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Monzo or starling any good for....

...Albania?  The Lek is a closed currency, does that make any difference?
Now a gainfully employed bassist again - WooHoo!

Comments

  • la531983
    la531983 Posts: 3,877 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Second Anniversary Name Dropper
    edited 29 August 2025 at 1:06PM
    You are misunderstanding the term "closed currency", just means that you cant get the physical notes outside it. You can still spend on any card inside the country.

    The Cape Verde Escudo is a closed currency, still happily spent on card whilst there.
  • RobM99
    RobM99 Posts: 2,802 Forumite
    Ninth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    la531983 said:
    You are misunderstanding the term "closed currency", just means that you can't get the physical notes outside it. You can still spend on any card inside the country.

    The Cape Verde Escudo is a closed currency, still happily spent on card whilst there.
    I understand that, I'm just asking if those two cards are readily accepted. I don't want to pre-load a card that not accepted!
    Now a gainfully employed bassist again - WooHoo!
  • la531983
    la531983 Posts: 3,877 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Second Anniversary Name Dropper
    edited 29 August 2025 at 1:10PM
    RobM99 said:
    la531983 said:
    You are misunderstanding the term "closed currency", just means that you can't get the physical notes outside it. You can still spend on any card inside the country.

    The Cape Verde Escudo is a closed currency, still happily spent on card whilst there.
    I understand that, I'm just asking if those two cards are readily accepted. I don't want to pre-load a card that not accepted!
    It will be accepted everywhere that Mastercard is accepted, which is likely every country in the world bar North Korea.
  • Slinky
    Slinky Posts: 11,599 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    edited 29 August 2025 at 1:15PM
    RobM99 said:
    la531983 said:
    You are misunderstanding the term "closed currency", just means that you can't get the physical notes outside it. You can still spend on any card inside the country.

    The Cape Verde Escudo is a closed currency, still happily spent on card whilst there.
    I understand that, I'm just asking if those two cards are readily accepted. I don't want to pre-load a card that not accepted!

    We did a day trip into Albania from Greece, they were very happy to take Euro cash. Would that work for you?
    Make £2026 in 2026
    Prolific £177.46, TCB £10.90, Everup £27.79, Roadkill £1.17
    Total £217.32 10.7%

    Make £2025 in 2025  Total £2241.23/£2025 110.7%
    Prolific £1062.50, Octopoints £6.64, TCB £492.05, Tesco Clubcard challenges £89.90, Misc Sales £321, Airtime £70, Shopmium £53.06, Everup £106.08, Zopa CB £30, Misc survey £10

    Make £2024 in 2024 Total £1410/£2024 70%
    Make £2023 in 2023 Total: £2606.33/£2023 128.8%






  • MyRealNameToo
    MyRealNameToo Posts: 3,838 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    RobM99 said:
    la531983 said:
    You are misunderstanding the term "closed currency", just means that you can't get the physical notes outside it. You can still spend on any card inside the country.

    The Cape Verde Escudo is a closed currency, still happily spent on card whilst there.
    I understand that, I'm just asking if those two cards are readily accepted. I don't want to pre-load a card that not accepted!
    The card issuer is irrelevant, it's the network the card is on which matters. Both Chase and Starling issue Mastercard Debit cards.

    Mastercard does operate in Albania so if they accept cards ithen they will take Mastercard however get out of the cities and you may find its much more cash only. 
  • RobM99
    RobM99 Posts: 2,802 Forumite
    Ninth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    OK thanks all, you have told me all I need to know.  :)
    Now a gainfully employed bassist again - WooHoo!
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