New Zealand Currency

[IROC-Z]

My girlfriend is travelling to New Zealand in November and will be away on her birthday. I want to buy her some currency as a present but I don't want to end up carrying lots of cash around. I've tried to buy travellers cheques from Nationwide, but when I select New Zealand I can only buy them in Sterling.

I take it this is normal, but does anyone have an idea how easy it will be for her to cash them once she gets there?

[Matt..]

Personally when i go away all i do is take a few hundred £ in cash which i use for taxis and things like that, then just use my credit card. Why not do that?

I don't really see the point of travellers cheques.

[zac510]

Matt.. said:

Personally when i go away all i do is take a few hundred £ in cash which i use for taxis and things like that, then just use my credit card. Why not do that?

I don't really see the point of travellers cheques.

She might be better off with NZD$ unless she can get a good exchange in NZ?

I think travellers cheques are a bit outdated with electronic cards these days.

[v15ben]

I'd say a pre-paid card is the answer. Load it with however many NZD you want and give that to her as a present

[IROC-Z]

I was going to get travellers' cheques because I thought it'd be a bit more secure then her carrying a lot of cash around. I want to give it as a surprise, so if she's already got a load of cash I thought it'd be handy to have an alternative source of money.

The cash card is a good idea but I think I need to be careful because she could loose a lot of the money in charges etc...

I think maybe half the cash on a card and half as cash is a good compromise. Thanks guys

[v15ben]

If you get a Mastercard cash card then some of them have no charges unless using it in an ATM. Just tell her never to use a cashpoint and the gift is sorted

[audidoody]

Apply here for a or a Global currency card (ie not $ or €) http://www.caxtonfxcard.com/ f

Then give her the card with as much as you want to load on to it

Easy peasy. No charge for ATM withdrawal (New Zealand has millions of ATM's) and she won't get raped on commission or low rates at a Bureau de Change.

Edited by audidoody on Wednesday 8th July 17:23

[IROC-Z]

audidoody said:

Apply here for a or a Global currency card (ie not $ or €) http://www.caxtonfxcard.com/ f

Then give her the card with as much as you want to load on to it

Easy peasy. No charge for ATM withdrawal (New Zealand has millions of ATM's) and she won't get raped on commission or low rates at a Bureau de Change.

Edited by audidoody on Wednesday 8th July 17:23

Thanks for that, looks good!

[51mon]

Sorry for the thread hijack, but has anyone used one of the Caxton Global cards much? Im off away travelling in Aus, NZ and Asia for a year, and was a bit worried about what the best way of getting at my money would be?

Are these cards accepted pretty much everywhere as with a normal Mastercard? Are there any hidden drawbacks - they seem to offer a pretty much free service on cash withdrawals etc, was just wandering if they make their money back in other ways?

Also, towards the end of my trip I may need to use my credit card(s) a bit, can this type of card be 'loaded' using a credit card, or will I have to bite the bullit and pay the usual charges?

Cheers,

Si.

[thehawk]

51mon said:

Sorry for the thread hijack, but has anyone used one of the Caxton Global cards much? Im off away travelling in Aus, NZ and Asia for a year, and was a bit worried about what the best way of getting at my money would be?

Are these cards accepted pretty much everywhere as with a normal Mastercard? Are there any hidden drawbacks - they seem to offer a pretty much free service on cash withdrawals etc, was just wandering if they make their money back in other ways?

Also, towards the end of my trip I may need to use my credit card(s) a bit, can this type of card be 'loaded' using a credit card, or will I have to bite the bullit and pay the usual charges?

Cheers,

Si.

Excellent cards, only problem is when you start using them for car rental and hotel bookings etc, then they block the funds and usually don't release them for a couple of weeks. So you can end up with a lot less money available, however this is generally the case with all debit cards.