Card/account for use outside UK

Saria

Not sure if I posted this in the right forum, but hopefully someone can help me!

I have been living in the UK for 7 years and have all my bank accounts there, but I often go over to Belgium to visit my family, or go to other European countries on holiday. This of course means that I will end up spending Euros whenever I'm over there. At the moment I have been exchanging money and taking cash with me, but I would prefer to be able to use a card abroad without incurring massive fees.

Sometimes I also want to be able to make a bank transfer to a family member in Belgium to repay them for something, but it seems doing this through my normal bank account incurs something silly like a £15 fee.

So now I'm wondering if there is any bank account/card I can get which I can easily use abroad, and which I can use to make bank transfer (without the ridiculous fees).

My dad mentioned Revolut, but I am not sure if this is what I need or not? Or does anyone know of something that would be perfect in this situation?

d123

Consider a Starling Bank account, it’s a proper bank account and has no foreign usage fees.

https://www.starlingbank.com/travel/

Cisco001

And back up with 'travel credit card'.

eDicky

There's no lack of info:

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/credit-cards/travel-credit-cards/

LobsterMemory

A +1 for Starling

Your post could be a textbook answer to "What sort of person should apply for a Starling account?"

Saria

d123 wrote: »

Consider a Starling Bank account, it’s a proper bank account and has no foreign usage fees.

https://www.starlingbank.com/travel/

LobsterMemory wrote: »

A +1 for Starling

Your post could be a textbook answer to "What sort of person should apply for a Starling account?"

Thank you, I'll look into the Starling account! It sounds very interesting!
Though I did notice they have a Euro account as well but this isn't available yet, not sure what exactly the difference is with their normal current account?

Cisco001 wrote: »

And back up with 'travel credit card'.

eDicky wrote: »

There's no lack of info:

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/credit-cards/travel-credit-cards/

I have looked at the info on MSE before regarding credit cards, very useful information.
I actually got a Halifax card last year but have only used it once or twice on a holiday in Italy... I tried to buy a train ticket in Belgium this week but for some reason it didn't work, so not sure what was going wrong there. Always been a bit wary about using any cards abroad as I never know what fees will be added or if it will work. :embarasse

DCFC79

Get a 0% card and there are no forex fees.

Just a guess but I suspect the difference is is the normal starling account is sterling and can be used abroad with no fees, this explains the euro account
https://www.starlingbank.com/current-account/euro-bank-account/

Take a second card as backup if the credit card doesnt work, take a third if you like.

londoninvestor

DCFC79 wrote: »

Get a 0% card and there are no forex fees.

Just a guess but I suspect the difference is is the normal starling account is sterling and can be used abroad with no fees, this explains the euro account
https://www.starlingbank.com/current-account/euro-bank-account/

Take a second card as backup if the credit card doesnt work, take a third if you like.

The euro account lets you hold a balance in euros and make electronic transfers in euros from that, rather than convert at spot every time.

AIUI, the debit card is still linked only to the sterling account though, so you can't use your euro balance for purchases or ATM withdrawals.