Going to Thailand & Vietnam in 2 weeks Best way to Take Money?

C-LIFE777

Just tried the Clarity card and my credit rating isnt good enough to get one so that is out of the question and tbh im only on a basic account with halifax as i was refused a Current account (Bad Credit history) So not sure if virgin will accept me

Onlythebest

C-LIFE777 wrote: »

Just tried the Clarity card and my credit rating isnt good enough to get one so that is out of the question and tbh im only on a basic account with halifax as i was refused a Current account (Bad Credit history) So not sure if virgin will accept me

Virgin's also a basic account. Application in person.

Onlythebest

Loot is also accessible via the web and currently has no conversion charges and each month, you'll get two free cash withdrawals, and each withdrawal after that will cost £1.

So possibly your best bet for now.

Though as most banks won't allow you to do a fee free cash advance with this kind of debit card in Thailand, you may not be able to avoid the 220 baht ATM withdrawal fee.
I guess you can try to use the card for purchases when you can.

C-LIFE777

Im not to fussed about the 220 Bath conversion Cause i know i will get that pretty much whatever i use unless i go in bank with a clarity card like you said

but i dont like the idea of being charged the 220 baht and another £1.50 ATM fee like £4 every time bit of a ball ache

Ill check that loot out thank you mate i was also looking at ICE cards looks like you pay the 2.8% fee when you load the card then only get charged the 220 baht for when you withdraw

Onlythebest

C-LIFE777 wrote: »

Im not to fussed about the 220 Bath conversion Cause i know i will get that pretty much whatever i use unless i go in bank with a clarity card like you said

but i dont like the idea of being charged the 220 baht and another £1.50 ATM fee like £4 every time bit of a ball ache

Ill check that loot out thank you mate i was also looking at ICE cards looks like you pay the 2.8% fee when you load the card then only get charged the 220 baht for when you withdraw

2.85%
That's £2.85 per £100. Makes a mockery of paying £1.50 ATM withdrawal fee for the Virgin option.

That would be £7.76 for a £100 ATM withdrawal as compared to £6.41 for the Virgin card.
Loot £4.91(just the greedy Thai ATM fee).

AEON(Thailand) charge a 150 baht(£3.34) ATM fee.
Bank of China(Thailand), nothing. Not sure if limited to VISA or Mastercard.

So take a bit of cash in Pounds with you. When you arrive at BKK, head towards the Airport Rail Link and change some cash at Super Rich and the like, to tide you over until you can get to one of the lower charging ATM.

C-LIFE777

Thats true i was working them out last night and there was cheaper but ICE do say they give you 1.5% cash back from orders over £50 so really will only work out 1.55%

C-LIFE777

Im gonna go in and try open a virgin account just a pain because the closet store to me is 20 miles

Onlythebest

C-LIFE777 wrote: »

Thats true i was working them out last night and there was cheaper but ICE do say they give you 1.5% cash back from orders over £50 so really will only work out 1.55%

Of course this is nonsense.
How many £50+ purchases do you imagine that you are going to make in Thailand? Perhaps your hotel bill. But likely most things will require cash payments or smaller purchases.
So no cashback.

Loot and Virgin Money Essentials in so you aren't dependent onjust one card.

eDicky

C-LIFE777 wrote: »

dont like the idea of having everything on a phone app if you loose the phone your !!!!!!ed cant even access your account on there website

Onlythebest wrote: »

Loot and Virgin Money Essentials in so you aren't dependent onjust one card.

Loot is app based. The card will still work if you manage to lose the phone, and can be topped-up by FP without the app. Plenty of new and used phones are available at decent prices in Thailand.

C-LIFE777

Thank you Both for your inputs

I have gone with loot signed up and going to try open a virgin account tomorrow as well split the money between the 2