Halifax Clarity vs Barclays Platinum Travel

Little_Bunny

Hello all,


Apologies if this question has been asked before but I'm not one to really understand much about credit cards, case in point I currently have a Santander 123 which is costing me £3 a month which I should really have got rid of ages ago!


So my issue is I am going to America at the beginning of October for a couple of weeks and would just like some advice on which of the Barclays or Halifax travel options is best to plump for? I read the information on this site, make a choice, then I think 'oh what about that' and then get confused!


So I think what I understand is overall Halifax is best due to the rate (based on MasterCard) but Barclays is better because you can withdraw cash from an ATM but not get charged ANY fees if you pay the balance off in full?? Let's say hypothetically I would try to pay of the balance every month, then that means Halifax is the best I guess but if its a big purchase then Barclays? Barclays is also doing a cashback offer via Topcashback whereas I believe I have missed out the cashback offer for the Clarity card very recently (annoying!). Whilst cashback isn't obviously the most important thing it is obviously a nice to have as I am in the market to get a card.


So just to give you complete information I have a very good credit rating and haven't applied for a credit card in ages so I have a very good chance of being accepted I feel. However I just want to get the best card and whilst I understand what is the best is more than likely different for everyone seeing as all our circumstances are different, I was hoping someone could come up with a bit more of a definitive stance on which is best please.


Much appreciated!


LB

eDicky

American ATM's that do not charge up to $5 per withdrawal are scarce, but there are very few occasions where cash is needed in US. There's no significant difference between the MasterCard and Visa rates.

Little_Bunny

Hi eDicky,


Thanks so much for the prompt response. You can tell I am a bit nervous as I realise I have left this too late as I am flying out in less than 2 weeks lol!


Now that you said that I'm guessing I should avoid withdrawing cash totally in the USA which does make sense. So if I'm just going to spend using the credit card like normal i.e. at a till, then please can you confirm which is again the better card? I just want to be sure because I believe it is the APR I need to take into account where the Barclaycard is better at 11.9% as opposed to Halifax which is 18..9%. Because the Barclaycard is a Visa rather than MasterCard I am getting confused as to what rate/% I should be looking at to compare hence my post!


You do say the MasterCard and Visa rate difference is negligible (less than £1 in a transaction that an article I saw did as an example) but I do worry it ultimately adds up. So what I think I will say if it helps is I plan on spending small-ish amounts at a till and my first inclination would be to pay it off in full or as much as I can on a monthly basis. Therefore do you know which would be better for me please? I apologise if I am asking a stupid question ... I guess I don't really understand how the APR/rate exchanges work on ultimately what I will end up paying!


If you could please clarify it would be much appreciated and I will certainly get the relevant card out now! I will say I'm hoping the Barclaycard is better as I just spoke to Halifax and there is definitely no cashback offer going lol


Many thanks!!


LB

takman

Little_Bunny wrote: »

Hi eDicky,


Thanks so much for the prompt response. You can tell I am a bit nervous as I realise I have left this too late as I am flying out in less than 2 weeks lol!


Now that you said that I'm guessing I should avoid withdrawing cash totally in the USA which does make sense. So if I'm just going to spend using the credit card like normal i.e. at a till, then please can you confirm which is again the better card? I just want to be sure because I believe it is the APR I need to take into account where the Barclaycard is better at 11.9% as opposed to Halifax which is 18..9%. Because the Barclaycard is a Visa rather than MasterCard I am getting confused as to what rate/% I should be looking at to compare hence my post!


You do say the MasterCard and Visa rate difference is negligible (less than £1 in a transaction that an article I saw did as an example) but I do worry it ultimately adds up. So what I think I will say if it helps is I plan on spending small-ish amounts at a till and my first inclination would be to pay it off in full or as much as I can on a monthly basis. Therefore do you know which would be better for me please? I apologise if I am asking a stupid question ... I guess I don't really understand how the APR/rate exchanges work on ultimately what I will end up paying!


