Ideal Card For Backpacking?

BackpackerSte

Is there anyone who can offer a suggestion as to which Credit Card (either specific card name/lender or just the 'type' of card) is best suited to someone who's about to spend 12months living out of a bag in some areas which are quite remote?

I've never had a Credit Card before (I would expect my 'credit rating' to be good? As I've never been significantly overdrawn/always had savings) and so I am unsure as to the most suitable type.

I hope to have the finances to pay the card off as I spend, and not to incure too much long term debt because of it. The card is needed more for its security and wide acceptance features than it's actual lending.


Thanks to anyone who can help.

Ste

UK007BullDog

Please tell us where you plan to backpack.

UK only or some remote parts in the world?

I have heard that Nationwide is good for going abroad.

I would go for Visa as that is available world wide.

Just make sure you have a relative have access so that they can administer the card for you in case of you losing it, fraud abroad and monthly bill payment. Most international travellers forget about that when travelling for an extended time.

Geenie

Hi Backpacker. My eldest is doing this at present, and what we learnt before she went was for her to take 2 different cards to get money out, as some countries accept one more then another.....plus having a back up option if one gets lost or damaged. So she has a Nationwide Flex Visa which is the preferred choice because they dont charge like others for getting money out and a Nat West Maestro. She is in Ghana at the moment, which only really deals with Visa she was told, but Thailand, Aus, NZ and the USA will be more flexible for her to use the other card if needed. So I would advise firstly that you research where you are going and what is able to be used there.

Secondly, despite her having had a general saving account with Nationwide since 12 years old, she was refused a Nationwide Flex account when she applied, despite us going into our local branch and explaining what it was for, and that me and her dad would be transferring regular money into it for her from our saving accounts with them, so it would never go empty . But this is fair enough as she is only 19 years old and the credit crunch etc. You may be a lot older then this and with regular income records.

Anyway, she ended up taking one of my Flex cards :eek: as I didn't what her stuck anywhere without money!!!! The beauty of all of this is that I control it along with her Nat West account from home online, and only allow certain smallish amounts to be kept in each.....transferring more in if required. I check both each day and would notice any abnormal spending patterns probably before she would if anything dodgy went on. I also didn't want her logging on to these accounts from countries and internet cafes that may not be as secure, or could be tampered with to get info on our accounts, so she doesn't go on them at all while away. Probably being daft, but a risk I am not prepared to take.

dad-of-4

i used a cashplus mastercard for a 3 month trip to south africa, it worked well, but i had net access and was transfering money onto it as i needed it.

dad-of-4

i also hear its not unheard of for people to be kidnaped so there cards can be used repeatedly to empty a bank account without being cancelled, so not having much dosh on the card makes a lot of sence.

paulboy83

I went away for 6 months and had a Nationwide flex account Visa card and a Nationwide (visa) (which I didn't keep with my debit card - just in case) And did just fine. I did also have an HSBC credit card (mastercard) in case of serious emergencies but I didnt use it once as the nationwide one did for me. Nationwide dont charge fees to use the card abroad and i'd highly reccomend them. (don't forget that if you take a credit card with you if you withdraw cash they will charge you lots and lots.

gt94sss2

BackpackerSte wrote: »

Is there anyone who can offer a suggestion as to which Credit Card (either specific card name/lender or just the 'type' of card) is best suited to someone who's about to spend 12months living out of a bag in some areas which are quite remote?

These credit cards are the best for overseas use, as they do not charge you foreign exchange loading on purchases abroad.:

- Nationwide
- Post Office
- Thomas Cook

If opening a Nationwide credit card account, you may also want to apply for their current account as well - as their debit card doesn't charge foreign exchange loading either and is the cheapest way to withdraw cash from ATM's abroad if needed (rather than using a credit card)

All the above cards will give you online access to statements and you can set up a direct debit to make sure you don't miss a payment..

The fact that you have never had a credit card before may actually mean your credit card record is 'worse' than it might have been otherwise - as you have less of a record of paying money back regularly.

Regards
Sunil

belfastgirl23

Just to add as well that Nationwide internet banking is very good and easy to use - I'm guessing that this will be her only access to accounts. The only thing is taht they are due to bring in some kind of new internet banking system soon that relys on a card reader so this might cause some problems if she is in a far flung part when it does come in...

mistyarthur

When I went travelling I took a nationwide credit card for the reasons that everyone was saying and a flex account card.
Beware though that transactions take a while to show and if you spend money on flights or other expensive things you may find yourself overdrawn very quickly without realising, I went £300 overdrawn before they noticed or myself because most places won't allow you to check your balance at a cash machine. My own fault really though.
I tended to take cash out and use that then its easier to restrict your spending only a couple of days worth at a time mind.

BackpackerSte

First, thanks to everyone who's posted so far... some really helpful information. I'm going to look into the Nationwide card when I get home from work and my Girlfriend has already applied for the Post Office one.

I'll also take into account the cost of having a Credit as opposed to Debit card.

If anyone else has anything to add, it's much appreciated.

Geenie

belfastgirl23 wrote: »

Just to add as well that Nationwide internet banking is very good and easy to use - I'm guessing that this will be her only access to accounts. The only thing is taht they are due to bring in some kind of new internet banking system soon that relys on a card reader so this might cause some problems if she is in a far flung part when it does come in...

I had a scare this morning on this very thing Belfastgirl!:eek: Was sent a new card and they have changed the last 4 numbers and said to destroy the old one. I rang them up and they said it is to do with the card reader system coming in soon. My old one will be valid until the end of March so if I have made purchases on it which need returning I had better get a move on and not leave it like I usually do.

Luckily it is not for the account that my daughter is using at the moment in Ghana, and because the card she took was for a new account I only opened in November, I am hoping it will not need to be changed, because if they do change that ones as well she will be stuffed!!