Using a credit card abroad

Mrs_pbradley936

Hello,


I have 3 cards, a Barclaycard, Tesco and Nationwide which one is best for using abroad for restaurants, museums etc? I will not be drawing cash.


Thanks

dzug1

Where is abroad? The answer can vary.


And it can also vary according to which card from said providers you have.

noh

Which Nationwide credit card?
Is it the Select Credit card?

eskbanker

See http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/travel/overseas-card-charges#credit

Mrs_pbradley936

I am going to Paris and the Nationwide does not say it is select just the Nationwide logo and Visa.

Mrs_pbradley936

Also I rang Nationwide because I think they used to waive charges for overseas spending but they do not do that anymore. Then they said that I could have £231 fee of charges, so I asked her why that figure and they said I had earned that via what I had spent on the card. For every £5 you spend you get £1 of free overseas spending. I will use that one first.

reclusive46

Mrs_pbradley936 wrote: »

Also I rang Nationwide because I think they used to waive charges for overseas spending but they do not do that anymore. Then they said that I could have £231 fee of charges, so I asked her why that figure and they said I had earned that via what I had spent on the card. For every £5 you spend you get £1 of free overseas spending. I will use that one first.

Do you have a current account with them? You can upgrade to the Nationwide Select card and get fee free on all cards.

NiftyDigits

reclusive46 wrote: »

Do you have a current account with them? You can upgrade to the Nationwide Select card and get fee free on all cards.

What are you writing?? Having a Select CC doesn't automatically make their debit card fee free.
If you want their fee free(for cash withdrawals abroad) debit card, you would have to move up to the FlexPlus account. Still not great, as they still charge 2% for purchases abroad.

For European travels, it's much better to get a Metro Bank debit and credit card, rather than go through the complicated Nationwide nonsense. You can pick up a Metro Bank debit card within an hour.

pacontracting

NiftyDigits wrote: »

What are you writing?? Having a Select CC doesn't automatically make their debit card fee free.
If you want their fee free(for cash withdrawals abroad) debit card, you would have to move up to the FlexPlus account. Still not great, as they still charge 2% for purchases abroad.

For European travels, it's much better to get a Metro Bank debit and credit card, rather than go through the complicated Nationwide nonsense. You can pick up a Metro Bank debit card within an hour.

What the OP is saying is that if you have a Nationwide current account, you are eligible to apply for a Select CC that doesn't charge any foreign transaction fees. If you don't have a Nationwide current account, your Nationwide credit card accumulates ftf credits based on your UK spend. The associated debit card still charges a fee unless you go for the FlexPlus account.

The Halifax Clarity is still the cheapest card for overseas travel with no ftf for transactions and no fees for cash withdrawl from ATM.

NiftyDigits

pacontracting wrote: »

What the OP is saying is that if you have a Nationwide current account, you are eligible to apply for a Select CC that doesn't charge any foreign transaction fees. If you don't have a Nationwide current account, your Nationwide credit card accumulates ftf credits based on your UK spend. The associated debit card still charges a fee unless you go for the FlexPlus account.

The Halifax Clarity is still the cheapest card for overseas travel with no ftf for transactions and no fees for cash withdrawl from ATM.

I think that you are more confused than anyone else on this thread.

First of all, reclusive46 is not the OP.
Secondly, what you wrote is not what he was saying.

What reclusive46 wrote was:

Do you have a current account with them? You can upgrade to the Nationwide Select card and get fee free on all cards.

Obtaining a Select card does not make the rest of your Nationwide cards fee free. That is nonsense.

As to your other statement.... the Halifax Clarity is not the best card for overseas travel. It is the best value credit card for cash withdrawals overseas and even then you have to be mindful to pay your bill asap, certainly before statements are even produced.

You could argue that different credit cards are better under differing circumstances. If you wanted to spread your holiday and holiday spends over a year to fifteen months, a newly acquired Nationwide Select card would be better. Couple it with the card below.

The best debit card would be from the N&P Gold Classic Current Account

As an aside; I have a Nationwide Flexaccount account and I don't have a Select CC, but yet my Nationwide CC charges; No Fee within Visa Europe region
1% added to Visa Exchange Rate if outside the Visa Europe region
The OP has another card altogether than mine.

Perhaps it's best that you don't try to put your words in other peoples mouths...

Since the OP "won't be withdrawing cash" the answer to her question is the Nationwide CC, as after her commission free spending, she will be charged 2%. The others charge higher commissions. I would guess 2.75% for Tesco and 2.99% for Barclays.

I would certainly echo the advice on getting better cards overall.

Mrs_pbradley936

Thanks for your replies everyone. I do not intend to travel very much in Europe in the future and for the Paris trip the Hotel and Eurostar train is already paid for. I will be taking some cash because need to eat, visit museums and so on will be taking cards in case the cash runs out.