Money concern: going to Japan

Fabrice

Hello,

I'm going to Japan in 6 weeks (for Easter) and i don't know which plastic to take, or travelers cheques or what.
Everything is so expensive over there, and apparently it's still very much a cash society.

I have FlexAccount from Nationwide with their VISA Debit card.
Everytime i go in one the branches they offer me to apply for their Credit Card, but i have always said "no" because i already have a CC with LloydsTSB (Duo Airmiles), so i guess that it would probably take no time to get one in time for Japan.

So my question is this:
Which is best from Nationwide for my trip to Japan? Debit or Credit card?

-considering i'll have to pay for hotels with the card, and let's say, i don't know, maybe 3 or 4 cash withdrawals; could be few purchases here and there (i'm not a shop'aholic).

Are Travelers cheques a good option?

Many thanks,

ironlady2022

Withdrawing cash is actually best with a Halifax Clarity Card as you don't get charged for withdrawing but you get charged the interest on the cash til you pay it off. Nationwide is not as competitive as it was. Travellers cheques are a bit old school so i suggest if you have time, go for the Halifax Clarity. The bigger superstores will accept card payments no problems, but yes they are still pretty cash based!

Fabrice

Thanks mayling,

I don't really want to go to Halifax for the sole reason that it means I will be dealing with a third bank, and that will be too much for me, keeping track of everything.
I'm sorry but that's how it is for me.
But thanks again for your help and suggestion.

ironlady2022

Ar ok, mm cash withdrawals always debit card then, regarding swiping card, think charges are the same for both cards I believe.

Lawpf2001

I went abroad for a few weeks last summer to S.E. Asia and took one of these cards with me.
http://www.caxtonfxcard.com/cards_description.asp

Worked in nearly all the places I tried it and found it very useful. The only word of warning I would give you is that you have to put money on it over the internet and can only do £100+ at a time. So if you end up having money on there when you get home your stuck with it on the card until next time you are abroad.

Fabrice

Lawpf2001 wrote: »

I went abroad for a few weeks last summer to S.E. Asia and took one of these cards with me.
http://www.caxtonfxcard.com/cards_description.asp

Worked in nearly all the places.

Well, it says on their website that most of all ATM in Thailand charge anyway. Well, I hope it's not the same for Japan.
And some overseas ATM charge a fee (outside of their control).

Worth a think about it, ta.

Lawpf2001

Fabrice wrote: »

Well, it says on their website that most of all ATM in Thailand charge anyway, and some overseas ATM charge a fee (outside of their control).

Worth a think about it, ta.

Yeah most of them did. But thats a charge from the ATM and cant be escaped regardless of what card is used. Such as how you get atms over here at petrol stations etc that charge.

Fabrice

I see, thanks.

CLAPTON

sometimes plastic cards don't work
sometimes one loses them
sometime one can leave them in the ATM
sometimes for totally unaccountable reasons the provider stops the card because of the spending pattern

I won't consider travelling without 4 cards

chattychappy

For cash I would go with Zero or Clarity and pay back a few days later if you can get online. I've only used Zero and it's great.

Yep, take backups. 3 or 4 cards - I agree with that.

BUT, Japan really is one of the safest places and people happily carry large amounts of cash. Getting Yen in the UK or changing pounds in Japan isn't going to be as efficient as Zero/Clarity, but I wouldn't worry about getting it stolen provided I could get it out of the UK without being robbed!

YES, Japan is terribly expensive.

ironlady2022

Japan is only expensive if you don't know where to look. london is more expensive that Tokyo, there are eateries out there where you can eat for less than 1000 yen, just go down the small alleyways. Japan I know charges for atm withdrawals, not sure if this aplpy to foreign cards. agree that Japan is very safe though, you got the salary men carrying wads of 10000 yen notes!