Halifax Clarity

Paully28

I know this is the best credit card for abroad spending, but is it also the best if i want to use an ATM at Manchester airport to withdraw euros? Or should I wait until I get to my destination airport in Spain.

Thanks Paul

Nicholas

I may be wrong...but I would have thought that using an ATM over here would mean that the ATM provider/bank would be doing the conversion, which would mean that you would be getting a very poor rate.

It would be better to wait until you are in Spain. Don't think I would use the airport though. I suspect that there would be additional fees associated with using an airport ATM. Why not wait until you get to your resort?

jonesMUFCforever

Don't go near ATM 's or bureaus in airports - they will rip you off.

18cc

wait until spain

[Deleted User]

I've got a Clarity CC and always waited until I'm at my destination.
The interest I've had to pay has always been minimal.

Paully28

Thanks all, I will wait until I get there and find an atm in the resort. Glad I asked as I just assumed that I could get euros in an airport atm and get a good rate:-)

eDicky

To obtain the straight MasterCard exchange rate you need the conversion to be done by your Clarity card, not the ATM - remember this when a Spanish ATM offers you 'Conversion', decline it.

Multi-currency ATMs in Manchester airport, probably Travelex, will not allow you to decline their awful conversion rate, so stay well away.

ATMs in a Spanish airport will cost no more than elsewhere, but most Spanish banks now impose a fee for use of their ATM - see this thread for advice on how to reduce or avoid such costs:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6034328

bd10

I checked Travelex's ATMs earlier in the month at Heathrow. There was no way to circumvent a mark-up. They force DCC upon the customer. The only way I found to get Euros for free was at Raphael's Bank's ATMs inside Piccadilly Underground station in London. And only then with a credit card (I used Clarity). Debit cards they also forced DCC upon.

glider3560

bd10 wrote: »

The only way I found to get Euros for free was at Raphael's Bank's ATMs inside Piccadilly Underground station in London. And only then with a credit card (I used Clarity). Debit cards they also forced DCC upon.

These Raphaels Bank machines don't offer DCC (i.e. you get charged in Euros) with any card that doesn't have Link (e.g. most credit cards, or debit cards from some of the newer banks like Starling).

There's actually quite a few of these around central London tube stations. Waterloo and Monument also have them.

virgo17

eDicky wrote: »

but most Spanish banks now impose a fee for use of their ATM - see this thread for advice on how to reduce or avoid such costs:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6034328

Having a holiday home in Spain I know this is very good advice from EDicky

Try to avoid the bigger banks such as Santander, BBVA and Sabadell who will charge an ATM fee. Smaller banks such as Caixabank and Bankia have previously been better value.

System

Nicholas wrote: »

I may be wrong...but I would have thought that using an ATM over here would mean that the ATM provider/bank would be doing the conversion, which would mean that you would be getting a very poor rate.

It would be better to wait until you are in Spain. Don't think I would use the airport though. I suspect that there would be additional fees associated with using an airport ATM. Why not wait until you get to your resort?

You are wrong.

Some ATMs in the UK will allow Euro or US withdrawals via Mastercard/Visa and are therefore no different than using a local machine in Spain/US but without surcharge.

Also, I've never seen any particular difference to using a foreign airport ATM v using a local one from the same bank.