Recommended credit card for travel (hotel deposit)

Abbafan1972

Hi all,

Never thought I would be asking this question, but we are going away to Spain in October to a different hotel that we normally go to and after reading the hotel website, you need to provide a credit card at reception on checking in.  

We don't have a credit card any more due to previous debt - we both had a credit card with the Halifax.  The cards are showing up on banking apps as Nil balances - we don't have the physical cards any more as they were destroyed. The cards were last used at least 3 years ago now. 

Does anyone have a recommendation for one to apply for please?

For context we do our main shop at Tesco and small top up shops at Asda (I use Asda rewards and notice there is a credit card you can apply for on the app that gives you cash back on purchases for the first 90 days), but as we don't spend a lot in Asda, I don't know if this will be worth it and I'm not sure I want something with loads of incentives to use it and then be saddled with loads of CC debt again.   I don't have a problem with using it for a supermarket shop every now and again, and then paying it off straight away.

Does anyone have any suggestions please?

Thanks in advance. 

ETA:- We don't bank with the Halifax any more - our account was closed down and we only have our mortgage left with them.  Our main bank is the HSBC. 

JGB1955

Halifax Clarity would have been a good option.. maybe have a look at

Top cards for travelling abroad: the best credit and debit cards to use abroad - MSE (moneysavingexpert.com)

jbrassy

Barclaycard Rewards is the best travel credit card available at the moment. Has zero fees for overseas spending and pays 0.25% cashback.

https://www.barclaycard.co.uk/personal/credit-cards/barclaycard-rewards

Emmia

If the cards show up on your banking apps, are they fully closed? Destroying the card doesn't close the account - if they're not actually closed, you could just request a replacement card for one of the accounts.

Alternatively, you could try the MSE eligibility checker / card provider checkers directly to see if they're likely to offer a card to you.

Abbafan1972

Emmia said:

If the cards show up on your banking apps, are they fully closed? Destroying the card doesn't close the account - if they're not actually closed, you could just request a replacement card for one of the accounts.

Alternatively, you could try the MSE eligibility checker / card provider checkers directly to see if they're likely to offer a card to you.

Hi, yes I realise that destroying the cards doesn’t close the accounts. Sorry to be rude, but I am not that naive lol! 

We destroyed the cards and deleted them from everywhere (like my Amazon account and PayPal) to prevent them from being used again, due to us being in such a pickle. Yes I am aware that I can request a replacement card but apart from still having the Mortgage left with them, we really don’t wish to touch the Halifax again. 

Anyway, I have applied for a Barclaycard from the above link and have been accepted. It goes against everything we decided (never to have another CC again). But I think we have learned our lesson. 

Emmia

Abbafan1972 said:

Emmia said:

If the cards show up on your banking apps, are they fully closed? Destroying the card doesn't close the account - if they're not actually closed, you could just request a replacement card for one of the accounts.

Alternatively, you could try the MSE eligibility checker / card provider checkers directly to see if they're likely to offer a card to you.

Hi, yes I realise that destroying the cards doesn’t close the accounts. Sorry to be rude, but I am not that naive lol! 

We destroyed the cards and deleted them from everywhere (like my Amazon account and PayPal) to prevent them from being used again, due to us being in such a pickle. Yes I am aware that I can request a replacement card but apart from still having the Mortgage left with them, we really don’t wish to touch the Halifax again. 

Anyway, I have applied for a Barclaycard from the above link and have been accepted. It goes against everything we decided (never to have another CC again). But I think we have learned our lesson. 

So, why not properly/fully close the accounts?

Abbafan1972

Emmia said:

Abbafan1972 said:

Emmia said:

If the cards show up on your banking apps, are they fully closed? Destroying the card doesn't close the account - if they're not actually closed, you could just request a replacement card for one of the accounts.

Alternatively, you could try the MSE eligibility checker / card provider checkers directly to see if they're likely to offer a card to you.

Hi, yes I realise that destroying the cards doesn’t close the accounts. Sorry to be rude, but I am not that naive lol! 

We destroyed the cards and deleted them from everywhere (like my Amazon account and PayPal) to prevent them from being used again, due to us being in such a pickle. Yes I am aware that I can request a replacement card but apart from still having the Mortgage left with them, we really don’t wish to touch the Halifax again. 

Anyway, I have applied for a Barclaycard from the above link and have been accepted. It goes against everything we decided (never to have another CC again). But I think we have learned our lesson. 

So, why not properly/fully close the accounts?

Just not been on my list of priorities really! 

I take it we have to write a letter. If you have to phone, I just can’t be bothered with the waiting time on the phone. 

I have some other really important forms to do at the moment and I need to get those done first. 

daivid

If what you need to be accepted for financially is going through there may be no pressing need to close the cards fully though you may be pleasantly surprised with wait times on the phone. I probably make more phone calls than most to banks and haven’t waited more than 5minutes in the last year. I ring on my mobile (included in minutes) put it on speaker phone then get on with some daily task until I hear a human speak live. There is also a lot that can be done through apps/online these days. I've closed Halifax savings accounts through their app - not tried to close a CC through the app but it may be possible. 

jbrassy

If you're worried about racking up debt on a credit card, there are lots of debit card options for spending abroad. In particular, Chase, Starling, First Direct, and Virgin Money offer debit cards which do not charge fees for overseas spending and ATM withdrawals. Just thinking you could give the hotel your credit card to keep them happy, then do all your other spending on a debit card?

Hotels and car hire companies typically ask for credit cards in case they want to charge you for extras, e.g. if you charge meals in a hotel restaurant to your room or if you damage a hire car.

Abbafan1972

Hi all. 

I went ahead and applied for a Barclaycard as advised above and it hasn’t gone well so far, lol. 

I have just spent an hour on the phone to them, as after more than a month, I haven’t had any communication with regards to receiving a card, or a letter telling me I’ve been rejected. 

I chased them up on the Friday before the bank holiday and was told my application was under review and I will receive communication from them in 5 working days. I received nothing. 

It’s now the 12th Sept and today they tell me my application is still under review, but won’t tell me why this is, or a timescale for a resolution. 

I told them I’m not happy with the service I’ve received so far, as I applied for this card to get it in time for a holiday, but my holiday is now 4 weeks away and they can’t tell me when this will be resolved. 

They have now raised this as a complaint. I am very sceptical as they will even contact me, as they haven’t so far and I’ve had to do all the chasing. 

MEM62

Based on the above, you may need to ask for a new / replacement Halifax card based on the time limitations you have.  That should come through quicker as the accounts are still open.