Spending Methods Abroad?

chompie

hi, i see a similar post below but i'll try to be a bit less aggressive

i am going to cyprus in a few weeks. apart from cash (if i run out_pale_ )
what is my best (cheapest;) ) method of getting or spending cash?

i have an Egg card, a MBNA CC, and two debit cards; Meastro card and a Visa Electron

thanks for any help

Goat

chompie wrote:

hi, i see a similar post below but i'll try to be a bit less aggressive

i am going to cyprus in a few weeks. apart from cash (if i run out_pale_ )
what is my best (cheapest;) ) method of getting or spending cash?

i have an Egg card, a MBNA CC, and two debit cards; Meastro card and a Visa Electron

thanks for any help

Get a nationwide flex account. They give you a visa debit card that has no charges for withdrawing cash abroad from a cash machine or using it as a visa card.

Felix

Yup, Nationwide card. No exchange rate loading in or out of Europe.

Goat

Felix wrote:

Yup, Nationwide card. No exchange rate loading in or out of Europe.

Is it just Europe?

What about the US/Canada?

grumbler

Goat wrote:

Is it just Europe?

What about the US/Canada?

WORLDWIDE

'The cheapest way to spend overseas: save 6% ' article...

vansboy

If you get ThomasCook card - MBNA - you get 1.5% back in points towards next holiday, 5% off ThomasCook holidays & up to 2.5% on the actual holiday cost.Plus no credit card booking fee. They price match/beat too!!

But stuff you on the international transaction add ons - so Nationwide whilst away.

VB

trisha

I have a nationwide flex card, when we are in the USA I go to the local library, they have free internet access usually, transfer the money from my e account to Flex as and when I need it, then get the money out of a machine, they don't charge interest on the debitcard. It works quite well that way, also you get the exchange rate of the day, so keep an eye on that.

pin

I think you actually get the exchange rate the day the money comes out of your account, which may be a few days later (however may be confusing this with the credit card).

trisha

pin wrote:

I think you actually get the exchange rate the day the money comes out of your account, which may be a few days later (however may be confusing this with the credit card).

As far as I know, a debit card transaction is taken straight out of your account, when you use the ATM you can get a statement showing the balance of your account, and yes do you get the exchange rate at that time, if you use a credit card then that's a different matter, and you will probably pay interest.

I paid for some dollars online at Travelex using my Nationwide Visa and had to pay interest as it was a cash transaction,, I usually pay with the debit card which doesn't have any charges.