Spending Abroad

basill

LinLui said:

I agree with the Clarity card,  but also check out Currensea ( I got one after seeing it on MSE a couple of years ago). It's neither a Debit card nor a credit card.  It links directly to your bank account,  can be used to purchase goods or take cash at an ATM - but at very competitive rates and no fees. 

I looked at Currensea,  it is convienent, but still charges 0.5% unless you subscribe (min. £25/year).  I've gone the Starling/Clarity route. 

Tabby_cat

basill said:

LinLui said:

I agree with the Clarity card,  but also check out Currensea ( I got one after seeing it on MSE a couple of years ago). It's neither a Debit card nor a credit card.  It links directly to your bank account,  can be used to purchase goods or take cash at an ATM - but at very competitive rates and no fees. 

I looked at Currensea,  it is convienent, but still charges 0.5% unless you subscribe (min. £25/year).  I've gone the Starling/Clarity route. 

Yes, Currensea charge 0.5% fees,  but it's 0.5% using the days best rate and not the worst rate.  I believe that some banks have been known to use the worst rate, deliberately, so they can presumably pocket the difference. Anyway, I've been happy with Currensea, anything I spend comes directly from my bank current account a couple of days later and I really couldn't be bothered to open another bank account just for 2 or 3 weeks a year. Each to their own.