Back Packing Europe (interrail) just sent off for Nationwide card... ELP!

steveOooo

have radomly decided to back pack for a month around Europe.

Yesterday (weds 25th June) i bought the one month interrail ticket (takes 5 working days to arrive) and flight from Southampton To Belgium (dep southampton 1415, arr. 1615). on 4th July

Today (Thursday 26th) I sent off a signed declaration for a Nationwide 'Cash card' this ISNT the visa debit card so 2 questions to kick off with

1. Is there any hope the cash card will arrive on or before 4th July. it says seven days (doesnt state 'working days') to arrive. if it does, do i have to wait for a pin number etc.. or does this come before the card is sent?

2. Will the simple 'cash card' work in atms abroad with no charge or loading costs (completely free to get it out)

3. If i dont get the card in time, i have a Halifax Visa Debit and a Halifax Mastercard, Seing as theres such a high cost involved in getting money out of the atms abroad, is it advisable to get a travelex cash passport or just take out £800 or so worth of euros hidden within a money belt? The cash passport is only free on cash purchases so i would still need to use atms....

3. Any recommendations for one month back pack insurance that will also cover me if i lose my interrail ticket?

Any general advise on bp around europe would be great!

Cheers! :rotfl:

Incapuppy

Regarding your cash card, surely the best people to ask are Nationwide - why don't you phone them?

Regarding your other travel money questions:

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/cards/cheaper-spending-overseas

kb1977

I signed and sent back my form for a Flex Account on Sunday 16th June and am still waiting for a card - my new Nationwide online banking log in says my account was successfully opened on 24th June - but still no card or PIN

I opened it online not in branch, which I believe is a lot quicker (in branch I mean)

Hope this helps

123oleary

Safeguard your rail pass; it is not replaceable if stolen. However, you may be entitled to a refund if you purchase pass insurance (such as Rail Europe's Rail Protection Plan). Rail pass insurance will not replace your pass while traveling; it only gives you a refund for the unused portion after you return. If you lose your pass, contact the local police immediately. You will be required to submit a copy of the police report with your lost pass claim.

from https://www.independenttraveler.com but ive just had a quick look on rail europes website and can't find anything about insurance, maybe you might want to ring them. i'm pretty sure your pass isn't covered under normal travel insurance but try ringing a company , they may give you a quote to add it on.

kb1977

Just an update - I received my Nationwide Flex Account cashcard on Saturday 28th June, so almost 2 weeks from posting back the signed form, and it says the PIN will come separately in up to 10 working days. So for anyone applying for a Nationwide Flex Account online, it takes around 3 weeks so make sure you allow this if you're going abroad soon.

poe.tuesday

if you are using a bum bag then becareful as you will find that thieves will surround you and help you find where you are looking for on your map etc whilst other little ones are helping themselves to your stuff in your bum bag.

if you are using overnight trains also be careful especially on the Barcelona to Nice run as this is known for robbery and sometimes worst (if you are a woman that is), I would suggest that you travel at night but buy the couchettes as these are safer

don't take loads of stuff with you, you won't need it

I would suggest you plan your route and if they still do it, get the thomas cook european train time table book as it is excellent

I have interrailled many times and the best places have always been the eastern bloc, your money will go further.

you will have a fab time, just don't take loads of stuff and remember that hanging around train stations are never that great but stay in public places rather than hanging around quieter places, and always go onto the parts of the trains where there are lots of people as they are safer

The other thing which I always have done, is to buy some CS gas when in france as you never know when you may have to use it and it has got me out of some serious situations in the past whilst back packing but remember it is a weapon and it can not be bought back into this country

God, it sounds like it's a really dogdy going back packing, it's not but you just need to be prepaired, the other thing is to take some pegs with you as you can dry your clothes and seal up chrisp packets ;-)

have a wicked time

Lemmy_Caution

Do have fun. The downside to(or one of them) using your Interrail for a lot of travel in eastern Europe is that train travel in that part of the world is in general already very cheap.One of the downsides to Interrail in western Europe is that you often have to pay supplements for some of the faster services. So I would suggest mixing up a bit of western, with eastern Europe - that's what I used to do.