Best card for 17 year old backpackers?

DropTheNeedleAndPray

My 17 year old son is backpacking around Europe this summer. Most card companies need him to be 18 years old for a card, so what is his best option, for general spending and withdrawing cash?

eDicky

The best option is for him to open the Nationwide FlexOne bank account, with debit card:

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

DropTheNeedleAndPray

Many thx but he already had a current account with one of the big 4. I think a second one will only serve to confuse him.

He's 18 in less than 2 months so really just wanted something to tide him over for his trip.

Maybe I should just give him my Halifax Clarity card to use in Europe. Does anyone ever ask for ID?

[Deleted User]

DropTheNeedleAndPray wrote: »

Many thx but he already had a current account with one of the big 4. I think a second one will only serve to confuse him.

If he can go on holiday, I'd have thought he could handle a second piece of plastic. Could he leave the first one at home in order not to puzzle him too much?

DropTheNeedleAndPray wrote: »

Maybe I should just give him my Halifax Clarity card to use in Europe. Does anyone ever ask for ID?

I wouldn't do that under any circumstances. You'll have no comeback in the event of mis use or fraud and a lot of explaining to do if it's taken from him.

What about a pre paid card?

DropTheNeedleAndPray

Deleted_User wrote: »

If he can go on holiday, I'd have thought he could handle a second piece of plastic. Could he leave the first one at home in order not to puzzle him too much?

I wouldn't do that under any circumstances. You'll have no comeback in the event of mis use or fraud and a lot of explaining to do if it's taken from him.

What about a pre paid card?

Sorry you misunderstand me. I didn't think a second bank account was a great idea.

Yes, good point re not lending him mine!

A pre-paid card may be my/his best option, but I just thought that none were as good as Clarity/Revolut etc. Obvs they work very differently

eDicky

DropTheNeedleAndPray wrote: »

I think a second one will only serve to confuse him.

DropTheNeedleAndPray wrote: »

I didn't think a second bank account was a great idea.

That may be your idea, but what does he think? Being already familiar with a bank account, why would a second one confuse him more than any other kind of card account would? Do you limit yourself to a single bank account? That's not wise these days, your son could benefit by learning to use more than one, transferring etc.

The FlexOne debit card is totally fee-free overseas and if he opens the account now he can retain it after turning 18. There are no fee-free prepaid cards for under 18s and he may as well use his current bank card and suffer the fees if he doesn't take the FlexOne. He should certainly not travel with only one source of funds, anyway.

EveryWhere

DropTheNeedleAndPray wrote: »

Many thx but he already had a current account with one of the big 4. I think a second one will only serve to confuse him.

He's 18 in less than 2 months so really just wanted something to tide him over for his trip.

Maybe I should just give him my Halifax Clarity card to use in Europe. Does anyone ever ask for ID?

Listen to the man, FlexOne debit card account is the answer; https://www.nationwide.co.uk/products/current-accounts/flexone/whats-flexone
Don't ask for advice and then dismiss the answer because you think that you know better.
Listen to the experts.
He should use his "big 4 account" as back-up only.

DropTheNeedleAndPray

eDicky wrote: »

That may be your idea, but what does he think? Being already familiar with a bank account, why would a second one confuse him more than any other kind of card account would? Do you limit yourself to a single bank account? That's not wise these days, your son could benefit by learning to use more than one, transferring etc.

The FlexOne debit card is totally fee-free overseas and if he opens the account now he can retain it after turning 18. There are no fee-free prepaid cards for under 18s and he may as well use his current bank card and suffer the fees if he doesn't take the FlexOne. He should certainly not travel with only one source of funds, anyway.

Noted, thx. Have applied for the FlexOne as you say. Re having a backup card, should he therefore use his big 4 debit card or would you recommend I get a Caxton prepaid card account and make him an additional cardholder?

eDicky

DropTheNeedleAndPray wrote: »

Noted, thx. Have applied for the FlexOne as you say. Re having a backup card, should he therefore use his big 4 debit card or would you recommend I get a Caxton prepaid card account and make him an additional cardholder?

FairFX offer a 'Family and Friends' supplementary card, I don't know if Caxton have something similar. There's ~2.5% markup on exchange rates, fees for ATM use and cost of redeeming unused funds. You don't say which bank card your son has, fees vary, probably it's hardly worse than Caxton overall.

Hoping that the backup is not needed anyway, I don't think it's worth getting involved with the complexity and cost of a Caxton or FairFX card, just rely on the bank card for backup.

DropTheNeedleAndPray

Great thx!