ordering Euros cash before trip

NoodleDoodleMan

anna42hmr said:

Hello, we need to get some Euros cash prior to our holiday, I am looking to order them online for collection at a local  Sainbury's.   If i pay with a debit card, will they class this as a foreign exchange purchase as i am buying euros (and therefore charge the fee) or would this only be if using the card itself abroad?

Much better to get a "user friendly" debit and credit card.

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

A modest amount of readies is always worth having IMO - but paying for most things by card is now the accepted norm in many, if not most, popular tourist destinations.

What country are you visiting - members hereabouts are well clued up on specifics ?

If it's soon, I could suggest a bank which can offer such a debit card supplied on the day you visit - or so they say.

 

DullGreyGuy

anna42hmr said:

Hello, we need to get some Euros cash prior to our holiday, I am looking to order them online for collection at a local  Sainbury's.   If i pay with a debit card, will they class this as a foreign exchange purchase as i am buying euros (and therefore charge the fee) or would this only be if using the card itself abroad?

It's not a foreign currency purchase as far as your bank is concerned because the charge they will see is in GBP else it would be your bank not Sainsbury's deciding how many Euros you got. 

The issue comes with using a Credit Card because whilst FX fees don't apply it is a "cash like transaction" so will be charged as a cash withdrawl which tends to be even more than FX

ColdIron

JamesNoBonds said:

grumbler said:

If the company that you buy € from gives you the price in £, then they have to charge your card in £ and your bank doesn't charge you for conversion. And I can't imagine buying € in UK without knowing the price I pay in £.

As a side note, do you realise that with the right card it's cheaper just to withdraw € abroad or just pay abroad by the card?

Any idea what the right card might be?

Chase is fee free for withdrawals and 1% cashback on qualifying purchases, the same as in the UK

penners324

Don't bother. Just use your debit card in restaurants and shops & bars.

Get a Starling or Chase account. Use an ATM in country if you need cash

anna42hmr

NoodleDoodleMan said:

anna42hmr said:

Hello, we need to get some Euros cash prior to our holiday, I am looking to order them online for collection at a local  Sainbury's.   If i pay with a debit card, will they class this as a foreign exchange purchase as i am buying euros (and therefore charge the fee) or would this only be if using the card itself abroad?

Much better to get a "user friendly" debit and credit card.

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

A modest amount of readies is always worth having IMO - but paying for most things by card is now the accepted norm in many, if not most, popular tourist destinations.

What country are you visiting - members hereabouts are well clued up on specifics ?

If it's soon, I could suggest a bank which can offer such a debit card supplied on the day you visit - or so they say.

 

its Holland we are heading to, not until early april so will take a look.

thanks everyone for the suggestions and information its much appreciated

anna42hmr

thank you for the assistance it is much appreciated.

maman

I was in Leiden in 2019 and they already had places (cafes, restaurants) that didn't accept cash. I'm not saying don't take euros but do have a suitable credit or debit card. 

Doshwaster

I haven't bought cash ahead of a trip to the Eurozone in about 10 years. Most places now are contactless and if you need any cash then just use an ATM on arrival.

NoodleDoodleMan

anna42hmr said:

NoodleDoodleMan said:

anna42hmr said:

Hello, we need to get some Euros cash prior to our holiday, I am looking to order them online for collection at a local  Sainbury's.   If i pay with a debit card, will they class this as a foreign exchange purchase as i am buying euros (and therefore charge the fee) or would this only be if using the card itself abroad?

Much better to get a "user friendly" debit and credit card.

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

A modest amount of readies is always worth having IMO - but paying for most things by card is now the accepted norm in many, if not most, popular tourist destinations.

What country are you visiting - members hereabouts are well clued up on specifics ?

If it's soon, I could suggest a bank which can offer such a debit card supplied on the day you visit - or so they say.

 

its Holland we are heading to, not until early april so will take a look.

thanks everyone for the suggestions and information its much appreciated

Do you live near(ish) to a Metro Bank branch ?

They advertise that they can open a current account and issue the debit card for you on the day of the visit in store.

You have to meet their application criteria of course, same as any other bank.

If there is no convenient branch you can also apply online and have the card and PIN sent separately by mail within a few working days - mine came in quick time, I was impressed.

I'm not recommending them BTW over any other bank - but their card is "user friendly" fee free both for ATM withdrawals and for goods & services and can be acquired quickly, if required.

The ATM bank may impose a commission of course - no UK bank can legislate for that possibility.

They advise this benefit for Europe which needs a "health warning"  - only so in SEPA region which doesn't include Turkey, a popular holiday destination for Brits.......see this link for the countries were it does apply, including the Netherlands.

https://www.revenue.ie/en/starting-a-business/documents/guide-to-sepa.pdf

Metro Bank also offer a "user friendly" credit card - but requires a branch visit to action.

Martin Lewis flags up several other debit and credit cards that are good for your purposes, well worth reading in detail

martindow

A lot of countries changed completely during covid and Holland may well be one of them with cards much more widely accepted now.  

In Germany you used to have to carry wads of cash around as few places would take card payments, but last year when I went cards were accepted almost everywhere.