If you could please clarify it would be much appreciated and I will certainly get the relevant card out now! I will say I'm hoping the Barclaycard is better as I just spoke to Halifax and there is definitely no cashback offer going lol


Many thanks!!


LB

Do you currently have any credit cards because you don't seem to understand how they work. If your just going to be making purchases then the interest rate is irrelevant because if you pay your bill in full each month you don't pay any interest.

If you withdraw cash you will pay interest from the day you withdraw it so this is when paying it off immediately benefits you.

But if you haven't had a credit card in a while and have no history of paying one off then you may not be accepted for either.

Also considering that you only have 2 weeks until you fly out i think your best bet is to get the Monzo card. This is a prepaid card and you top it up and it offers the same almost perfect exchange rate for purchases and cash withdrawals with no fees (although they may be introducing fees for cash withdraws in the future). You will also be able to get this card within a few days compared to credit cards which will take longer.

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/credit-cards/prepaid-travel-cards#monzo

Little_Bunny

Hi Takman,


Yes you are correct I have very limited understanding of financial products in general but I am definitely trying to learn.


I do use the Santander 123 credit card and always pay in full nearly each month so I believe I am not being charged any interest (I do believe I am not on the 0% interest offer anymore but since I pay in full every month it doesn't seem to matter). I do think I will be accepted though due to this spend, but yes I do need to be quick.


So basically I think what the answers to my query is saying is the Halifax Clarity Card is the best as long as I don't do any cash withdrawals and pay off my full balance in full each month because it slightly beats the Barclaycard Platinum Travel card Visa rate!


Many thanks guys, that's been really helpful (and apologies for being a dunce lol).


LB

eDicky

For a one-off two-week trip in two weeks' time, don't bother with credit cards. Take a Monzo or Loot.io prepaid card, or both so you have backup, they cost nothing and give you the MasterCard rate.

Little_Bunny

Hi eDicky,


Thanks for coming back to me. Can I please ask you what your advice would be should I hypothetically extend my vacation from 2 weeks i.e. a couple of months? Would you still suggest no credit card please?


Thanks!


LB

HogMan

If you are staying in hotels or renting a car then you should use a credit card for the security element. Using a prepaid card is not a good idea as funds can be ring fenced meaning you will night not be able to access them for the duration of your trip.

Little_Bunny

Hi Hogman,


Thanks for that ... no I will be staying with a friend and use the card for shopping and experiences. I guess the Clarity is the way forward then.


Thanks for all your help


LB

adindas

eDicky wrote: »

For a one-off two-week trip in two weeks' time, don't bother with credit cards. Take a Monzo or Loot.io prepaid card, or both so you have backup, they cost nothing and give you the MasterCard rate.

Little_Bunny wrote: »

Hi Hogman,

Thanks for that ... no I will be staying with a friend and use the card for shopping and experiences. I guess the Clarity is the way forward then.
Thanks for all your help

LB

If you could get a proper creditcard is better. But I think the reason why eDicky is mentioning about prepaid card because two weeks to apply for a credit card is too tight.

Even it is already approved The chance that you will get your physical card before your trip is low as there are a few process involved. Not to mention having a good credit file is not a guarantee to get another credit card. You might still get rejected.

You will get the best of two worlds if you apply for both the main travel CC such as, Clarity of Barclay credit card but also apply prepaid card such as Monzo, Revolut. You have nothing to loose of doing this as for prepaid card there is no credit check involved.

chattychappy

I'd try the MSE eligibility checker to get an idea of what you look like to CC companies.

I agree that the time scales are tight, particularly if you are going right at the start of October. No reason why you can't apply for both... increases the chances of getting at least one of them in time, and provides a useful backup if you get both. Two searches won't be a problem.

[EDIT: noticed on your second post that you said "less than 2 weeks time". So I do agree with others that there is little chance of getting anything in time.]