Credit card and debit card for travelling

rosegirl123

hi I’m not a terribly experienced traveller and was wondering - is it best to just have a debit card (I have a starling card) or a debit card and credit card (which I would have to apply for) to travel with?

Thank you.

sausage_time

Both types of cards can be appropriate.

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

The main things to watch for are:

• Card that offers no FX loading
• Always pay in local currency (so your card does the conversion with no loading)
• Most credit cards will charge interest on ATM withdrawals (Barclaycard Rewards is one exception)
• Many ATMS will charge a fee in any case.

I have been cashless (and paid with a suitable credit card) on all my recent travels.

CliveOfIndia

As above, both can be useful.

A so-called "travel" credit card can have advantages. Firstly, they won't charge an FX fee on every transaction, which most other credit and debit cards will. Secondly, if you pay in local currency, the card will covert it to GBP using the Visa/Mastercard exchange rate, which is pretty much the best rate you'll be able to get.

If you need to withdraw cash from an ATM, check your card's T&Cs carefully. Most debit cards will charge a fee, though some of the newer ones won't. The "travel" credit cards don't usually charge a fee, though you'll pay interest - with the exception of Barclaycard Rewards, I think. But the interest will usually be less than the fee you'd otherwise be charged, as long as you pay it off reasonably quickly. As noted above, the ATM itself may charge a fee, but you can't avoid that no matter which card you use.

NoodleDoodleMan

As above, the general rule is to avoid drawing currency from an ATM - unless you are sure it charges no fee for transactions.

There is no one size fits all scenario, it varies from country to country - however fee free holes in the wall are a dying breed it seems.

Your bank may take no markup, however the providing bank almost certainly will.

One exception in my experience is in Spain and The Canaries - if you have a Santander UK debit card you can withdraw € at a Santander branch located ATM without any fee…….but not at standalone machines in the street.

If you are a regular visitor to Spain that is a good card to carry as long as there is a branch (oficina) locally with an ATM (cajero) - I have a Santander Everyday current account which has no nuisance conditions like Direct Debits or minimum monthly pay in amount…….ideal.

Barclaycard Reward interest is only waived if you pay off the whole balance (all transactions) when the next statement is due to be settled.

rosegirl123

so I actually there’s no advantage in having both as my Starling card does all of the above.

HillStreetBlues

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81964198#Comment_81964198

There is an advantage if you have an issue with one card. Always wise to have a backup.

Nasqueron

I prefer CC simply to keep the money in my account longer and earning interest but functionally for payments it doesn't matter, it'll either be Visa or Mastercard for debit/credit or AmEx for credit

born_again

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81964216#Comment_81964216

One Visa, One Mastercard & not from same bank.

Amazing how many people go on holiday & lose the card. Leaving them stuck.

HillStreetBlues

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81964382#Comment_81964382

I learnt from a lucky escape.
Was in the US (a good few years ago) when my debit card got suck in the ATM. Thankfully it wasn't swallowed as it can't be given back, it was stuck just as it entered. Thankfully a lady in the bank had a pair of tweezers and managed to retrieve it. That was the last time I ever travelled with a few pence in pocket and one card!

Gandalf644

One other thing, it maybe a good idea to have a credit card, as well as a debit card with you for such things as:

Car Hire

Hotel Reservations

Some hire car companies and hotels will only accept credit (not debit) cards.

If they do allow debit cards, they may ‘reserve’ an inordinately large sum of your money (in case you don’t return the hire car or trash the hotel room) meaning you cannot access it until the pending reservation drops off which might be upto 7 days or so.

SacredStephan

When travelling abroad I always take more than one credit card and a Caxton pre-paid card (remember them) for ATM cash withdrawals which I rarely use now as so many places take CCs.

Avoid Euronet ATMs (the blue and yellow ones) as they always charge.