Halifax Clarity or Cash Passport?

Lauren_Brown

Hello
I am due to travel to Las Vegas for a weeks holiday and I am wondering what is the best option for taking cash (dollars). I have the Halifax Clarity Credit card which I was planning on using to get the best exchange rate. I was also wanting to take some cash. The travel agent has advised me to use the Thomas Cook 'Cash Passport' for the majority of my cash.
My question is... is the cash passport an advisable option or is the Halifax Clarity card just as good? or whether to do both options?

Thank you, Lauren.

eDicky

Lauren_Brown wrote: »

I was also wanting to take some cash. The travel agent has advised me to use the Thomas Cook 'Cash Passport' for the majority of my cash.

Ignore this 'advice', it would cost you dearly. Use Revolut as a backup. You can withdraw any required cash dollars with this and your Clarity from ATMs in US, no need to buy cash in advance.

stevie11

+ 1 on the advice eDicky gave. If you have never used your Clarity card abroad before a few tips:


- Get a few dollars cash to start you off on your holiday.
- Inform Halifax when and where you are going.
- As some banks charge a few dollars transaction fee in the US, I would guestimate how much cash you require for your trip and get it in one go to avoid further transaction fees if possible.
- Use the card as a credit card for other payments, make sure if asked to select pay in dollars rather than sterling.
- Some people try to pay off the amount before the bill is due to avoid fees, the interest will be minimal, I would just enjoy your holiday and wait for the statement.


Have a good trip.

Gloomendoom

If you are using a Clarity for cash and purchases, any money you pay in to the account is used to pay off purchases first.

We have two and use one for purchases and the other for cash The cash one gets paid off as soon as is convenient after a withdrawal. The purchases one gets paid off automatically just before the statement due date.

Westin

Stevie11 lays it down clearly.

I would add perhaps to take another credit or debit card as a 'just in case' backup.

I have never had a problem with my Halifax Clarity card but would always travel with several back up options just in case the card gets stopped or refused for whatever reason.

Gloomendoom

I've had a problem with mine once. I ended up using my trusty Barclaycard to solve the problem. It did cost me £3 in fees though.

zagfles

Gloomendoom wrote: »

If you are using a Clarity for cash and purchases, any money you pay in to the account is used to pay off purchases first.

Nope - cash is paid before purchases. However statemented items are always paid before unstatemented and that trumps anything else.

We have two and use one for purchases and the other for cash The cash one gets paid off as soon as is convenient after a withdrawal. The purchases one gets paid off automatically just before the statement due date.

Good idea, it keeps it simpler, as long as you remember which card is which!

Gloomendoom

zagfles wrote: »

Nope - cash is paid before purchases. However statemented items are always paid before unstatemented and that trumps anything else. Good idea, it keeps it simpler, as long as you remember which card is which!

Thanks for the clarification.

knightstyle

We use the same H Clarity card for all overseas withdrawals and purchases.
If you know how much cash you will need at the beginning of your holiday arrange with your bank, before you go, for that amount to be credited to your Clarity account a few days after you arrive.

Gloomendoom

knightstyle wrote: »

We use the same H Clarity card for all overseas withdrawals and purchases.
If you know how much cash you will need at the beginning of your holiday arrange with your bank, before you go, for that amount to be credited to your Clarity account a few days after you arrive.

Sounds a bit risky to me as it would mean carrying around a large quantity of cash. Much safer to withdraw smaller amounts of cash as and when you need it. It's also easier to ensure that you don't end up with surplus foreign currency at the end of the trip.

Fitzmichael

I'm not clear on this. I'm going to see family in France and will use Clarity if I want to buy anything but I want a couple of hundred euros to give to the grandchildren. Is using the Clarity card (I have others credit and debit) the best way to do this and does it make any difference if I withdraw here (more convenient) or in France?
Thanks.