Travelling the world - which prepaid card?

Gillingham

My son is going to be travelling around mainly in Asia for two or three years. I want to get a prepaid card adding him as the second card holder so that I can load money onto the card as a gift when it is his birthday, christmas etc. It will also be handy incase he has any unexpected emergency that he needs cash for. I have already got him a card on my credit card account, but I don't want him using it only in a dire emergeny! That is why I like the idea of a prepaid card.

He is starting his trip in Tailand and I thought about getting the Caxton fx Global Traveller card. Is the best one to get, or does anyone know of a better one. I need an answer asap as he has just phoned and told me he has booked his flight for next week!

benjus

TravelEx Cash Passport Globe ( http://www.travelex.co.uk/uk/cash-passport-globe.aspx ) is the cheapest all-round prepaid card.

Bear in mind that in Thailand most ATMs charge a withdrawal fee, so it's one of the few places where it still makes some sense to use Travellers' Cheques. However, the ATM charge isn't huge, and there used to be a few ATMs (Aeon bank) that don't charge at all - not sure if that's still the case.

mcfisco

If you're anywhere near London, a Metro Bank current account takes some beating
You can open it and walk out with the debit card at the same time

https://www.metrobankonline.co.uk/Personal/Bank-Accounts/Current-Account/

Gillingham

Thank you for the replies.

The Travelex card seems to be the same as the Caxton FX card.

Unfortunately we are in the North East so the Metro Bank account is not an option.

TakeThis

Gillingham wrote: »

Thank you for the replies.

The Travelex card seems to be the same as the Caxton FX card.

Unfortunately we are in the North East so the Metro Bank account is not an option.

Don't be silly.

You have been given the best advice. Not only is it better value, but the card can be picked up with four hours notice from ordering online. Don't look a gift horse in the mouth.

callum9999

TakeThis wrote: »

Don't be silly.

You have been given the best advice. Not only is it better value, but the card can be picked up with four hours notice from ordering online. Don't look a gift horse in the mouth.

Not really. I don't see how a Travelex Cash Passport Globe could possibly beat a fee-free debit card, like Norwich and Peterboroughs.

Granted it's the best advice within the remit they gave, but it's not the best advice for them.

Gillingham

Thank you for all replies. Unfortunately a debit card is not an option.

I am obviously missing something but how is the Travelex card mentioned better/different to the Caxton card? Caxton don't make a charge for withdrawing cash at an ATM.

benjus

Compare the fees/charges of the two cards.

Caxton FX Global Traveller charges 2.75% exchange rate loading, and nothing for international ATM use.
TravelEx CP Globe charges 1.49% exchange rate loading and nothing for international ATM use.

Therefore the TravelEx card is cheaper.

benjus

callum9999 wrote: »

Granted it's the best advice within the remit they gave, but it's not the best advice for them.

um... isn't that a contradiction?

budgetflyer

here we go again.....

Neil49

It takes more than a week for Caxton to issue a card so you may have no option but to go for the Travelex card.