best travel money options?

sc52

stilltheone wrote: »

Travelex Cash Passport Globe Only online. Can be ordered from four hours in advance of pick up.

Hi,

what's the best way to load one of these? Halifax Clarity?

Just bought some Euros from Travelex (online) and used a visa (AA) card, as travelex don't charge using this card. However I failed to take any account of what the AA charge - namely a 3% handling fee and interest until balance settled.

I've applied for a Halifax Clarity Card but as it's Mastercard, the fees, if not as high, are the other way round; Travelex want 1.5% as it's a Mastercard, Halifax 0%, but interest until balance settled.

(In hindsight - for cash the best option I've found for Euro (and US dollars) is cash/clarity at the Post office (branch) - online they also charge 1.5% for clarity. The branch rates are very close to online for these 2 currencies but not for NZ $ - which I also need.)

Thanks

Simon

benjus

sc52 wrote: »

Hi,

what's the best way to load one of these? Halifax Clarity?

Just bought some Euros from Travelex (online) and used a visa (AA) card, as travelex don't charge using this card. However I failed to take any account of what the AA charge - namely a 3% handling fee and interest until balance settled.

I've applied for a Halifax Clarity Card but as it's Mastercard, the fees, if not as high, are the other way round; Travelex want 1.5% as it's a Mastercard, Halifax 0%, but interest until balance settled.

(In hindsight - for cash the best option I've found for Euro (and US dollars) is cash/clarity at the Post office (branch) - online they also charge 1.5% for clarity. The branch rates are very close to online for these 2 currencies but not for NZ $ - which I also need.)

Thanks

Simon

Seems a bit pointless using a Halifax Clarity to load a prepaid card. Just use the Halifax Clarity card abroad. If you want until the direct debit pays it off automatically the interest will probably cost about the same as the fees of the prepaid card would have done, and if you can pay it off manually sooner than that the interest will be a lot less.

sc52

benjus wrote: »

Seems a bit pointless using a Halifax Clarity to load a prepaid card. Just use the Halifax Clarity card abroad. If you want until the direct debit pays it off automatically the interest will probably cost about the same as the fees of the prepaid card would have done, and if you can pay it off manually sooner than that the interest will be a lot less.

Thanks for that.

Apologies - it was only after posting that I saw that you could load a travelex card online (ie directly from a current account)

So why would anybody want a travelex global card, if they already have a clarity card? Belt and braces?

I'm off to Peru and just wondered whether it would be wise to have a travelex card just in case there was any problem at the ATM with the Clarity.

Thanks

stilltheone

sc52 wrote: »

Thanks for that.

Apologies - it was only after posting that I saw that you could load a travelex card online (ie directly from a current account)

So why would anybody want a travelex global card, if they already have a clarity card? Belt and braces?

I'm off to Peru and just wondered whether it would be wise to have a travelex card just in case there was any problem at the ATM with the Clarity.

Thanks

They are both on the Mastercard network, so perhaps you would do better to check on the availability of Mastercard and Visa usage. It may be useful to have a Visa option. I haven't checked for Peru.

abandonded

stilltheone wrote: »

Travelex Cash Passport Globe Only online. Can be ordered from four hours in advance of pick up.

Neighbour has just told me the he got his TCPG from the local Sainsburys literally on the spot ie after filling in a few details..

zagfles

benjus wrote: »

Seems a bit pointless using a Halifax Clarity to load a prepaid card. Just use the Halifax Clarity card abroad. If you want until the direct debit pays it off automatically the interest will probably cost about the same as the fees of the prepaid card would have done, and if you can pay it off manually sooner than that the interest will be a lot less.

That's what I do - I check my balance on the Clarity online when I get back off holiday and pay it off straight away. On a 2 week holiday average interest is under 0.5%. Much better than any prepaid card.

stilltheone

abandonded wrote: »

Neighbour has just told me the he got his TCPG from the local Sainsburys literally on the spot ie after filling in a few details..

Are you sure? As far as I know, it is only available online. Please chack and confirm that it is the Globe card. They are Travelex outlets in Sainsburys, so it is entirely possible.

Sunshine_and_Roses

I could do with a bit of advice too please.

I have a Travelex EU Cash Passport with about 15 euros left on it from last year. I also have a Post Office Platinum Card (last year they were not charging for transactions abroad, dont know if this is still the case).

Would it be best to top up the Cash Passport and use that (no fees??), or another alternative? I am only going away for a week so wont be spending a fortune I hope.

stilltheone

clareski wrote: »

I could do with a bit of advice too please.

I have a Travelex EU Cash Passport with about 15 euros left on it from last year. I also have a Post Office Platinum Card (last year they were not charging for transactions abroad, dont know if this is still the case).

Would it be best to top up the Cash Passport and use that (no fees??), or another alternative? I am only going away for a week so wont be spending a fortune I hope.

If there is no debit balance on the CC, use that for purchases and pay the full amount used as soon as you get home.
I would use the aforementioned TCPG for cash withdrawals. The choice is up to you.

Sunshine_and_Roses

stilltheone wrote: »

If there is no debit balance on the CC, use that for purchases and pay the full amount used as soon as you get home.
I would use the aforementioned TCPG for cash withdrawals. The choice is up to you.

No balance on the card, assuming it is still 0% for purchases for meals etc, so I will use that and stick a couple of hundred on the Cash Passport (its not a globe one, does that make a difference?). Cant see how to load it online either - am i being a bit thick?

Thanks for your advice