Seasons Travel Card Still Any Good?

saintscouple

We used Seasons last year, https://www.seasonstravelcard.com, and it worked well for us, had 2 cards, we kept one on us and the other in the safe, and no problems whatsoever.
This year we didn't go away, but going away next year to the same place, and found our Seasons cards still in date.
Thus my question is, when needing 2 cards and going to Majorca where we will mainly be using ATM cash withdrawals, is it best to keep using the Seasons cards or is there a cheaper option out there factoring in any additional card fees?

Thanks

NiftyDigits

http://uk.virginmoney.com/virgin/current-account/essential-current-account.jsp

Get an account each. Not difficult to transfer between accounts if you lose a card.

saintscouple

Cheers, will look in to that, especially as i can't get hold of Seasons and they are not replying to my emails, so going to shred their cards and look elsewhere.

NiftyDigits

Next time that you are in London, pick up a a Metro Bank debit card each. You'll likely receive them within an hour. You won't find better for use within the SEPA.

saintscouple

Cheers, I did look at this option, but both the missus and me have abysmal credit record, so next to nil chance of getting the debit card we need from them. Bit of a shame as nearest branch is less then 20 miles away in Newbury.

Looked back on my Seasons statements, and we spent aprox £800 through cash withdrawals, last time we went to this resort, so will be pretty much the same this time. Hence looking for best card for atm withdrawls.

saintscouple

NiftyDigits wrote: »

http://uk.virginmoney.com/virgin/current-account/essential-current-account.jsp

Get an account each. Not difficult to transfer between accounts if you lose a card.

May i ask your advice, on what would be best between this, and curve?
I think curve charges 50p more for atm withdrawals, but is the currency conversion better on the curve?

tia

eDicky

saintscouple wrote: »

May i ask your advice, on what would be best between this, and curve?
I think curve charges 50p more for atm withdrawals, but is the currency conversion better on the curve?

The Virgin Money Essential debit card costs nothing and gives the straight VISA exchange rate with no fees except £1.50 per ATM withdrawal, so best to withdraw the maximum (£250 worth) at a time. The account actually pays 0.75% APR interest.

So compare that to the Curve, which has a hefty fee for the card, and offhand I don't remember their fees for non-sterling transactions - you can check. It works in a similar way to the Travelex Supercard, to which you link your regular bank or credit cards, but is probably less suitable for overseas use.

NiftyDigits

saintscouple wrote: »

May i ask your advice, on what would be best between this, and curve?
I think curve charges 50p more for atm withdrawals, but is the currency conversion better on the curve?

tia

I'm not sure as to the detriment of popping over to the local branch with your ID and giving it a go.
They certainly won't hound you out of the branch. Perhaps they just won't offer you an overdraft, but you are not expecting that anyway.
Worst case scenario is that they might offer their Cash account, which isn't really suitable to your overseas needs.
In that case I would go to Virgin. But the first port of call should be Metro Bank with suitable ID.

saintscouple

eDicky wrote: »

The Virgin Money Essential debit card costs nothing and gives the straight VISA exchange rate with no fees except £1.50 per ATM withdrawal, so best to withdraw the maximum (£250 worth) at a time. The account actually pays 0.75% APR interest.

So compare that to the Curve, which has a hefty fee for the card, and offhand I don't remember their fees for non-sterling transactions - you can check. It works in a similar way to the Travelex Supercard, to which you link your regular bank or credit cards, but is probably less suitable for overseas use.

The curve blue card is free, but i do see your point and think either a metro of virgin essential account would be more beneficial, and as you state the virgin one pays interest so we an start loading the account straight away, a good way to save for the spending money and also knowing the money is safe. Thanks

NiftyDigits wrote: »

I'm not sure as to the detriment of popping over to the local branch with your ID and giving it a go.
They certainly won't hound you out of the branch. Perhaps they just won't offer you an overdraft, but you are not expecting that anyway.
Worst case scenario is that they might offer their Cash account, which isn't really suitable to your overseas needs.
In that case I would go to Virgin. But the first port of call should be Metro Bank with suitable ID.

I will give them a call today and ask their view on my chances, if there is a chance i'll get it, they will be our first point of call, if not virgin essential it is. Thanks for all your advice.

eDicky

eDicky wrote: »

So compare that to the Curve, which has a hefty fee for the card,

Correction, I see they now issue the card for free (used to cost £35). Foreign transactions at 'wholesale' rates +1%, plus a £2 charge per foreign ATM withdrawal. Domestic withdrawals free up to the monthly limit of £200, then a 2% charge, not clear if that also applies to overseas. Hardly a useful card except perhaps as backup.

budgetflyer

It was useful until Amex pulled the plug