Getting Foreign Currency on Clarity Card

chelseablue

I've got the Clarity card for use abroad, but not actually used it yet!

We are going to Australia next month and wanted to get some Australian Dollars.

Is it best to get them here from the post office before we go? Or is it best to withdraw the cash from an atm when we get there?

If we get them here before we go is it clashed as a cash withdrawal and we will get charged a fortune?

[Deleted User]

Get them when you arrive and reject any conversion option.

dresdendave

chelseablue wrote: »

Is it best to get them here from the post office before we go? Or is it best to withdraw the cash from an atm when we get there?

Of the two options above, the latter is better. But the best option is to pay for as much as possible using your Clarity card, making sure you are charged in AUD. In the major cities you will rarely need cash, virtually everything can be paid by EFTPOS. If you do need some cash withdraw from ATM once you are there, interest on a small amount of cash will be pennies. You can pay it off by online banking as you go along if you want to. More cost effective would be to research fees charged by various Australian banks for ATM use, using the right ATM is more important than worrying about pennies in interest.

chelseablue

Thank you both, the cash was mainly for buses and taxis but I'll look into it and see if we can pay for them on the card

Fingerbobs

I personally always like to have a small amount of cash before leaving the UK, just in case I need to pay for something (e.g. a taxi) on arrival and can't find a cash machine. I typically take about £100-worth of currency, and often that lasts me the whole trip as I do most spending by card anyway.

eDicky

chelseablue wrote: »

wanted to get some Australian Dollars.

Is it best to get them here from the post office before we go?

This is never a good option, and to use your Clarity card at the PO, if that's what you mean, will not let you escape their dismal exchange rates, and would probably be classed as a UK cash advance.

Use the card to draw some AUD from an ATM at your arrival airport, declining any 'conversion' offer shown on screen.

1974Marie

Yes I agree. I use Clarity for cash withdrawals. If you want cash to pick up at an outlet, get a John Lewis Mastercard, M&S Bank Mastercard or a Debenhams Mastercard. These stores have a counter where you can get currency at a very competitive rate. Don't use the Post Office. Don't use Clarity.

wallisp

On the subject of getting foreign currency abroad, i have noticed (currently in Tenerife) that when rejecting the option for the local bank to do a (not very generous) currency conversion a transaction fee is then charged at most ATMs which had previously charged no fee eg Santander now charges 5 Euros per transaction and Euronet ATMs charge 2.95 Euros.
I finally found one that still does transactions for free - Telebanco.
Does MSE have any advice on which ATMs are still free in Spain and other popular destinations as this rather overrides decisions on which are the best credit cards for foreign cash withdrawls?

sausage_time

There's a thread on this board "Charges by Spanish Banks for cash" which may help - but the situation seems fluid. My advice is to use card for payment where possible (in local currency of course), hunt around for free ATMs if you need cash, and if you have to use a ATM that charges a fixed fee when DCC is declined take out as large a chunk out as you are comfortable with.

dealer_wins

The MSE currency tool will show the best exchange places to get currency before you travel, and the best ones have really good rates!

bd10

I'd be interested to lean if DCC is prevalent in Australia. Visited Singapore last month, what a pleasant surprise that was. Clarity Mastercard was accepted everywhere. Over 50 transactions, never once asked by the merchant (restaurants, cabs, shops, ...) whether I wanted to pay in non-Sing Dollars. Not a single DCC encounter or attempted scam.