Pre-paid Visa card for honeymoon help.

catmiaow

We're looking at prepaid Visa cards for our Caribbean trip next year. We'll be visiting various countries, so one that only works in Dollars (or whatever) is no use.

We looked at the Caxton FX Global Traveller card, which initially seemed a good deal until you realise that they charge 2.75% on all transactions that aren't in the card currency, by which they mean pound sterling!

Has anyone got suggestions on what the best way to manage our money in the Caribbean is? These cards really appeal to us, as it means we don't have to worry about getting different money out for each nation we'll call at, and we can spend as little or as much (within reason!) at each island without worrying about having excess cash left at the end of the day.

Thanks in advance

Wannie_2

Make sure that your bank's debit card does not charge you for the initial top up.

Possibly the best Prepaid card overall is the Travelex Cash Passport Globe ordered through the Travelex website via TopCashBack(choosing the Globe card).

If you prefer to use a 'normal' debit and credit card, look at Metro Bank.

If not near London, think about a Halifax Clarity CC and pay off the full amount as soon as you are home.

Doshwaster

catmiaow wrote: »

We looked at the Caxton FX Global Traveller card, which initially seemed a good deal until you realise that they charge 2.75% on all transactions that aren't in the card currency, by which they mean pound sterling!

Actually, if you compare all of the pre-paid cards available 2.75% is one of the better rates around (though not as quite good as the TravelEx Globe) and much better than you would get for changing cash.

Mands

catmiaow wrote: »

We're looking at prepaid Visa cards for our Caribbean trip next year. We'll be visiting various countries, so one that only works in Dollars (or whatever) is no use.

Which islands or countries are you visiting?
Mands

catmiaow

Mands wrote: »

Which islands or countries are you visiting?
Mands

Aruba - Aruban Florin
Barbados - Barbadian dollar
Venezuela - Bolivar fuerte
Grenada - East Caribbean dollar
Saint Lucia - East Caribbean dollar
Saint Kitts and Nevis - East Caribbean dollar
Antigua and Barbuda - East Caribbean dollar
Dominica - East Caribbean dollar
Curaçao - Netherlands Antillian guilder
Sint Maarten - Netherlands Antillian guilder
British Virgin Islands- US Dollar

catmiaow

Wannie wrote: »

Make sure that your bank's debit card does not charge you for the initial top up.

Possibly the best Prepaid card overall is the Travelex Cash Passport Globe ordered through the Travelex website via TopCashBack(choosing the Globe card).

If you prefer to use a 'normal' debit and credit card, look at Metro Bank.

If not near London, think about a Halifax Clarity CC and pay off the full amount as soon as you are home.

Thanks but the Travelex hard seems to have expensive fees involved.

Wannie_2

catmiaow wrote: »

Thanks but the Travelex hard seems to have expensive fees involved.

No, it doesn't. It's the cheapest.

Read and compare the T&Cs properly.

Take a VISA card too(perhaps CaxtonFx Global) as a back-up.

gnasher18us

Don't use any of the above - The best card for overseas spending is the Halifax clarity credit card.

No fees for withdrawals of your money (usually 3% ish), and they also give you a PROPER exchange rate (unlike almost all other credit cards).

Just a quick note: If you withdraw cash, you won't be charged a withdrawal fee, but you will pay interest from the date of withdrawal.

Purchases are fine until repayment date - but ALWAYS pay in local currency if the retailer asks you.

It's never in your benefit to pay using £ (outside if the UK) as the exchange rate will never be benefial to the user (this applies to ALL credit cards).

Enjoy your holiday (sounds a good one!) :beer:

Mands

catmiaow wrote: »

Aruba - Aruban Florin
Barbados - Barbadian dollar
Venezuela - Bolivar fuerte
Grenada - East Caribbean dollar
Saint Lucia - East Caribbean dollar
Saint Kitts and Nevis - East Caribbean dollar
Antigua and Barbuda - East Caribbean dollar
Dominica - East Caribbean dollar
Curaçao - Netherlands Antillian guilder
Sint Maarten - Netherlands Antillian guilder
British Virgin Islands- US Dollar

Ok, that looks like a lot of different currencies but it isn't as complex as it first appears.

British Virgin Islands: US Dollar

Barbados: Barbadian dollar

Pretty much everywhere in Barbados will take USD in place of BSD. The street rate is 1 USD to 2 BSD. Change comes back as BSD so use the smallest USD notes you have.

Grenada: East Caribbean dollar
Saint Lucia: East Caribbean dollar
Saint Kitts and Nevis: East Caribbean dollar
Antigua and Barbuda: East Caribbean dollar
Dominica: East Caribbean dollar

As with Barbados pretty much everywhere will take USD. Again your change will come back in ECD so you'll need to keep an eye on those in the last port of call.

Sint Maarten: Netherlands Antillian guilder

Most places will accept Euros so if you have any hanging around at home then take those. Again use small notes and try to use up the last of the local currency.

Aruba: Aruban Florin
Venezuela: Bolivar fuerte
Curaçao: Netherlands Antillian guilder

These three I don't know. It'd be worth having a mooch on the Ports of Call section over at Cruise Critic. It may become clear that you could use USD there in which case you're looking at USD for most ports and EUR.

Take a stash of small envelopes with you then when you get back onto the ship at the end of the day you can drop the change into one and mark the currency ready for the next time you are on an island that uses that currency. Then you won't be looking at a drawer full of small coins trying to figure out if they're any use for the next day's shopping.

Is this a replacement for the Thomson Dream cruise? If so well done in getting them to switch to something you were more comfortable with. There's some lovely islands there, you should have a super time.

Mands

Doshwaster

gnasher18us wrote: »

Don't use any of the above - The best card for overseas spending is the Halifax clarity credit card.

No fees for withdrawals of your money (usually 3% ish), and they also give you a PROPER exchange rate (unlike almost all other credit cards).

The Halifax card is a good alternative but the problem is that it is a credit card so some people may not get accepted and you have to be very careful to pay the bill of in time. *IF* you can do then then it can be a great card but for others a pre-paid debit card may be a better idea.

Wannie_2

gnasher18us wrote: »

Don't use any of the above - The best card for overseas spending is the Halifax clarity credit card.

No fees for withdrawals of your money (usually 3% ish), and they also give you a PROPER exchange rate (unlike almost all other credit cards).

Just a quick note: If you withdraw cash, you won't be charged a withdrawal fee, but you will pay interest from the date of withdrawal.

Purchases are fine until repayment date - but ALWAYS pay in local currency if the retailer asks you.

It's never in your benefit to pay using £ (outside if the UK) as the exchange rate will never be benefial to the user (this applies to ALL credit cards).

Enjoy your holiday (sounds a good one!) :beer:

Not quite right. Best are Metro Bank. I can think of at least five credit card that pass on the PROPER exchange rate.

Apart from that, the OP asked about Prepaid cards. The Prepaid card suggested offers the 'PROPER' exchange rate minus 0.99%/1.49% depending on whether purchased via a cashback website.