How do you all take your money on holiday?

zagfles · 3 September 2019 at 8:04PM

parking_question_chap wrote: »

For holidays to Greece or Spain generally just take the lot in cash. Yes might cost a little more, but I dont really want the faff of needing to visit cash points and dont like taking my debit card out of an evening in case I have a few too many and loose it.

You think visiting a cashpoint is a "faff" but not visiting some BDC to get your foreign currency :rotfl:

How do you get cash out when you're in the UK? Do you queue inside a bank instead of "faffing" with a cashpoint? Or do you get them to send you cash in the post?

badger09 · 4 September 2019 at 9:55AM

Eurozone, Sweden & Hong Kong (frequent visitor), usually take some cash. Elsewhere, it depends how long we're there. Will be in Australia early next year for almost 3 weeks so might get some AUD.

Mainly rely on Halifax Clarity, with PO Money & Nationwide credit cards & Nationwide debit card as backup. Belt & braces for me:o

Abbafan1972 · 8 September 2019 at 1:43PM

Thanks for all your replies - Someone mentioned about having a Santander account.

What is the best one to have - I have looked on their website and I can't seem to find out about ATM charges abroad.

Also, we don't already bank with them - our Salary gets paid into the Halifax.

If we were to open a Santander account, would there be a minimum monthly deposit amount.

Thanks in advance.

EveryWhere · 8 September 2019 at 2:04PM

Abbafan1972 wrote: »

Thanks for all your replies - Someone mentioned about having a Santander account.

What is the best one to have - I have looked on their website and I can't seem to find out about ATM charges abroad.

Also, we don't already bank with them - our Salary gets paid into the Halifax.

If we were to open a Santander account, would there be a minimum monthly deposit amount.

Thanks in advance.

£500 per month with any current account. Everyday is possibly their every day current account.
This of course is only fee free for Santander ATMs in Spain.

If you want no card charges worldwide(no control over local ATM charges), then you want https://www.starlingbank.com/travel/

For credit card usage and ATM withdrawals worldwide, of course the Halifax Clarity.

pantaiema · 8 September 2019 at 2:12PM

Abbafan1972 wrote: »

Thanks for all your replies - Someone mentioned about having a Santander account.

What is the best one to have - I have looked on their website and I can't seem to find out about ATM charges abroad.

Also, we don't already bank with them - our Salary gets paid into the Halifax.

If we were to open a Santander account, would there be a minimum monthly deposit amount.

Thanks in advance.

There is already a discussion about this on the following link
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6034328/avoid-or-reduce-bank-charges-in-spain&highlight=

Reading from the link above, it seems like Santander 123, Santander 123 lite, Santander Every day account. All accounts require you minimum monthly payment into the account. For instance Santander 123 lite require minimum payment of £500 monthly to get the benefit of foreign withdrawal.

Just be aware Santander debitcard is only good if you intend to use "in Spain and on the Santander cash machines in Spain". for other countries use another card such as Starling, Halifax Claritycard, etc.

EveryWhere · 8 September 2019 at 2:20PM

Abbafan1972 wrote: »

We will going on holiday to Spain a couple of times in the near future - how do you all take your money with you?

My Mom takes all cash with her - we have done that in the past and don't really feel comfortable with it.

I have a Revolut card, but have never used it abroad and am not sure how it works to be honest.

Years ago I used Travellers Cheques - I'm guessing these don't exist anymore?

Is there any other means I can use?

Your comments would be great on what to do.

Thanks in advance.

A few things to cover. Revolut is fine, but probably a bit complicated for you to use optimally.

So the easiest choice for you would be the Starling card aforementioned. You don't need to switch accounts. You can just use it for travel money.
An equally good choice for value, if you only travel in Europe, is the https://www.metrobankonline.co.uk/bank-accounts/products/current-account/ debit card.
You can even walk in and get one within the hour.

But you have a misunderstanding about the Halifax Clarity credit card. It's not like your normal credit card. It's that it is perfect for travel worldwide. You certainly need one for car rental, hotel deposit, petrol stations etc
In addition to that, it offers you protections beyond a debit card. If there is fraud on your card whilst abroad, it doesn't affect your cash pot and you have time to sort it out.
You also have added purchase protections.
Since you already have a Halifax account, you can make immediate payments to the credit card account via your mobile phone. So you never need to owe anything on the credit card, but you have a safety buffer protecting your hard earned from the unscrupulous and also deposits than can be held for seven to fifteen days.
That wouldn't be any good if you couldn't use your holiday cash for that time.

So one of you might want to get rid of your ordinary Halifax credit card, in order to obtain a Clarity. It really is essential.

Abbafan1972 · 8 September 2019 at 4:11PM

EveryWhere wrote: »

A few things to cover. Revolut is fine, but probably a bit complicated for you to use optimally.

So the easiest choice for you would be the Starling card aforementioned. You don't need to switch accounts. You can just use it for travel money.
An equally good choice for value, if you only travel in Europe, is the https://www.metrobankonline.co.uk/bank-accounts/products/current-account/ debit card.
You can even walk in and get one within the hour.

But you have a misunderstanding about the Halifax Clarity credit card. It's not like your normal credit card. It's that it is perfect for travel worldwide. You certainly need one for car rental, hotel deposit, petrol stations etc
In addition to that, it offers you protections beyond a debit card. If there is fraud on your card whilst abroad, it doesn't affect your cash pot and you have time to sort it out.
You also have added purchase protections.
Since you already have a Halifax account, you can make immediate payments to the credit card account via your mobile phone. So you never need to owe anything on the credit card, but you have a safety buffer protecting your hard earned from the unscrupulous and also deposits than can be held for seven to fifteen days.
That wouldn't be any good if you couldn't use your holiday cash for that time.

So one of you might want to get rid of your ordinary Halifax credit card, in order to obtain a Clarity. It really is essential.

Hi there,

Thanks for that. We don't rent a car, so wouldn't need it for that. Would only use it for major purchase abroad, so not dipping into our normal spending money and the rest of the the time we would want to withdraw cash to use from day to day, as some smaller retailers would only want cash (an ice cream stall for example).

So really don't know if we would be better off

Ganga · 8 September 2019 at 4:14PM

I have a Santander credit card and do not bank with them so you do not have to ,i always take some cash with me mainly to tip the taxi driver and the staff at the hotel,cannot imagine the person who cleans our room to carry a card reader.

Browntoa · 8 September 2019 at 4:30PM

On holiday at the moment , Halifax clarity for day to day food in restaurants and supermarkets , minimal amount of cash for tips etc.

Creation everyday card as fallback ( now withdrawn to new customers )

Bit of upfront research showed local bank ATMs that do not charge a fee for use. In Spain that's Caixa bank

Why anyone carrys large amounts of cash these days is beyond me.

parking_question_chap · 8 September 2019 at 4:40PM

zagfles wrote: »

You think visiting a cashpoint is a "faff" but not visiting some BDC to get your foreign currency :rotfl:

How do you get cash out when you're in the UK? Do you queue inside a bank instead of "faffing" with a cashpoint? Or do you get them to send you cash in the post?

Well yes, it is a faff when there isnt a cashpoint to use.

When holiday in Europe these days we tend to base ourselves off the beaten track and make a lot of daytrips by bicycle to similary remote places. Some lovely little local villages and secluded beaches. Keeping away from the hordes of other holiday makers. Not the sort of places that have an ATM on every corner. For that reason carrying cash is essential.

Not everybody enjoys holidaying on the Costa Del Sol with the hoi polloi, my dear.

How do you all take your money on holiday?

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