Student travel money and insurance

Mosska_16

Daughter is travelling around Europe for three weeks in August and for holiday money she applied for, but was refused a Nationwide FlexSaver account (as recommended on this site). Though she is solvent she didn't score highly enough, possibly because she has lived in a student house for less than a year and doesn't earn much.
She has a current account with Halifax and her student loan goes into NatWest (for the Rail card) where she also has an ISA. Both Halifax and NatWest are in MSE's 'Hall of Shame' for spending overseas!
Can anyone suggest what to do? She has saved £1,000 for the trip.
Also, travel insurance - would be grateful for any suggestions.
Nationwide suggested that she should have a visa card to improve her credit scoring but she is reluctant because of the temptation. I think she's sensible not to have one - or is that bad advice?

3plus1

KathrynMoss2 wrote: »

Daughter is travelling around Europe for three weeks in August and for holiday money she applied for, but was refused a Nationwide FlexSaver account (as recommended on this site). Though she is solvent she didn't score highly enough, possibly because she has lived in a student house for less than a year and doesn't earn much.
She has a current account with Halifax and her student loan goes into NatWest (for the Rail card) where she also has an ISA. Both Halifax and NatWest are in MSE's 'Hall of Shame' for spending overseas!
Can anyone suggest what to do? She has saved £1,000 for the trip.
Also, travel insurance - would be grateful for any suggestions.
Nationwide suggested that she should have a visa card to improve her credit scoring but she is reluctant because of the temptation. I think she's sensible not to have one - or is that bad advice?

I've always relied on my Nationwide card so don't know what to suggest if your daughter can't get one. Is she travelling alone? I mean, if you take out say £200 worth of money in one go rather than £20, you pay the same £2 odd charge with most cards, don't you? (Not sure about your daughter's specific accounts though, I'm with other banks.) But if she's on her own, I wouldn't recommend carrying large quanties of cash.

As for "the temptation" of having a VISA - I have a credit card purely to boost my credit rating. I only use it for big purchases on the internet (for the buyer protection) and if I know I can pay it off. I'm not much older than your daughter, either! I think it's definitely worth thinking about improving your credit rating when you're at university.

I used flexicover.com when I travelled abroad for a year, so it's maybe worth asking them for a quote as they were the cheapest travel insurers for me at the time. I know they do short trip insurance as well as longer periods - you can get an idea of how much it would cost from a calculator on their website without giving any personal details over.

Mosska_16

Thank you for the advice. She is travelling with her boyfriend, not alone. Will try the insurance company and pass on your comments about the Visa card.

Meatballs

Postoffice credit card? Nationwide credit card? I though both do 0% spending. But will have to take out some euros cash or get charged for withdrawing from her current account?

Alternatively you could apply for a card if she gets rejected and put her on them as well?