Post office travel card (Mastercard)

wannaberich41

Hi,
my son is going too Italy on a short break Thursday with his girlfriend.  He was going to take all cash.
im not sure if taking all cash is safe or if it’s best too use a loaded post office travel card which I can get for him tomorrow. (He is unable to do anything due to his working hours) 
Are they a good idea or would you suggest cash only?
im assuming if he used his tsb debit card they would charge and possible risks? 

Thank you I’m advance 

eDicky

His TSB card will charge but it will cost little or no more to use in Italy than the PO Travel Money card with its fees and dire exchange rate, especially when having to exchange back unused euros. The same applies to exchanging cash in UK.

If he immediately applies for a Starling Bank account on the smartphone app the debit card might arrive before he leaves, if not there's nothing lost. A Chase UK account would also have been ideal but it's been left too late.

Depending on awareness and activity in general, I wouldn't put the risks of carrying cash to be any worse in Italy than in UK.

NoodleDoodleMan

Does he live anywhere near a Metro Bank branch ?

They'll issue a debit card when visiting to open a current account.

No fees in Italy when used to settle purchases, or at ATMs.