Help! Forgot I needed a credit card.. travel money?

tommysaver

Hi you helpful lot,

Well, nearly 18 months ago I cancelled my 123 credit card as a change in circumstances meant I never used it, and wasn't justifying the monthly cost. Nor did I particularly like paying things off the next month.

Anyway.

I totally forgot I'm going on holiday at the end of this month (June) :O and it's probably a good idea that I sorted myself out with one again.

I don't go away too often but it would be really nice to know I've got a future proof card that offers some kind of good deal.

E.g. travel money, some sort of % back on normal spending. Does such a thing exist?

Also, roughly how long does it take to get set up with one - I'm conscious I only have a few weeks really.

I did look on the websites comparing them and I'm not going to lie, found it slightly confusing / time consuming haha.

Is there such a card that offers what I'm after - any recommendations?

I'm going to the baleriac islands so nowhere too remote.


What's the standard practice if I say needed to use an ATM for cash,

Or failing that, actually used my CC to pay for things - e.g. hotel deposit / hire car / supermarkets? Does it pay using Euro's and then Convert it and I get charged whatever the rate is?

Appreciate any advice.. sorry, bit of a n00b on this subject.

Cheers.

eskbanker

The best place for info and guidance on this around here is https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/credit-cards/travel-credit-cards

Sncjw

Why not just get some money changed over with cash

RichL74

Must be great to have such a busy life that you forget your going on holiday, I'm not going away until December yet I can't stop thinking about it.

Enterprise_1701C

If you get the Tesco CC you can get the travel money from Tesco on it and it is counted as a normal purchase rather than a cash advance.

If you want to get money out of the ATM you really need to have a bank debit card, it would cost a fortune on credit card.

Considering how late you have left it you might be best off getting a cash passport - this is a link to Tesco travel money because it is what I use, if you look around you will find more information about it.

https://www.tescobank.com/travel-money/buy-in-store/

eDicky

Enterprise_1701C wrote: »

If you get the Tesco CC you can get the travel money from Tesco on it and it is counted as a normal purchase rather than a cash advance.

If you want to get money out of the ATM you really need to have a bank debit card, it would cost a fortune on credit card.

Considering how late you have left it you might be best off getting a cash passport - this is a link to Tesco travel money because it is what I use, if you look around you will find more information about it.

Ignore all three of these pieces of duff advice. Stay away from supermarket 'travel money' and 'cash passport' cards, you just need suitable fee-free debit or credit cards according to the advice in the link given by Eskbanker. You can, for example, sign up for a Starling Bank account on your phone in minutes and have the debit card within a couple of days.

Enterprise_1701C

I only suggested that because of the limited time, you can go into a shop and buy the card on the spot rather than having to wait to be approved, getting the card lost in the post etc.

eDicky

Enterprise_1701C wrote: »

I only suggested that because of the limited time, you can go into a shop and buy the card on the spot rather than having to wait to be approved, getting the card lost in the post etc.

I'm sorry but buying a 'cash passport' type card is just not a good idea. By the time you've loaded foreign currency at a dismal rate, paid to redeem any leftover and various other fees it would almost certainly be cheaper to use your regular bank debit card while overseas, also saving the time and hassle. The same probably goes for exchanging cash at a supermarket.

Specifically, assuming Tommy uses a smartphone, I would apply for the Tandem credit card which satisfies his desire for cashback, at 0.5%, which is likely enough to arrive within the 2-3 weeks before departure. In addition, the Starling Bank and/or Monzo cards, which arrive within days, and a Loot prepaid card* as extra backup.

All of these cost nothing and your money remains in pounds until purchases or cash withdrawals are made, at the ideal MasterCard exchange rate.

* https://loot.io/

Edi81

Or just open a current account with starling...you don!!!8217;t get cash back but no currency fees for spending or withdrawals plus it should be with you within 4/5 days.

agrinnall

Sncjw wrote: »

Why not just get some money changed over with cash

Because it's one of the least cost-effective ways of obtaining goods and services in a foreign currency.

worried_jim

https://www.starlingbank.com

https://monzo.com

https://www.revolut.com/?lang=en

all free, I have all three, currently Starling is the best. Whilst non of them are credit cards all will allow mastercard exchange rates with no fees and Starling will let you withdraw from ATM's with no limits- the other two are approx £200pm fee free from ATM's but unlimited card use in shops etc.

I've used all of them all over world and it makes travelling so simple and cost effective.

apply online and you'll get the accounts instantly with a physical card in the post three days later.