Holiday cash

[brrapp]

Sorry if this has been asked before, I couldn't find anything in the 'search' facility.
Where do others get their holiday cash from?
I usually just pick up a few hundred in Euros from the local post office and just use my UK credit and debit cards for bigger purchases abroad. I'm not interested in jumping through hoops to save a couple of pounds so am not going to apply for a different card or anything complicated
Any way of doing it better, and am I risking anything by using my cards abroad?

[ollie05]

Few hundred euros then credit cards.

I've got a Halifax clarity card which I took to the USA as there are no charges. I basically paid for everything out there on it but logged in to internet banking periodically as soon as new entries appeared.

Now I've got it, I will keep it and just use for holidays.

Granted euro countries are different to the USA so it will depend on the type of accommodation i.e all Inc hotel or self catering etc and also what you intend doing while your there.

Sounds like you are doing the right thing though, and if you aren't bothered about small credit card charges on your UK card, and are staying within eu countries, crack on as you are, but if going further afield, the Halifax card is great and took a few mins to complete an online app.

[mikal83]

Debit card.............no no no no and no.
Get a Halifax clarity as per pervious. Or check spot rates and buy cash or a Fairfx card. But clarity or the Santander equiv is best and draw cash at an atm and/or pay with it and PAY IT OFF IN FULL.

[TTOBES]

As per a previous post, I use Thomas Exchange Global simply because I work two minutes' walk from one of their branches.

[alorotom]

Revolut card - load on the fly from any debit or credit card with no cash advance fees, get live interbank rates with no fees as paying in the local currency - used one for years now and it's free up to the point of £30k throughout per year

[RammyMP]

alorotom said:

Revolut card - load on the fly from any debit or credit card with no cash advance fees, get live interbank rates with no fees as paying in the local currency - used one for years now and it's free up to the point of £30k throughout per year

I've had a Caxton card for a number of years, it's worked well. I've recently got a revolut card, this works well also and gets a better exchange rate than the Caxton.

[RicksAlfas]

Halifax Clarity Card.

You get a small interest charge for withdrawing cash on it, but it's still cheaper than any bureau in the UK.
(Last month 200 Euros cost me 86 pence, at rate of 1.1461, but the UK high street was only offering 1.10-1.11).

[Supersam83]

Revolut Card - Only card you ever will need abroad.

[Du1point8]

Supersam83 said:

Revolut Card - Only card you ever will need abroad.

This if I can get one as I cant get one posted to Aus even though I have a UK account.

[jsc15]

For any foreign currency purchases I've made in the last few years (all for $US), the best rate for me has always been in Ramsdens or The Money Shop, sometimes by a decent/worthwhile margin.

A few years ago I tried one of the pre-loaded cards and it was a pain in the bum, with a too-low daily limit etc, and limited places to withdraw

[Old Merc]

I`ve found eurochange have some of the best rates,particularly Euros.Like most people my major travel expenses have already been paid in advance in the UK.
I always take a few hundred of local currency in cash,never use a ATM abroad, and use my Santander123 credit card (no fees) to pay big bills. Also I always take a Nationwide Gold credit card as back up,just in case something goes wrong.

[brrapp]

mikal83 said:

Debit card.............no no no no and no.

Fair enough, why? Is it not secure?

[Du1point8]

brrapp said:

mikal83 said:

Debit card.............no no no no and no.

Fair enough, why? Is it not secure?

Its not so bad on my debit card as Im HSBC.

Premier/advanced members will be charged 2.5% and an FX rate thats not great, but better than using airport exchange and it has to be a HSBC ATM, but if I use my card in say a citigroup ATM, I might as well bend over and lube up.

[Robertj21a]

brrapp said:

mikal83 said:

Debit card.............no no no no and no.

Fair enough, why? Is it not secure?

I don't know why he's saying that, it's a load of rubbish.

I've used a Nationwide debit card all over the world for about 15 years, with no problems at all.

[mikal83]

Robertj21a said:

brrapp said:

mikal83 said:

Debit card.............no no no no and no.

Fair enough, why? Is it not secure?

I don't know why he's saying that, it's a load of rubbish.

I've used a Nationwide debit card all over the world for about 15 years, with no problems at all.

Because you will get charged a non sterling transaction fee, that's why.

yes you can use it all over the world, and get charged for it. So its not rubbish is it.

[//j17]

swerni said:

I just use an ATM in what ever country I land in.
Don't the see point in pre ordering currency.

Umm, to spend less to get the same money?

Take 10Euro out a cash machine with one of the worst debit cards and you're looking at a sub-1:1 exchange rate, plus a £1.50 withdrawal charge, so 10Euro cost you £11.50+.
Use something like the Halifax Clarity card and you get a more 1:1.1 exchange rate but no charges, so 10Euro cost you £9.09.
Pre-order from one of the best outlets (usually https://www.bestforeignexchange.com/) and you're looking at a 1:1.123 rate with no charges, so 10Euro cost you £8.90.

OK, you'd probably withdraw larger amounts so the £1.50 charge is a lower percentage but the charge is still there for other card payments.

[Robertj21a]

mikal83 said:

Robertj21a said:

brrapp said:

mikal83 said:

Debit card.............no no no no and no.

Fair enough, why? Is it not secure?

I don't know why he's saying that, it's a load of rubbish.

I've used a Nationwide debit card all over the world for about 15 years, with no problems at all.

Because you will get charged a non sterling transaction fee, that's why.

yes you can use it all over the world, and get charged for it. So its not rubbish is it.

But the fee is very small, and the conversion rate is often better than elsewhere.

[Supersam83]

Du1point8 said:

This if I can get one as I cant get one posted to Aus even though I have a UK account.

If you join Revolut Premium which is £6.99 a month (1 month free at the moment) then they send you out a replacement card anywhere in the world.

It also includes Global Medical Insurance, £400 of free ATM withdrawals a month, unlimited interbank FX, and more

It's the only card I use abroad now. Just transfer money from my bank account straight into card using the app. Then just use the card abroad and in ATMs and always get the best rates with no fees.

[audidoody]

Supersam83 said:

Revolut Card - Only card you ever will need abroad.

Not quite.

Can't use them as a deposit for hotels or car rentals. Toll booths, self-help petrol stations won't process a pre-pay debit card.

Revolut AND Clarity gets it all done.

[Du1point8]

Supersam83 said:

Du1point8 said:

This if I can get one as I cant get one posted to Aus even though I have a UK account.

If you join Revolut Premium which is £6.99 a month (1 month free at the moment) then they send you out a replacement card anywhere in the world.

It also includes Global Medical Insurance, £400 of free ATM withdrawals a month, unlimited interbank FX, and more

It's the only card I use abroad now. Just transfer money from my bank account straight into card using the app. Then just use the card abroad and in ATMs and always get the best rates with no fees.

Its not the sending out the replacement card, its activating the new card which needs to be done on a UK number.