ordering Euros cash before trip

MSE_ForumTeam5

We've merged the threads and moved the combined thread to a more relevant board

NoodleDoodleMan

penners324 said:

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

Chase is good, as is Starling - but not all UK debit cards are fee free for goods and services abroad.

My Santander Everyday Account card for example.

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

Worth a look ?

https://wise.com/gb/blog/atms-in-the-netherlands

We are heading to Maastricht this summer, so it's on my bedtime reading list !!!

lr1277

The following are things I read on the internet so not confirmed by personal experience.

1) TSB Spend and Save Plus current account apparently allows world wide free FX transactions using its debit card. There is a £3 monthly fee for this account. I did try reading the T's and C's and couldn't work out if there was a fee or not for a FX transaction. Too complicated for me. But the free FX transactions is mentioned on the page when you type 'TSB current account' and on this page it is listed under the Spend and Save Plus account.

2) The Virgin credit card (I think both flavours) offer FX free transactions in many countries in Europe. Not sure of the entire list, but I don't see any reason why Netherlands won't be included.

3) In the last few days on the Head for Points site, I read about a particular what I assume is a supermarket only accepting Maestro cards. I don't remember the name of the supermarket. Also reading on the web, Mastercard provded Maestro but they stopped offering it in the Netherlands in July last year. Whether this particular supermarket accepts Visa, I don't know. Retailers are supposed to update their systems but some may not have done so. 

Just be aware you may need cash in certain shops if they don't take your flavour of card.

Edited to add: Found the thread:

https://www.headforpoints.com/forums/topic/chat-thread-sunday-25th-february/ 

Look for the post by Panda Mick and there a few more related replies.

If you are not aware, Head for Points is a website for people who like to maximise their travel by collecting points etc.

2nd edit: removed a couple of unwanted sentences.

eDicky

lr1277 said:

3) In the last few days on the Head for Points site, I read about a particular what I assume is a supermarket only accepting Maestro cards. I don't remember the name of the supermarket. Also reading on the web, Mastercard provded Maestro but they stopped offering it in the Netherlands in July last year. Whether this particular supermarket accepts Visa, I don't know. Retailers are supposed to update their systems but some may not have done so. 

Just be aware you may need cash in certain shops if they don't take your flavour of card.

Ok, I didn't comment previously in case things had changed recently, but I used to be a frequent visitor to the Netherlands.

It was always the case that retailers, including supermarkets, outside of areas frequented by tourists would only accept Maestro and the Visa equivalent (I forget its name), or cash. These cards are issued by Dutch banks to their customers, they involve extremely low or zero cost to merchants when used as payment, and any other debit or credit cards which do involve interchange fees are in general not tolerated or accepted, and rarely even held by Dutch people.

So unless visitors like the British who have no access to such Maestro cards confine themselves to areas and outlets where tourists abound, and prices can be augmented by merchants to cover the fees involved in accepting credit cards or even ordinary MasterCard and Visa debit, they will occasionally need some cash for payment. It can of course be taken from an ATM locally, I've never known them to charge for foreign card use.

Then again, small neighborhood outlets such as coffee, sandwiches etc, often don't accept cash for security reasons, only Maestro, so when you don't have one you just can't buy...

NoodleDoodleMan

Thanks for that insight, very useful.

I think the Visa equivalent would be V Pay ?

From what's online it appears that non Dutch debit cards are becoming accepted more widely - although credit cards relatively less so.

I have a vested interest in this subject as we are there this summer, so I'm going to ask the organising travel firm for guidance.

This may be pertinent.

https://www.betaalvereniging.nl/en/payment-products-services/point-of-sale-payments/project-dca/

martindow

There must be some expat sites around that have a NL section.  If you can find one of those you could possibly find some up to date information on the current acceptance (or not) of UK cards.

thegreenone

NoodleDoodleMan said:

Thanks for that insight, very useful.

I think the Visa equivalent would be V Pay ?

From what's online it appears that non Dutch debit cards are becoming accepted more widely - although credit cards relatively less so.

I have a vested interest in this subject as we are there this summer, so I'm going to ask the organising travel firm for guidance.

This may be pertinent.

https://www.betaalvereniging.nl/en/payment-products-services/point-of-sale-payments/project-dca/

Thank you for that link.  We are hoping to visit our Dutch friends next year.

Have a wonderful time in Maastricht.  Our eldest son was there for three years at Uni and I loved visiting.  Him and the town!   Are you going to see a certain famous resident perform in the summer?

NoodleDoodleMan

Indeed, my better half is a fan, she went to see him in the UK, however the only seats available were well away from the stage unfortunately.

I'm more of a good ol' boy with a weakness for Country............however I'm also looking forward to the concert.

Did you or your son have any issues using plastic in the Netherlands in recent times ?

thegreenone

NoodleDoodleMan said:

Indeed, my better half is a fan, she went to see him in the UK, however the only seats available were well away from the stage unfortunately.

I'm more of a good ol' boy with a weakness for Country............however I'm also looking forward to the concert.

Did you or your son have any issues using plastic in the Netherlands in recent times ?

Sadly, we've not been back to the Netherlands since he left Uni nine years ago.  

If your hotel doesn't offer evening meals, you need to make sure you prebook restaurants as Maastricht will be heaving.  As you have tickets to the show you don't need to be in the Vrijthof Square for dinner but don't be far.  Sorry, too long ago to remember restaurant names but start googling and booking asap.  I hope you both have a fabulous time.  My Mum was a big fan and I wish I had been able to take her before her health declined.