which is best for me?

jodie114

i am travelling to rome next month for a short break and need to sort out currency.
I was stung last year with the crown currency fiasco so want to collect etc but NOT have delivered.
I can either change my money up here, i was thinking maybe ice in london (i live in london) or use a debit card. I have a nationwide flex from new york last year, or my current account is with first direct and also hsbc.
I don't mind opening another account if its better, but would not be transferring wage etc into it, so no minimum pay-ins please.
Soo confused.

stilltheone

Metro Bank Though if you travel seldom, perhaps it's overkill to open an account for just a short break.

Travel Money Max

zagfles

Or the Halifax Clarity - you will pay a small amount of interest on ATM withdrawals, so it's not as cheap as MetroBank - but as I understand it you have to open a MetroBank account in one of their London branches. If this is incorrect I'm sure I'll be corrected...

If you go for the Clarity, pay it off as soon as you get back to minimise interest, if you've got a good credit rating you should get the lowest APR of 12.9%, so on a 2 week holiday the interest will be fairly trivial (probably under 0.5%).

Incapuppy

How much money will you need for a short break? You may find that on a small amount it is not worth spending much time shopping around here for the best exchange rate. I'd use an ATM whilst there or take sterling and change it once there.

zagfles

Incapuppy wrote: »

How much money will you need for a short break? You may find that on a small amount it is not worth spending much time shopping around here for the best exchange rate. I'd use an ATM whilst there or take sterling and change it once there.

Not for a one-off trip but it is if you travel regularly.

stilltheone

If you travel regularly, it would be better to get a regular account with either Metro Bank, N&P or Cumberland BS.

The are many reasons why the Clarity card may not be suitable for all.