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Prepaid Travel Card

Hi there,

I am going on going on my honeymoon in a couple of weeks to Florida, and have ordered some dollars already. I still have more to get, but already have the majority. Someone has suggested a prepaid travel card is the best thing to do, but as we already have the money, I was wondering if there any good cards out there that I can load the dollars I already have onto them, and one where I can do it over the counter not online.
Does anyone have any ideas?
Thanks, Dave

Comments

  • Doshwaster
    Doshwaster Posts: 6,404 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    davemchol wrote: »
    Hi there,

    I am going on going on my honeymoon in a couple of weeks to Florida, and have ordered some dollars already. I still have more to get, but already have the majority. Someone has suggested a prepaid travel card is the best thing to do, but as we already have the money, I was wondering if there any good cards out there that I can load the dollars I already have onto them, and one where I can do it over the counter not online.
    Does anyone have any ideas?
    Thanks, Dave

    Interesting question. I'm not sure which pre-paid cards can be topped up with cash in that currency. You could try the Thomas Cook card as you can get them over the counter in branches http://www.thomascookmoney.com/cash-passport

    Otherwise get a card and keep the cash separate as a backup for places that don't take plastic.
  • stilltheone
    stilltheone Posts: 2,131 Forumite
    Doshwaster wrote: »
    Interesting question. I'm not sure which pre-paid cards can be topped up with cash in that currency. You could try the Thomas Cook card as you can get them over the counter in branches http://www.thomascookmoney.com/cash-passport

    Otherwise get a card and keep the cash separate as a backup for places that don't take plastic.

    Don't even think about it.
  • weeclick
    weeclick Posts: 1,051 Forumite
    I have this issue too where the exchange rate is better in other places apart from the thomsons shop I have my prepaid card with. I phoned up thomsons this morning and asked if I took euros in cash into the branch could I top up my card with euros and they said yes. I double checked that there would be no additional charge for topping up in the foreign currency and they said no - so maybe try taking your dollars to thomsons!
    Life is what you make it.
  • stilltheone
    stilltheone Posts: 2,131 Forumite
    weeclick wrote: »
    I have this issue too where the exchange rate is better in other places apart from the thomsons shop I have my prepaid card with. I phoned up thomsons this morning and asked if I took euros in cash into the branch could I top up my card with euros and they said yes. I double checked that there would be no additional charge for topping up in the foreign currency and they said no - so maybe try taking your dollars to thomsons!

    Let us know how it goes. :)

    Frankly it's better just to get a better Prepaid card, than to faff around buying Euros to put on a poor card.
  • dzug1
    dzug1 Posts: 13,535 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    I wouldn't be surprised if Thomson change into ££ and back again when they actually come to do it. After all that's no additional charge over what you would normally incur.......

    Interesting to know what really happens.
  • stilltheone
    stilltheone Posts: 2,131 Forumite
    dzug1 wrote: »
    I wouldn't be surprised if Thomson change into ££ and back again when they actually come to do it. After all that's no additional charge over what you would normally incur.......

    Interesting to know what really happens.

    That's what I thinking they would do....but let's give them the benefit....
  • A.Jones
    A.Jones Posts: 508 Forumite
    That's what I thinking they would do....but let's give them the benefit....

    or maybe not ...
  • emmajt81
    emmajt81 Posts: 65 Forumite
    a lot of these pre paid cards charge you for taking money out of ATMS in America - even if they are Dollar Cards! I just got back from a roadtrip in the USA and can highly reccommend the Caxton FX card. Has a minimum load of $200 i think but there are NO charges for shops or ATMS and its easy to top up online or on the phone had no problems with it whatsoever!
  • nearlynewbie
    nearlynewbie Posts: 179 Forumite
    I have set one of these up with my son as secondary card holder so that he can travel (inter-railing) but have now foundthat you CANNOT get a repalcement card for a secondaary card holder- whislt they are aborad (unliek eg travellers cheques)which is rather frustrating. Now we'll have to ge travellers cheques as back up which rather deafeats the point of the exercise! I had to phone to find this out as its not on the website. REplacement card for a primary card holder(couriered) is £50.
  • stilltheone
    stilltheone Posts: 2,131 Forumite
    I have set one of these up with my son as secondary card holder so that he can travel (inter-railing) but have now foundthat you CANNOT get a repalcement card for a secondaary card holder- whislt they are aborad (unliek eg travellers cheques)which is rather frustrating. Now we'll have to ge travellers cheques as back up which rather deafeats the point of the exercise! I had to phone to find this out as its not on the website. REplacement card for a primary card holder(couriered) is £50.


    Actually you can send him a card yourself(and more cheaply) if you have an address for him.

    Courier delivery
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