Prepaid Travel Cards guide

NiftyDigits

stupidgirl09 wrote: »

Good morning I am looking to get one these cards as i am due to go to New York in May and want to lock in the rate due to rates going down. Does anyone know if i will get charged by my bank to pay the money onto my card by direct debit? Thanks

No charges

MikeD2372

Hi,
We are going to Florida for 2 weeks in a bot over 2 weeks time and want to get a prepaid card for our spending money as we have no credit cards and feel they are the best option. We have 2 in mind (Post Office and Revolut) and was wondering if anyone can give some advice/experience with regards to what is the best way to do this. I think I understand the following though please correct me if I am wrong,

Best to load in GBP and convert to dollars when there/in transaction?
Be aware of any associated charges for withdrawls etc

We are staying onsite at Disney and doing the whole park thing so I do not envisage us requiring a lot of cash and would prefer if we have 2 cards for security reasons.
Many thanks in advance for any help/advice given.

Mike

NiftyDigits

MikeD2372 wrote: »

Hi,
We are going to Florida for 2 weeks in a bot over 2 weeks time and want to get a prepaid card for our spending money as we have no credit cards and feel they are the best option. We have 2 in mind (Post Office and Revolut) and was wondering if anyone can give some advice/experience with regards to what is the best way to do this. I think I understand the following though please correct me if I am wrong,

Best to load in GBP and convert to dollars when there/in transaction?
Be aware of any associated charges for withdrawls etc

We are staying onsite at Disney and doing the whole park thing so I do not envisage us requiring a lot of cash and would prefer if we have 2 cards for security reasons.
Many thanks in advance for any help/advice given.

Mike

I have never been to Disneyland, but I cannot imagine that any of their outlets will lack the ability to pay buy card.
You should always have a fee free CC to hand. The likes of Clarity or Creation Everyday. Also to include SAGA and Post Office Platinum...

eDicky

MikeD2372 wrote: »

want to get a prepaid card for our spending money as we have no credit cards and feel they are the best option. We have 2 in mind (Post Office and Revolut)
Best to load in GBP and convert to dollars when there/in transaction?
Be aware of any associated charges for withdrawls etc

Revolut is far superior to the PO card in every way. Take your ordinary bank card(s) as backup. Conversion to USD can be when the card is used or at any time before, as you choose, with the rate applicable at that moment. Most ATMs in the US charge $2-3 for withdrawals.

MikeD2372

Thanks for the replies. Are travellers cheques still a good option? I am concerned with the lack of time available between when we have the money available and when we leave. May be leaving it a little fine!

NiftyDigits

MikeD2372 wrote: »

Thanks for the replies. Are travellers cheques still a good option? I am concerned with the lack of time available between when we have the money available and when we leave. May be leaving it a little fine!

Why are you complicating the issue? Join Revolut immediately and order the physical card via the application.
Then you can begin to transfer your funds to the Revolut account. Don't use the card for any purpose wherein they take an 'authorisation'. For example at petrol stations, car rental and perhaps hotels, as it may take a few days for those authorisations to clear and perhaps you won't have use of those funds when you need them(whilst on holiday).
Even if you go over the US$700 free ATM withdrawal limit, the 2% charge beyond that is still better than you would receive exchanging cash here before leaving.

Pieeater

Revolut now, just get it, you can't go wrong I used in India and the transactions appeared on my account within seconds and no fees at ATM, no Braintree for me.

PeacefulWaters

MikeD2372 wrote: »

Thanks for the replies. Are travellers cheques still a good option?

They're a bit 1970s to be honest.

kaydee

MikeD2372 wrote: »

Thanks for the replies. Are travellers cheques still a good option? I am concerned with the lack of time available between when we have the money available and when we leave. May be leaving it a little fine!

I think you'd probably find Travellers Cheques would create more problems than they'd solve!!
As mentioned above they are now showing their age!

plusman

Has anybody tried to contact Revolut support?

I was having a problem topping up for the first time and tried their in-app support chat. Nearly an hour later, I am still getting no response.

I have also tried their phone number (rings out without any response).

I also sent an email and received a response saying that the support email was withdrawn and was for emergencies only and to use the app chat feature - I replied by email indicating that I was not getting any response via the app - and have not heard any more from Revolut since.

Has anybody had similar/better experiences? Looking at their Facebook page, it seems that I am not the only person not getting any response from Revolut's customer service.

I am now very concerned about using this card considering the lack of response. I also now question why MSE are so prominently suggesting that people use the card if the customer service is so poor.