airport) and then using a credit or debit card whilst away.

Mikhail

Bob_Bridges wrote: »

Daughter off to Thailand for 4 weeks.

Can anyone recommend a pre-paid card for use in this part of the world.

Or other way of carrying money around.

Thanks in advance,

Bob

Why do you want to use a prepaid card?