Student Travel Spending

Honkycat

Hi,

My daughter is a medical student and this summer is going away for 2 months to Fiji (for 1 month and the touring Asia for another) on a medical elective programme (they work with local medics in exchange for food and board).
This is obviously quite expensive so our local Bank of Ireland provide a medical elective loan (about 10K) as long as you change your current account to them. So, this is all set up. What I'm wondering is, should she just use her current account debit card abroad, or the BOI credit card? I know about the Halifax Clarity etc, but I don't think she'd get one of those as a student would she?
Some of her friends are talking about a Post Office Travel card which can be topped up online from home, although when I looked online it says it charges £1.50 for cash withdrawals abroad.
If anyone has any advice on the best way for her to spend when away I'd be really grateful.

Thanks,

Steve.

redpete

Our daughter used FairFX card when travelling last year, it is a pre-loadable Mastercarda and worked well.

Honkycat

Thanks, I looked up that card, but it only seems available in Euros or Dollars?

LC_Irwin

I am in similar position as my daughter is also going on 3rd Year elective to Kenya tomorrow...From what I can gather, Santander zero credit card is great for spending, but costs for withdrawing cash. Halifax clarity is best...I applied for one, and one for my daughter, but didn't get it in time. She has some local currency and British pounds with her - The Natwest/UlsterBank debacle meant she couldn't get US dollars. That's her arrangement at present. I do have the Fairfx card but it's as you say, only for euro/dollars

Hope this helps - if anyone has any better suggestions, I'd appreciate them too...

Honkycat

I've found a CaxtonFX card which seems quite good? No fee or ATM withdrawal fees (although 2.75% below current exchange rate?).
Not sure if this is any good or not.

redpete

Honkycat wrote: »

Thanks, I looked up that card, but it only seems available in Euros or Dollars?

It has an "Anywhere card" option that is loaded in sterling and spent in whatever currency the country uses.

Honkycat

Ahh....I see that. It has a 1.4% loading v 2.75% with Caxton, but it charges £1 per ATM transaction v Free with Caxton. Swings and roundabouts or a clear winner?

Honkycat

Went for the Caxton in the end. Fingers crossed!