Credit card for foreign travel

gropes

I've been using Halifax Clarity when I travel for many years for drawing cash and for credit. However this trip I've just come back from I've been blocked for one trivial reason or another, over tiny amounts. It has been extremely annoying and worrying having to call Halifax from abroad and being told the wait time was 30 minutes plus! I wonder what alternatives could be more reliable. I used to use the Nationwide Visa as well but I don't know if it's as competitive anymore. Currensea seems a good idea but I'm worried about the withdrawal limit.

elsien

My backup while away is starling.
It’s not a credit card, so the money has to be in your account to start with, but they don’t charge fees and you can use it to get money out of the cashpoint as well although local charges may apply. 

Slinky

We used Chase debit card in Croatia and Greece with no problems at all, and good conversion rates. Plus 1% cashback. Mostly paid using our phones.

Tony5896

I’ve used Santander all in one and edge credit card without issue 

etienneg

There is no currency conversion fee with Nationwide. However, that's the limit of its competitiveness. Barclaycard, for example, has no currency conversion fee and gives you 0.25% cashback. It's also good for cash withdrawal ABROAD, as no interest is charged if the bill is paid in full by the payment date (as is the usual case for purchases).

eDicky

gropes said:

It has been extremely annoying and worrying having to call Halifax from abroad and being told the wait time was 30 minutes plus! I wonder what alternatives could be more reliable.

Any of the many alternative 'travel' debit or credit cards, it's best to have several available. Any card can suffer a block or recurring glitch, just use another then sort it when you're home instead of wasting time and money on the phone from overseas.

Gandalf644

I use the Natwest Travel Rewards Credit Card which has no foreign transaction fees for purchases overseas. It also gives 1% back in rewards on travel related costs (flights, cuises, hotels, car rental, even Ubers, buses and trains etc) and 0.1% back in rewards elsewhere. There are also occasional offers giving better rewards. There is also no fee for this card:

https://www.natwest.com/credit-cards/travel-reward-credit-card.html

As a back up, I also have a Virgin Money Travel Credit Card, but they don't seem to be offering this card to new custoimers currently:

https://uk.virginmoney.com/cards

Mark_d

When I go abroad I use my bank card (currently Kroo but previously Starling) to withdraw a small amount of cash from a bank ATM. Wherever possible, I make the transactions using my Halifax Clarity card.  I have done this for many years and never had any issues.
If there was a problem with my credit card then I can make transactions using my bank card.  Likewise if there's a problem with my bank card then I can take a cash advance on my Halifax Clarity card.

sausage_time

You may want to look at this page:

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

Despite the link, covers debit cards too

Olinda99

also rather than having to call to unblock a lot of cards let you approve using the app 

jbrassy

I use Barclaycard Rewards for spending and Starling for ATM withdrawals.

I also have Chase, First Direct and Kroo as back ups. All of these do not impose fees for overseas use.