Best pre paid card ?

Transactionumber

Hi going to Florida on the 4th April and would like to get some advice on which card is the best to get for the USA dollars ?The amount will be approx £2000 worth of dollars.

Many thanks for help on this matter regards Leachy.:)

Doshwaster

leachy wrote: »

Hi going to Florida on the 4th April and would like to get some advice on which card is the best to get for the USA dollars ?The amount will be approx £2000 worth of dollars.

Many thanks for help on this matter regards Leachy.:)

The usual answer is "it depends". Are you going to be using the card for mainly cash or card transactions? Do you want a partner card?

Some options
Caxton FX dollar card: http://www.caxtonfxcard.com/cards_description.asp

Fair FX card:http://www.fairfx.com/cardselection#dollarcard

Thomas Cook/TravelEx:http://www.cashpassport.com/1/en/uk/About-Cash-Passport/

Caxton gives free ATM withdrawals (though the ATM bank may also charge) but with a slightly worse exchange rate than FairFX. Thomas Cook/TravelEx cards can be got in person from their branches.

Also, try not to use a pre-paid card when checking into a hotel as a guarantee as they will put a hold on the card for a certain amount which will stop you spending that money. A normal credit card is better in these cases.

Transactionumber

I should think card transactions and one for the wife with half the amount probably, the Thomas cook one looks good might go for that? Many thanks for your help!!:T Leachy:)

Doshwaster

leachy wrote: »

I should think card transactions and one for the wife with half the amount probably, the Thomas cook one looks good might go for that? Many thanks for your help!!:T Leachy:)

"Half the amount for the wife" - is that to stop her going crazy while shopping?!

Actually with most of the prepaid cards you can get two cards on one account. Useful if one of them gets lost or left in the hotel.

Transactionumber

Doshwaster wrote: »

"Half the amount for the wife" - is that to stop her going crazy while shopping?!

Actually with most of the prepaid cards you can get two cards on one account. Useful if one of them gets lost or left in the hotel.

You can read my mind

stilltheone

Don't even think about getting the Thomas Cook card.

Your best options are the CaxtonFX US$ card for convenience or Cash Passport Globe for all round usage.

stephb34

stilltheone wrote: »

Don't even think about getting the Thomas Cook card.


Your best options are the CaxtonFX US$ card for convenience or Cash Passport Globe for all round usage.

What is your reasoning for disregarding the Thomas Cook Card.

I don't know anything about the other 2, but the Thomas Cook one i do, they are free to use other than the hole in the wall and TC do have good rates on the US$ at the moment and if you tell them you have £2000 to put on 1 they may give you an even better than normal rate but you must ask before you buy. Make out your shopping about, that always gets you a better deal. The cards are issued in a TC shop within 10 minutes.

stilltheone

stephb34 wrote: »

What is your reasoning for disregarding the Thomas Cook Card.

I don't know anything about the other 2, but the Thomas Cook one i do, they are free to use other than the hole in the wall and TC do have good rates on the US$ at the moment and if you tell them you have £2000 to put on 1 they may give you an even better than normal rate but you must ask before you buy. Make out your shopping about, that always gets you a better deal. The cards are issued in a TC shop within 10 minutes.

Wouldn't touch them with a bargepole. The rate will be inferior. Spending in anything but US$ will bring another shock.

ATM charges are yet another minus.

It's just a load of rubbish imho.

A.Jones

stephb34 wrote: »

What is your reasoning for disregarding the Thomas Cook Card.

I don't know anything about the other 2, but the Thomas Cook one i do, they are free to use other than the hole in the wall and TC do have good rates on the US$ at the moment and if you tell them you have £2000 to put on 1 they may give you an even better than normal rate but you must ask before you buy. Make out your shopping about, that always gets you a better deal. The cards are issued in a TC shop within 10 minutes.

The 2% reload fee is also a downside. I'd prefer to get a decent rate with no loading fees, and plan a couple of weeks in advance (FairFX, caxton, etc), rather than get it instantly but be stuck with a card that will cost you to put more money on it.

A.Jones

If you are tempted by the Thomas Cook one, get the same thing direct from Travelex. Order it online and pick up at the airport. Their price guarantee ("online promise") extends to these prepaid cards (at least, it did last October). Look up the best cash rate on MSE, and claim the difference back from them.

stephb34

A.Jones wrote: »

The 2% reload fee is also a downside. I'd prefer to get a decent rate with no loading fees, and plan a couple of weeks in advance (FairFX, caxton, etc), rather than get it instantly but be stuck with a card that will cost you to put more money on it.

Thanks for the reply, as i say don't know anything about the others, but the Tcook one there isn't a reload fee on the US$ card or the other 5 cards, only the sterling card carries a loading fee of 3%.