Prepaid Travel Cards guide

Gloomendoom

Chris56 wrote: »

I'm going to Singapore and NZ for 6 weeks and wondered what is the best prepaid travel card to use?

Have a gander at this,,,

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/travel/travel-credit-cards

kem1

Trying to decide on a pre-paid card for a holiday to Italy in 3 weeks. Bit concerned that the Monzo card doesn't have a name on it - with it being new, I'm worried some restaurants (and crucially our hotel that needs paying for on arrival) won't recognise it and therefore could refuse it. Anybody had any problems? Think I'm leaning towards Revolut...

Cat60

Post Office Pre Paid Euro Card taken out last December and was advised always get better rate on loading the card than buying cash. Tried to top up recently and app gives 1.07 as euro rate when I can get 1.1124 for cash. Asked at post office why and they agreed that their understanding was same as when sold to us. Called Post office travel card centre direct and they said not the case card rate, over counter rate and manager specials all different. There's no point in having it then really is there ? Anybody else experienced same problems?

PeacefulWaters

Cat60 wrote: »

Post Office Pre Paid Euro Card taken out last December and was advised always get better rate on loading the card than buying cash. Tried to top up recently and app gives 1.07 as euro rate when I can get 1.1124 for cash. Asked at post office why and they agreed that their understanding was same as when sold to us. Called Post office travel card centre direct and they said not the case card rate, over counter rate and manager specials all different. There's no point in having it then really is there ? Anybody else experienced same problems?

There never was any point in having it when there is far better value plastic out there.

Gloomendoom

Cat60 wrote: »

Post Office Pre Paid Euro Card taken out last December and was advised always get better rate on loading the card than buying cash. Tried to top up recently and app gives 1.07 as euro rate when I can get 1.1124 for cash. Asked at post office why and they agreed that their understanding was same as when sold to us. Called Post office travel card centre direct and they said not the case card rate, over counter rate and manager specials all different. There's no point in having it then really is there ? Anybody else experienced same problems?

The only point I can see is that you are not stuck in the 20th century carrying great wadges of cash around with you.

Check the travel guides here and get a better card.

Gloomendoom

kem1 wrote: »

Trying to decide on a pre-paid card for a holiday to Italy in 3 weeks. Bit concerned that the Monzo card doesn't have a name on it - with it being new, I'm worried some restaurants (and crucially our hotel that needs paying for on arrival) won't recognise it and therefore could refuse it. Anybody had any problems? Think I'm leaning towards Revolut...

It has a dirty great MasterCard logo on it. That is all you need.

There thousands and thousands of different credit and debit cards in circulation. I doubt your hotel would refuse any of them without trying it first.

malc_p

Hi all
We're off to the US for two weeks in August and reckon we'll need probably $2,000 for spending, which we'll probably split $500 in cash (for drinkies, tips, cabs etc) and $1,500 on a prepay card. Been looking at the prepay debit cards and frankly the pros/cons and so on are making our heads spin (considerations such as ATM fees, whether to get a card which sets the conversion rate as at day of loading Vs day of use, etc etc) so we're throwing ourselves on the mercy of you lot!
We're veering on a choice between Monzo and WeSwap (unless you know better)...
Ta

eDicky

malc_p wrote: »

Hi all
We're off to the US for two weeks in August and reckon we'll need probably $2,000 for spending, which we'll probably split $500 in cash (for drinkies, tips, cabs etc) and $1,500 on a prepay card. Been looking at the prepay debit cards and frankly the pros/cons and so on are making our heads spin (considerations such as ATM fees, whether to get a card which sets the conversion rate as at day of loading Vs day of use, etc etc) so we're throwing ourselves on the mercy of you lot!
We're veering on a choice between Monzo and WeSwap (unless you know better)...
Ta

I suggest that you disregard the idea of 'locking in' the exchange rate by preloading dollars on a prepaid card, because it will cost you a percentage spread on the rate and nobody knows which way the value of the pound will go, so there's a less than even chance of any advantage. There's also the issue of having unused dollars left over, with further cost to recover in pounds.

Instead, choose cards that cost nothing and keep your money in pounds until you use them, such as Monzo, Starling Bank. Revolut can be used either way, with only the £5 card fee. Take at least two, any card can fail or be lost, stolen etc. There's not much need for cash in USA.

GOMonTour

Hello,

Looking for advice. I have a Halifax Clarity card but I am thinking of getting a pre-paid card mainly for ATM cash withdrawals. Is it necessary?

If so any recommendations? Any views or opinions on the Travelex Cash Card? I have not seen any mention of it on the MSE website.

dj1471

GOMonTour wrote: »

Looking for advice. I have a Halifax Clarity card but I am thinking of getting a pre-paid card mainly for ATM cash withdrawals. Is it necessary?

No........