Best credit cards for use worldwide

yorky246

Hi all


I will be travelling to Canada and Thailand within the next few months. Can anyone recommend a good c card to use?


(I am unable to get the Halifax Clarity card as I have owned a previous card with Halifax and have to wait for the 6 month period to lapse)


Thanks

plunt

whats your age?

http://www.saga.co.uk/money/saga-credit-card.aspx


get a debit card with N&P (gold) and fill the criteria of monthly transfers


Got a nationwide account, then potentially the nation wide select account
http://www.nationwide.co.uk/products/credit-cards/landing-page/select-longer-term?aggregator=1&cmpid=Aggregator_2127


or the post office credit card
http://www.postoffice.co.uk/credit-card?campaignid=AG_CC


host of other cards shown here

http://www.moneysupermarket.com/credit-cards/overseas-spending/

YorkshireBoy

yorky246 wrote: »

(I am unable to get the Halifax Clarity card as I have owned a previous card with Halifax and have to wait for the 6 month period to lapse)

Have they changed the 'rules'? It always used to be zero balance closing statement plus 30 days.

thebritishbloke

Post Office Credit Card is probably your next best bet if you can't get a Clarity.

chattychappy

For cash, Barclaycard isn't bad and certainly better than most. They load the transaction by a flat 2.99%, but then it's treated like a purchase. There are no other fees* and no interest provided you pay the statement balance in full - meaning you get up to 56 days interest free. Also on my Platinum I find I can get £500 in one go, unlike some other cards. (Though depending on country, the ATM machine limit might be less than that.)

(* except for any locally applied ATM fees which are difficult to avoid anyway.)

For purchases - yep. I use both PO Mastercard and Nationwide Select (if you get the current account with them). No fees/loading. I've used both in Thailand and Canada.

thebritishbloke

chattychappy wrote: »

For cash, Barclaycard isn't bad and certainly better than most. They load the transaction by a flat 2.99%, but then it's treated like a purchase. There are no other fees* and no interest provided you pay the statement balance in full - meaning you get up to 56 days interest free. Also on my Platinum I find I can get £500 in one go, unlike some other cards. (Though depending on country, the ATM machine limit might be less than that.)

(* except for any locally applied ATM fees which are difficult to avoid anyway.)

For purchases - yep. I use both PO Mastercard and Nationwide Select (if you get the current account with them). No fees/loading. I've used both in Thailand and Canada.

Oh my I had no idea you could do this! Just verified it on this page (follow the steps in MyBarclayCard).

They do also apply a 2.75% transaction fee if you make a purchase abroad, these charges aren't that bad really if you don't want a whole other card just for use abroad. I got myself a Halifax Clarity card as I spend a good portion (30% ish) dotted around the EU.

NiftyDigits

thebritishbloke wrote: »

Oh my I had no idea you could do this! Just verified it on this page (follow the steps in MyBarclayCard).

They do also apply a 2.75% transaction fee if you make a purchase abroad, these charges aren't that bad really if you don't want a whole other card just for use abroad. I got myself a Halifax Clarity card as I spend a good portion (30% ish) dotted around the EU.

You are confused:

One straightforward fee
Simplified charges with a single, standard fee of 2.99%
You'll pay this single non-sterling transaction fee whether you buy something with your card or withdraw cash*
No extra charges. No hidden rate**

NiftyDigits

thebritishbloke wrote: »

Post Office Credit Card is probably your next best bet if you can't get a Clarity.

Clearly not. Though of course it doesn't matter if only for purchases. For cash withdrawals there are other options.

yorky246

YorkshireBoy wrote: »

Have they changed the 'rules'? It always used to be zero balance closing statement plus 30 days.

Yes its now a 6 month period, which I think is ridiculous

yorky246

Yes I forgot to mention I am mainly concerned with cash withdrawals. Barclaycard with a standard fee of 2.99% for ATM use seems fairly decent. Anyone other suggestions?

thebritishbloke

NiftyDigits wrote: »

You are confused:

Yep, I was thinking of HSBC. I think I was having a bad day