Pre-Paid Travel Card (€) for under 18

Rach1509

hi,

my daughter is going to Spain with her friend and her friends grandparents. She is 17. I don't want her to take all cash, I know travellers cheques are now dead and buried - so what can she take?

I thought it would be a case of simply get a pre-paid travel card, but this is proving a nightmare as they all say 18+
Even the ones like Lyk that did not say it on their blurb , ... have it in T&C, and I don't want her to get turned down trying to use it, or get her money out

any advise from others that have been here before?, thanks in advance

EveryWhere

FlexOne current account with Debit card is the answer.

https://www.nationwide.co.uk/products/current-accounts/flexone/whats-flexone

NoodleDoodleMan

It's a winner for 11-17 year olds.

Rach1509

Thanks but that seems to just be a UK bank account? - in GBP? (she already has a debit card and UK bank account)

I was looking for her holiday money ie in Euro, so she can spend overseas in Euro or withdraw from cash machines - like a pre pay card, (or the modern version of travellers cheques)

eDicky

No, don't look for a card where you have to load euros, losing money on the exchange and probably being stuck with leftovers or pay again to change back. The only ones that exist for under 18s are supplementary cards to one for an adult, having extra fees and complication.

Keep the money in pounds until using the card for purchases or ATM withdrawals, converting at the ideal MasterCard or Visa rate without fees. The FlexOne account and its debit card does all this and is perfect for your daughter, please believe us.

arielsmelody

Yes, she should be able to use her debit card in Spain in the same way as she would in the UK, but the amount she spends in Euro will be converted by the bank into pounds when it is debited from her account.


Also - she is over 16 so it's probably OK, but it cant hurt to make sure she has a letter to give her permission to travel with non-family members.

martindow

It might be worth her getting a second account so that she has another means of paying or getting cash in case the card gets lost or is blocked by the bank.

EveryWhere

martindow wrote: »

It might be worth her getting a second account so that she has another means of paying or getting cash in case the card gets lost or is blocked by the bank.

going to Spain with her friend and her friends grandparents

So she is not alone. Plus she already has a bank account and debit card.
We can assume that option will be costly to use abroad, so advocate FlexOne for use as primary and everything else as back-up.

Rach1509

Thanks Everyone - I almost wish we could go back to the good old days of travellers cheques, at least she was only spending a little bit at a time then, and if one goes missing she still had money / cash

NoodleDoodleMan

You can always make her an additional cardholder on a "user friendly" fee free credit card that you open - as backup.

The Barclaycard Platinum Travel Card is a top pick right now, likewise the old favourite Halifax Clarity.

Absolutely no need for a prepaid card in Euros, the FlexOne is a better deal - she can ditch her other UK debit card, it won't be better than the Nationwide deal.

Also worth noting - a Santander debit card is fee free in Spain when used at a Santander branded ATM. It's not difficult to find out if there is one convenient to where she is staying. I think there will be an ATM locator on the Santander website.