Checking in doing the right thing

Sncjw

Today we are going to get some euros for our holiday to Rhodes. 

We are going to get £150 worth just to cover hotel taxes and any spends for first few days. We are all inclusive so won't be purchasing inside the hotel. We are staying not too far from the old town which can be a short bus ridr or an hours walk. 

Then the plan is to use Barclaycard rewards card. I don't have a 0 percent deal on it so it will need paying off when I get the statement through but should give us until about start of July to pay it off. We will withdraw cash from ATM when we need it I know the ATM will charge a couple euro for using foreign card but the Barclaycard won't charge to withdraw cash themselves. If we can we will try and use cards in the shops and for any meals we have out of the hotel. We want to have some cash just in case like over here they don't take cards. 

I want to check we are doing the right thing. I also have the clarity card I'm not too versed on that one as I haven't used it since 0 percent deal ended. 

Thanks 

etienneg

I've never been to Rhodes, so what I say is just my understanding for foreign travel in general. But what you are planning to do is just the same as what I would do.

Barclaycard is good for foreign travel as it pays cashback on purchases abroad just the same as in UK. There is no interest on either purchases or cash withdrawals abroad as long as you pay the next statement in full and on time. As you say, there is no foreign currency cash withdrawal fee levied by Barclaycard. Neither is there any conversion fee for amounts paid in foreign currency.

Halifax clarity is good as a backup. Again there is no cash withdrawal fee for foreign currency, nor any conversion fee for amounts paid in foreign currency. There are two respects in which it is less attractive than Barclaycard. Firstly, it pays no cashback (for purchases in either Sterling or foreign currency). Secondly, it charges interest on cash withdrawals (but not purchases) from the date of withdrawal until repaid. Some people minimise this by making an online payment to cover the amount withdrawn as soon as it appears fully on the online statement (not as a pending transaction). But the cost is small for normal holiday amounts if you wait until getting home to do this.

The alternative for cash withdrawals would be a debit card for an account that does not charge for foreign cash withdrawals, such as Virgin, Nationwide FlexPlus or one of the newer online-only accounts (with which I'm not familiar). But for the few pence in interest it costs for a week or two with Clarity, it's not worth worrying about unless you already have such an account, particularly with Barclaycard as your primary card.

Enjoy your holiday!

NoodleDoodleMan

Duplicate thread.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6443209/checking-we-are-doing-the-right-thing#latest