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Ireland - Santander 123 credit/debit cards
2013yearofthehouse
Posts: 3,077 Forumite
A friend of mine is going to Ireland, but doesn't want to get a specialist credit card (although she has considered getting a pre-paid card) as it's not a very long trip and she only plans to spend a few hundred Euros.
She has a Santander 123 debit card and 123 credit card.
Most of her spending will be in small amounts, a few Euros for entry tickets, guidebooks, postcards etc. so she'll mostly use cash, but she would like to use a card for larger amounts like dinner, petrol etc. (although the ferry and hotels are already paid for).
Most of the time she will be in Northern Ireland, so spending in sterling, which she assumes is free for charging on both debit/credit and for cash withdrawal on debit (depending on the ATM), same as using in England/Scotland/Wales?
She is then visiting Dublin for 3 days, spending in Euros, so cash withdrawal on debit would cost 1.5% (minimum £1.99) and charging on credit would be free (until 31/12/16), but with whatever MasterCard exchange rate is for that day? She must ensure she is paying in Euros though (is this by default or would she need to check every time?) as otherwise the shop/restaurant will use their own exchange rate which will be worse than the bank's? Charging to her debit card is a big no-no though, as there would be a fee every time regardless of amount spent.
Does this sound ok? Are the assumptions correct? Is there a better way to do it? Obviously the 1.5% fee on ATM withdrawal is not MSE, but this would only be a backup option as she intends on taking cash with her. Small purchases would be cash and larger purchases charged to the credit card.
What should she use at the Dublin hotel if they need a card to hold a refundable deposit against?
Thank you
She has a Santander 123 debit card and 123 credit card.
Most of her spending will be in small amounts, a few Euros for entry tickets, guidebooks, postcards etc. so she'll mostly use cash, but she would like to use a card for larger amounts like dinner, petrol etc. (although the ferry and hotels are already paid for).
Most of the time she will be in Northern Ireland, so spending in sterling, which she assumes is free for charging on both debit/credit and for cash withdrawal on debit (depending on the ATM), same as using in England/Scotland/Wales?
She is then visiting Dublin for 3 days, spending in Euros, so cash withdrawal on debit would cost 1.5% (minimum £1.99) and charging on credit would be free (until 31/12/16), but with whatever MasterCard exchange rate is for that day? She must ensure she is paying in Euros though (is this by default or would she need to check every time?) as otherwise the shop/restaurant will use their own exchange rate which will be worse than the bank's? Charging to her debit card is a big no-no though, as there would be a fee every time regardless of amount spent.
Does this sound ok? Are the assumptions correct? Is there a better way to do it? Obviously the 1.5% fee on ATM withdrawal is not MSE, but this would only be a backup option as she intends on taking cash with her. Small purchases would be cash and larger purchases charged to the credit card.
What should she use at the Dublin hotel if they need a card to hold a refundable deposit against?
Thank you
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Comments
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I live in France and use a Santander Zero credit card (a forerunner of the 123) for everything and the exchange rate used by Santander is always very competitive as I don't think they "load" it like other cards, so I think your friend will be OK using the Santander credit card in Dublin.
Always check on the merchant's machine that you are paying in €s because, more and more, the machines realise mine is a UK card and try to get me to use sterling (at awful exchange rates!).
Avoid taking cash out on it, though!
She should use her Santander credit card at the hotel - I do all the time when travelling all around Europe on business.0 -
This is not the case. The "Zero" card is free from exchange rate loading and foreign use charges, but the Santander 123 CC has them all.I live in France and use a Santander Zero credit card (a forerunner of the 123) for everything and the exchange rate used by Santander is always very competitive as I don't think they "load" it like other cards, so I think your friend will be OK using the Santander credit card in Dublin.Evolution, not revolution0 -
This is not the case. The "Zero" card is free from exchange rate loading and foreign use charges, but the Santander 123 CC has them all.
Sorry, are you saying it would cost my friend extra money to charge purchases to her Santander 123 CC in Dublin?
She is going this year and I was looking at the MSE guide here: http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/travel/overseas-card-charges where it says spending charge is NIL until 31/12/16 then 2.95% afterwards. Is that incorrect? Or are there other charges?
Thanks0 -
If that's what it says then I am mistaken, sorry. All the info is there.2013yearofthehouse wrote: »Sorry, are you saying it would cost my friend extra money to charge purchases to her Santander 123 CC in Dublin?
She is going this year and I was looking at the MSE guide here: http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/travel/overseas-card-charges where it says spending charge is NIL until 31/12/16 then 2.95% afterwards. Is that incorrect? Or are there other charges?Evolution, not revolution0 -
So...
All spending should all be done on Santander 123 CC?
(No charges and good exchange rate?)
Taking cash out (if necessary) on Santander 123 DC?
(To be avoided due to 1.5% fee, min £1.99, but ok for a back up £100-200?)0
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