Travelex - Cash Passport Globe

WelshSun

Hey

Im going on holidays soon and ive been looking at travel cash cards.
My card is with Halifax and they charge 2.75% on the interbank (which is the best a consumer will ever get) visa rate, plus £1.50 for each transaction which is very expensive. I also have no credit history so wont be able to get a credit card.

The Travelex Cash Passport Globe seems like a very good alternative
http://www.travelex.co.uk/uk/cash-passport-globe.aspx

It charges (from what I can tell) 1.49% on the Mastercard interbank, with no other fees, including for ATMs. The card is also currently free.

However MSEs page doesnt recommend this card, even though it appears to have lower fees than cards like CaxtonFX and most debit and credit cards.

What do you think?

budgetflyer

correct .I have 2. Its great.

If you go via quidco you get 0.5% cashback on the initial load too.

Topping up is simple too, just a phone call

I really don't know why its not in the MSE guide.

benjus

You can also top up by Faster Payments, which in my experience take 3-4 hours to reach the TravelEx card.

It's a good card which is frequently recommended on this forum. The prepaid card section of the MSE article hasn't been updated for some time.

System

My daughter has been using one for the last 9 months while at Uni in Spain. Never had a problem with it apart from a card dying

WelshSun

Thanks guys, think I will get it.

@!!!!!!- What problems have your daughter had?

zagfles

As you're with Halifax get the Clarity - which is better value than any pre-paid card - no exchange rate markup, no purchase or cash withdrawal fees, only charge is interest on cash advances but that'll be trivial on a typical holiday (pay it off as soon as you get back).

System

WelshSun wrote: »

Thanks guys, think I will get it.

@!!!!!!- What problems have your daughter had?

Some places would not accept it because there is no name.

The only other prob was one card died and she didn't take Mum & Dad's advice to get a new card straight away. You guessed it, the second card failed 3 months later and she spent 2 days living on whatever she had in the flat until the new cards were couriered to her.

With both cards it was the inability of ATMs to read the chip

WelshSun

zagfles wrote: »

As you're with Halifax get the Clarity - which is better value than any pre-paid card - no exchange rate markup, no purchase or cash withdrawal fees, only charge is interest on cash advances but that'll be trivial on a typical holiday (pay it off as soon as you get back).

Well I have only applied for one credit card in my life, it was the student credit card with Halifax. They pestered and pestered and eventually I said yes, just for the added security and never to spend and not pay back I should add! Then they rejected me Though they did five me an increased 0% current account overdraft to £2000. Wo knows what they do/ how they decide? lol
Still being a student, with no income or real credit history I doubt they will give me a credit card though.

!!!!!! wrote: »

Some places would not accept it because there is no name.

I have heared that can happen, especially in Spain. But I will mainly use ATMs. Will keep in mind telling them staright away if one of the card breaks also, Thanks

budgetflyer

benjus wrote: »

You can also top up by Faster Payments, which in my experience take 3-4 hours to reach the TravelEx card.

It's a good card which is frequently recommended on this forum. The prepaid card section of the MSE article hasn't been updated for some time.

By phone, if you top up via debit card , money is available after 10 minutes

stormbreaker

benjus wrote: »

It's a good card which is frequently recommended on this forum. The prepaid card section of the MSE article hasn't been updated for some time.

We are looking in to getting a Prepaid card for our 17yr old son going to Rhodes. We looked at the MSE guide and thought that although most recommend FairFx we were going to go with CaxtonFx purely because of the free ATM withdrawels as he will undoubtedly be withdrawing small amouts frequently ( considerably differant from when we go on our holidays!).
From wht you are saying is the

The Travelex Cash Passport Globe
http://www.travelex.co.uk/uk/cash-passport-globe.aspx

possibly a better alternative?

We will be topping up ( hopefully NOT) if need be from home via internet.

mty

Just got my Passport-Globe, just beware, as i and others have stated here before, you will probably get charged for putting money on your card by yoiur own bank. RBS charged me £4.50 for putting £500 on mine.