Best currency rate, Croatia.

zagfles

howlsatthemoon wrote: »

Ok, I have taken all your advice and signed up for a revolut card, Metro Bank seems to be based in the south of England/London area so no good to me. Now do you think I would be better transferring all my holiday money on to the card and when I arrive withdraw some or get some Kunas here before I travel? I take it, to use the card it will be the same as using a bank card here. This will be my 1st time using a card abroad so a still bit wary.

OK firstly apologies for tone of my earlier posts - it looked like you were a spammer as you posted a URL with a referrer id.

Using a card abroad is basically the same as here but there's one thing to watch out for - sometimes the ATM will offer currency conversion - do NOT accept this option. Always take the "without conversion" option. Otherwise the ATM will convert at a (usually) rubbish rate. Your receipt should show the Kuna amount only, not GBP.

All major airports will have ATMs, Split and Zagreb certainly do - check the airport website if you want to make certain. Then you can just withdraw at the airport when you arrive, no need to get any in advance. If you're worried (some people worry about all ATMs being down - very unlikely), take a bit of GBP which you can change in an emergency.

Usually a good idea to have a backup card just in case - even if it's not a fee free card - so if your card gets lost/damaged/blocked etc you have an alternative till you can get a replacement. Most cards will still be better value than changing cash even if they're not fee free.

eDicky

howlsatthemoon wrote: »

Now do you think I would be better transferring all my holiday money on to the card

No need to load it all yet, keep it in the bank until you get the hang of how it works and have confidence. Once you have topped up with your debit card and verified it, the app will retain your card details and it only takes seconds to load more any time you have data or WiFi connection. Check that your card is working fine before you go by using it to pay for groceries and trying it in an ATM. The FAQs are comprehensive, and Zagfles' advice perfect.

howlsatthemoon

Thanks for all replies.

Apologies for the link I posted didn't realise this would set alarms bells ringing .

Have now ordered my card and will wait till it arrives before transferring any money to it.

Flying into Dubrovnik Airport had a look at their website and looks like plenty ATMs available I take it/hope there will be an option to get display in English as my Croatian is not as good as it should be.

Will now read/watch FAQs on Revolut homepage.

Cheers

FunTime

Kako si?

Indeed there will be the option for English when using the ATM.

In addition, note that you can only withdraw £500 per month abroad via ATM before a 2% charge kicks in for further withdrawals that month.
So if you are likely to spend more, try to utilise the card for purchases(only in places that you consider safe) instead of using cash or just apply for another card, using another telephone number.

I also advise withdrawing £10 from cashpoint in the UK to make sure that it is working fully before you leave.

howlsatthemoon

Just a quick follow up to this thread. Decided to use card as advised but currency exchange rate was 8.36 to the pound when I used it. I would have got 8.54 if I had ordered travel money through post. Never mind still enjoyed Dubrovnik and would certainly go back.

PeacefulWaters

howlsatthemoon wrote: »

Just a quick follow up to this thread. Decided to use card as advised but currency exchange rate was 8.36 to the pound when I used it. I would have got 8.54 if I had ordered travel money through post. Never mind still enjoyed Dubrovnik and would certainly go back.

But if you'd had the Revolut card at the time you saw the 8.54 rate, Revolut would have given you a higher rate.

eDicky

It sounds like you were there when the pound was at rock bottom earlier this week - unlucky! I assume you were using Revolut as we recommended, and you avoided the 'conversion' trap that Zagfles mentioned. Then it turns out that you would have been better off with your usual method - but such currency fluctuations are not predictable.

zagfles

Unfortunately the pound's plummeted in the last month - with exchange rate movements sometimes you win and sometimes you lose.

The vast majority of the time using a fee free card will beat changing money in advance, as the movement in currency rates is not usually more than the charge difference. And of course sometimes the movement works in your favour and you doubly gain, through lower charge and better rate.

Nobody can predict currency movements (if anyone claims they can, ask them why they aren't a billionaire). Stick with a fee free/low fee card for your travels and over the long term if you do a lot of travelling you'll be better off.

Note that the site you were looking at now has a rate of 8.18.

eDicky

zagfles wrote: »

Note that the site you were looking at now has a rate of 8.18.

With the mid-rate now at 8.438

howlsatthemoon

PeacefulWaters wrote: »

But if you'd had the Revolut card at the time you saw the 8.54 rate, Revolut would have given you a higher rate.

Sorry but I do not understand this. Can you please explain? Do you mean if I had loaded my card at the time the rate was 8.54 I would have got a higher rate? Even though I was not in Croatia.