Currency help for round the world trip

mjtomo

Hi all,
Very excited to be heading out on honeymoon in 2 weeks time and starting to finalise all our plans.
Would appreciate any advice on what to do money wise on this trip as we are travelling to 3 different countries. Firstly Bali for 5 days, then onto New Zealand for 10 days and then New York for 3 days.
Bali and New York is just our spends as we have already paid for accommodation and New Zealand we have been to before but there are lots of bigger payments to pay for e.g campervan which has been booked but not paid for).

We have a barclaycard credit card and a joint nationwide account, just wondered if anyone has any advice with regards to how best to spend money. Dont really want to carry lots of cash around with me.

Thankyou

agrinnall

Look up the page and click on the Travel credit cards link. Unfortunately you have probably left it a bit late with only 2 weeks to go. You might have more luck with a prepaid card (there's a link from the credit cards page), perhaps the Revolut card might be a good option for your circumstances (my niece got one quite quickly before setting off on her post-postgraduate travel).

Whatever you do Barclaycard and Nationwide debit cards are unlikely to be a good solution, although take them as back up anyway.

Ikamva

Use your barclaycard credit card to withdraw money. I have backpacked a fair bit and I have found that withdrawing money using a credit card is better than changing GBP into foreign currencies.

becominganobsessivesaver

As you have a nationwide account apply for one of their credit cards which has zero commission overseas. Rather than taking cash out on your credit card put some funds onto a currency card which you can withdraw at ATMs. Then just take some cash in each currency.

eDicky

Avoid using your Barclaycard (except as a backup if all else fails), with its 3% exchange rate loading. You may be lucky and receive a 'specialist' card in time, such as the Halifax Clarity, if you apply immediately, and you should sign up for the Revolut phone app and card each, totally free and with interbank rates on spending and withdrawals.

Ballard

I think that my Halifax Clarity arrived within a week.

bigadaj

Nationwide flex plus gives a fee free debit card, and select credit card a clean credit card.

Heck of a trip, I prefer spending some time in one area and seeing things in more depth but we're all different.

zagfles

bigadaj wrote: »

Nationwide flex plus gives a fee free debit card, and select credit card a clean credit card.

The FlexPlus debit card is not fee free for purchases, only ATM withdrawals. It works well with the Select credit card: use the FlexPlus card for ATMs and the Select card for purchases.

bigadaj

zagfles wrote: »

The FlexPlus debit card is not fee free for purchases, only ATM withdrawals. It works well with the Select credit card: use the FlexPlus card for ATMs and the Select card for purchases.

Yup, thought that was obvious though.

Also have a clarity that I used to use for cash, as an alternative and being a MasterCard rather than the nationwide visa cads does give a bit of comfort of a different network.

My clarity did take three or four weeks to come through when u applied so the OP might be struggling given their timeframe.

zagfles

bigadaj wrote: »

Yup, thought that was obvious though.

Why? It's very rare for any card to be fee free for ATMs but not purchases. A "fee free debit card" implies it's fee free to buy stuff with it.

Also have a clarity that I used to use for cash, as an alternative and being a MasterCard rather than the nationwide visa cads does give a bit of comfort of a different network.

Also Mastercard rates are generally slightly better than VISA so even with paying a little interest the Clarity can work out better value.

kdogg_05

The free overseas credit cards should work a treat in those countries.

I've even found that quite often the 3% cash charge while overseas on my lloyds avios master card, ends up with a better rate (3% charge included) then having cash and changing it at money exchanges.

But using it in shops / hotels / restaurants is usually no problem, and the cheapest and most convenient way I've found.