Spending Money abroad.....pre-paid cards ?

[sevenfourate]

Got three trips abroad booked and need to think about how i'm going to take spending monies.

One of the Travel forums im on have just had a topic about this and 'Revolut' has a few mentions....

Basically its a pre-paid Mastercard where you get real exchange rates, the option to change currencies at will, buy more and convert when the rate is appealing, you get an app to track your spending, notifications if you need to top-up etc.

Right now the US Dollar is showing an exceptional rate compared to everywhere else and i'm tempted to buy some and convert into US Dollars tonight.

Any World travellers got any thoughts or anyone used this or similar ?

https://revolut.com/

 

[Chris]

Not heard of it...

The post office do some sort of exchange system, where you pay in and it gets transferred over to your chosen
currency...

 

[Roshi69]

I have an EasyJet Euro Currency card and have used it every year for 3-4 years and love the convenience of it.

The exchange rate is slightly worse than you can get in other places but it means you don't get charged when your away and lift money from ATM's. Also you can pay by chip and pin with no fees. I don't like changing money and taking it all in cash and find this solution perfect and have never had any issues with it. Obviously it only works in certain Euro Currency countries lol, I used it last month in magaluf and Ibiza.

Here's a link with a quick video to explain it:
http://www.easyjet.com/en/help/booking/easyjet-euro-currency-card

May not be any used to you based on where your going but thought I'd throw it out there in case.

 

[sevenfourate]

I have an EasyJet Euro Currency card and have used it every year for 3-4 years and love the convenience of it.

The exchange rate is slightly worse than you can get in other places but it means you don't get charged when your away and lift money from ATM's. Also you can pay by chip and pin with no fees. I don't like changing money and taking it all in cash and find this solution perfect and have never had any issues with it. Obviously it only works in certain Euro Currency countries lol, I used it last month in magaluf and Ibiza.

Here's a link with a quick video to explain it:
http://www.easyjet.com/en/help/booking/easyjet-euro-currency-card

May not be any used to you based on where your going but thought I'd throw it out there in case.

Great info for one of our trips and will do the job nicely. Thankyou.

The other two trips are both outside of Europe though............

 

[tcw]

Revolut or Monzo are both very good. I personally use Monzo, though Revolut is possibly better for your use.

 

[Jimmy]

I have used Revolut in the past via the app, however not to travel abroad with. Very simple to use, and with the option to get an actual card for instances such as holidays - I used mine for online purchases so only needed the card number. Works well, so would be my choice if I was using it to go abroad.

 

[R32pete]

I use a halifax clarity credit card free cash withdrawals and no charges on exchange abroad. ive binned my debit cards i literally only use this now.

 

[sevenfourate]

Cheers for the continued thoughts / suggestions.



THIS is worrying reference Revolut: (The user i read a review from last night had their card cloned / used and lost the £750 they had on it.

“There is no fraud protection for your pre-paid card as stated by ‘The UK Cards Association’, therefore any money used in a fraudulent transaction will not be reimbursed.”

If you would like to challenge a transaction that has been made an account we can raise a chargeback for you to retrieve the funds. However this does depend on your transaction’s situation and circumstances. By raising a chargeback we would effectively charge the merchant back for the funds

Also no 24/7 helpdesk is manned".



One suggestion is:

"You can put a block on them so they cant be used on line or at ATMs unless you unblock it on your app. I keep mine on all the time then reactivate it when paying. It only takes a second on the app on your phone. So of they cloned it; it wouldn't be useable".


*****Hmmmmmmm...............

 

[nutnutwelshman]

Have a look at Martin Lewis Web site

 

[sevenfourate]

Have a look at Martin Lewis Web site

Big wad of notes and a baseball bat i'm thinking Kev.......

 

[CallorFold]

I use a halifax clarity credit card free cash withdrawals and no charges on exchange abroad. ive binned my debit cards i literally only use this now.

Second this. Done the same myself, the Clarity card is great. Just be sure to pay off cash withdrawals ASAP to avoid interest charges

 

[nutnutwelshman]

Big wad of notes and a baseball bat i'm thinking Kev.......

Iam a cash bum

 

[sevenfourate]

Halifax Clarity on the way. Cheers all

 

[sikora]

I used WeSwap for Los Angeles a few months ago. Same sort of thing as the Revolut card I'm guessing. You get a pre-paid mastercard and use an app on your phone to add money to your "wallet". Then you convert this to any currency.

Worked pretty much everywhere I used it. Think only one shop it wouldn't work in, plus they don't work in petrol stations for some reason. I just used it as a safer way than carrying so much cash on me while flying over. $300 withdrawal was only a $3 fee.

Have a look on moneysavingexpert. You should find a link to sign up with perfect exchange rates and a free £10

 

[suj]

I use Revolut after the Romanian guy next to me told me about it.

I have been in the last year with work and holiday to Germany, Romania, Dublin and Thailand.

It is great, as it has the app you can track spending / add money to the account.
You can setup an "auto-top up" if it gets under a certain amount also, or just top up as you go.

It gives you some great rates, in Thailand I was getting better than every transfer rate place there. You can even take cash out the cash point (I think it was £200 per month max, then you are charged).

If you are with Halifax, their Clarity card is meant to be amazing, no fee to use it worldwide, no cash withdrawal fee and no annual fee.
I only found out about it after I got back from Thailand

 

[sevenfourate]

If you are with Halifax, their Clarity card is meant to be amazing, no fee to use it worldwide, no cash withdrawal fee and no annual fee.
I only found out about it after I got back from Thailand

Thanks Suj.

I'm not with Halifax - but just applied: and actually got my Clarity Card yesterday.

A 'safe bet' i think