Prepaid Travel Cards guide

NiftyDigits

smidcelt wrote: »

I am heading to Bangkok and Phucket in January and was wondering which is the best card to take for restaurants, ATMs etc. We plan on taking a certain cash amount but do not want to take all cash for obvious reasons. Went to Thomson travel agent where they recommended loading a money card in Dollars then using abroad but with 3% transaction charge each time which does not sound like great value, but, may be the way to go ... Thanks in advance

It was actually a 5.75% transaction charge the last time I looked. Run away. Revolut would also not be good for Thailand in it's current form.

The best cards for Thailand are actually credit cards. Halifax Clarity and Creation Everyday, as they give the opportunity to withdraw cash over the bank counter at no extra charge.
Via ATM, you fall foul over Thailand's usurious ATM charge cash grab of nearly £5 per withdrawal.

If you are not eligible for a CC, then look at http://uk.virginmoney.com/virgin/current-account/essential-current-account.jsp debit card.

Use it for spends where you can.

Debit card purchases abroad No charge
Cash machine withdrawals abroad £1.50 per transaction

NiftyDigits

lambosx150 wrote: »

All I want to know is what is the best card I can pre load so as to be able to go to an ATM in the USA and take money out to have in my pocket.

My FairFX card will take care of the spends at restaurants etc

Virgin Money Essentials as above.

Anthorn

NiftyDigits wrote: »

Virgin Money Essentials as above.

Do you have a link? I don't see this on the Virgin Money website.

Or do you mean the Essentials current account? Or the Essentials travel insurance? Or perhaps the Virgin Money Prepaid Travel Card - 2 USD per ATM withdrawal. Or something else?

http://uk.virginmoney.com/virgin/travel-prepaid-card/

NiftyDigits

Anthorn wrote: »

Do you have a link? I don't see this on the Virgin Money website.

Or do you mean the Essentials current account? Or the Essentials travel insurance? Or perhaps the Virgin Money Prepaid Travel Card - 2 USD per ATM withdrawal. Or something else?

http://uk.virginmoney.com/virgin/travel-prepaid-card/

The link is within the post to which it refers.

Anthorn

NiftyDigits wrote: »

The link is within the post to which it refers.

Oh I assumed that since you were recommending it you knew all about it. That's what I get for assuming. No link to Virgin Money Essentials then?

NiftyDigits

Anthorn wrote: »

Oh I assumed that since you were recommending it you knew all about it. That's what I get for assuming. No link to Virgin Money Essentials then?

Perhaps English is not your first language.
I'll make it more simple for you. Post #632.
Easier?

Anthorn

NiftyDigits wrote: »

Perhaps English is not your first language.
I'll make it more simple for you. Post #632.
Easier?

Oh right. But that's a current account not a card which Lambosx asked for.

lambosx150

Thanks Anthorn. I will look into the
https://www.iceplc.com/
Ive given up on the Revolut card. My FairFX card ordered on Monday arrived Friday good service and the rate is going up just got to time it right to top it up.

eDicky

A quick look at the ICE US Dollar Travellers Cashcard reveals a rate of 1.2135 for buying dollars today, when the mid-rate is 1.273

https://www.iceplc.com/prepaid-currency-card/buy-us-dollar-card

Not surprising that they generously waive the card fee if you're brave enough to load £700...

Anthorn

eDicky wrote: »

A quick look at the ICE US Dollar Travellers Cashcard reveals a rate of 1.2135 for buying dollars today, when the mid-rate is 1.273

https://www.iceplc.com/prepaid-currency-card/buy-us-dollar-card

Not surprising that they generously waive the card fee if you're brave enough to load £700...

Not all that generous: It's only £4.75p if you don't load £700 and no other fees at all. Unless £4.75p is significant to you.

So what's the alternative to ICE then?