Travel money for cashless trip

Red-Squirrel_2

Hi there, hoping for some advice from you wise people as the travel bit of the forum doesn't seem to have a section for travel money.

I'm going for a short break to an area that is well on the way to being cashless, plenty of places won't take it at all, some will begrudgingly, and my hotel is totally cashless.

I haven't got time to apply for a credit card and wouldn't want to anyway as I'm limiting credit searches due to a remortgage coming up, but has anybody got experience of the pre-loaded travel money cards? Are they better value than just using your usual debit card? My bank charges 2.75% for using your debit card abroad.

Advice gratefully received!

agrinnall

Where is the area? If it's EU then there are other options (eg Metro Bank debit card).

ColdIron

Might be worth a read
https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/credit-cards/prepaid-travel-cards/

Red-Squirrel_2

agrinnall wrote: »

Where is the area? If it's EU then there are other options (eg Metro Bank debit card).

Sweden, but I go on Thursday so no time for applying for new accounts etc. as well as avoiding new searches.

Red-Squirrel_2

ColdIron wrote: »

Might be worth a read
https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/credit-cards/prepaid-travel-cards/

Thanks, I did read it but found it a bit confusing! Was hoping somebody cleverer than me could help make sense of the whole thing!

ColdIron

Red-Squirrel wrote: »

Sweden, but I go on Thursday so no time for applying for new accounts etc. as well as avoiding new searches.

You're leaving it a bit late to gain physical possession of a card. If you can get to a Metro Bank store they'll issue a card on the spot and they offer free transactions in Europe, including Sweden
https://www.metrobankonline.co.uk/bank-accounts/products/current-account/

eDicky

Red-Squirrel wrote: »

Sweden, but I go on Thursday so no time for applying for new accounts etc. as well as avoiding new searches.

Thursday after mail delivery time? If so, and you immediately, NOW, sign up for both Starling Bank and Monzo on their phone apps, there's a good chance at least one of their cards will arrive in time. No hard search on application if you don't ask for overdraft. Except for time spent, doing this will have cost nothing if they don't arrive in time.

Metro Bank is the other possibility, as mentioned.

Don't bother getting any preloaded 'currency card instead, your regular bank card with its fees will be simpler, more reliable and very likely cheaper to use.

BTW, there is in fact a' Flights, Currency and Car Rent' sub board in the travel section of the forum.

Red-Squirrel_2

ColdIron wrote: »

You're leaving it a bit late to gain physical possession of a card. If you can get to a Metro Bank store they'll issue a card on the spot and they offer free transactions in Europe, including Sweden
https://www.metrobankonline.co.uk/bank-accounts/products/current-account/

Its a last minute trip so I suppose its about getting the best possible rather than the ideal!

Do you know if Metro Bank do a credit check to open a current account?

Red-Squirrel_2

eDicky wrote: »

Thursday after mail delivery time? If so, and you immediately, NOW, sign up for both Starling Bank and Monzo on their phone apps, there's a good chance at least one of their cards will arrive in time. No hard search on application if you don't ask for overdraft. Except for time spent, doing this will have cost nothing if they don't arrive in time.

Metro Bank is the other possibility, as mentioned.

Don't bother getting any preloaded 'currency card instead, your regular bank card with its fees will be simpler, more reliable and very likely cheaper to use.

BTW, there is in fact a' Flights, Currency and Car Rent' sub board in the travel section of the forum.

Just checked and there are no Metro branches in the north of the country! Good shout on the Monzo card though, just looking at this now, flight isn't till teatime.

Red-Squirrel_2

I presume if I transfer from my existing current account into Monzo or Starling it will go as a faster payment?

Thanks very much for that tip, never would have thought of it myself!

eDicky

Red-Squirrel wrote: »

I presume if I transfer from my existing current account into Monzo or Starling it will go as a faster payment?

Yes, usually arrives instantly. You can also add funds with your debit card, within limits, no fee.

Please let us know the card delivery results, last minute questions of this kind are quite common.