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

Plutonomics

You should look at the Halifax Clarity Card or Barclays Platinum Travel Card. They both allow you to use your card abroad with no fees or interest, including cash withdrawals. You get the best rate possible and it is significantly cheaper than buying travel money or using a normal card. The only note I would give is make sure you pay the statement balance off in FULL. I have used my card in several countries and never had an issue, but after my most recent trip I left a relatively small balance on there of £300, and ended up paying interest on all my spending, if I had paid in full this would have cost nothing.

Neil49

Leaving it so late limits your options with regard to credit cards as they may not arrive in time but you need one if you are going to hire a car as they secure a significant deposit through it which basically locks up a chunk of your credit limit. If you hand over your debit card for car hire then you could find that you are unable to use it for anything else.

A Halifax Clarity credit card is a good option but you can't assume that you can get one.

I use a Monzo debit card which ideal for purchases abroad but limits you on atm withdrawal. A Starling debit card is the best option for you and you should be able to get one fairly quickly.

tommysaver

RichL74 wrote: »

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.

Wow, thanks so much for all your advice!

And Rich, oh trust me, it's not great to have such a busy life!

I'm aware of the holiday, just errr, forgot I needed a credit card type thingy.

Thanks all.

Fingerbobs

Plutonomics wrote: »

You should look at the Halifax Clarity Card or Barclays Platinum Travel Card. They both allow you to use your card abroad with no fees or interest, including cash withdrawals. You get the best rate possible and it is significantly cheaper than buying travel money or using a normal card. The only note I would give is make sure you pay the statement balance off in FULL. I have used my card in several countries and never had an issue, but after my most recent trip I left a relatively small balance on there of £300, and ended up paying interest on all my spending, if I had paid in full this would have cost nothing.

I can't speak for the Barclays card, but Halifax Clarity charges interest on cash withdrawals from the date of the transaction.

Alexd52

Fingerbobs wrote: »

I can't speak for the Barclays card, but Halifax Clarity charges interest on cash withdrawals from the date of the transaction.

The barclaycard platinum credit card treats cash withdrawals abroad in the same way as purchases. i.e. if you pay the statemented balance in full, no interest is charged

chattychappy

I would apply now for both a Santander Zero and a Halifax Clarity card. There is a good chance you'll get at least one of them before the "end of June"...

tommysaver

Sweet, the santander zero is looking good, and I should be able to get one quickly.

Thanks again all!

fewcloudy

worried_jim wrote: »

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.

Is there something about these 3 accounts that makes them preferable to the Halifax Clarity Card or the Santander Zero Card, both of which I have?
Genuine question, as if there is then I will get one or all of them. Or is it that they are good options for those who may not be eligible for a credit card, or choose not to have one?

eDicky

fewcloudy wrote: »

Is there something about these 3 accounts that makes them preferable to the Halifax Clarity Card or the Santander Zero Card, both of which I have?
Genuine question, as if there is then I will get one or all of them. Or is it that they are good options for those who may not be eligible for a credit card, or choose not to have one?

With Starling, Monzo, Revolut, Loot you are using your own money, not credit, for those who prefer that instead of or in addition to credit cards. The instant notifications, card security features and other innovations make using their apps a better experience than credit cards in general (IMO).

agrinnall

fewcloudy wrote: »

Is there something about these 3 accounts that makes them preferable to the Halifax Clarity Card or the Santander Zero Card, both of which I have?
Genuine question, as if there is then I will get one or all of them. Or is it that they are good options for those who may not be eligible for a credit card, or choose not to have one?

The reason for recommending these to the OP is clearly given in the last line of the post you quoted.