[davyk31]

Heading away a few days and will be paying in Euros. Normally just take a load of cash so i have control over buying rate and charges but right now cash is less attractive. Had a look at prepaid euro cards but a lot seem to be unavailable due to the overall provider being in difficulty.

Anyone any recommendations. Kinda falling back to the post office card although it talks of fees if you leave money on it and with it being a preload card it’s likely there will be some money left at some time. Noticed a Currensea card which does not need loaded and simply deducts from the current account but they don’t work with my bank yet.

[Rbrown]

I have Caxton card. Worked ok for me.

But not sure what has developed since lockdown.

[archerz]

I use Monzo, all card transactions are just market rate with no fees and can withdraw each month £200 (i think) free (then a small commision charge) from ATMs. So if I use my card where I can means can have a bit of cash free

[isleaiw1]

I used FairFX once, I know they had problems with Wirecard issues but seem to be back up and running now and sending out emails touting for business...

That Monzo deal sounds good though...

[Sasquartch]

I usually take a Post Office prepaid card, seems to work OK, you can check and load balance online etc

[evdok]

Looking into Revolut card, highly rated.

[Abrek]

Monzo or Starling, both offer protection as normal banks with zero forex commission. Starling gives you an option to have two accounts one in gbp and the other in EUR so all EUR transactions will come out from EUR account

[davyk31]

Spoke to Barclaycard this morning who are one of my card providers. They used to have a travel card but it’s withdrawn. The girl said normally there is a 2.99% fee on any transaction but she would put a note on the account to cancel that.


On that basis maybe my Barclaycard is all I need?

[mikeoz]

Any one know if these cars work in Germany? Reason I ask is most places other than Petrol stations and hotels won't take Visa/Mastercards they tend to use "EC Card" for transactions?

[ZedsRedBaby]

Originally Posted by mikeoz

Any one know if these cars work in Germany? Reason I ask is most places other than Petrol stations and hotels won't take Visa/Mastercards they tend to use "EC Card" for transactions?

I used a prepaid Mastercard (Cash Passport) last time we were in Germany. Just checked the statement and we used it in three different restaurants, the tourist office and Cologne Zoo. That was a couple of years ago.

[ZedsRedBaby]

Originally Posted by davyk31

Spoke to Barclaycard this morning who are one of my card providers. They used to have a travel card but it’s withdrawn. The girl said normally there is a 2.99% fee on any transaction but she would put a note on the account to cancel that.


On that basis maybe my Barclaycard is all I need?

I don't think there's much benefit to a prepaid card while exchange rates are as stable as they are at the moment.

Barclaycard still do the Rewards credit card. That has no overseas transaction fee, but just as important, you get the wholesale exchange rate, which is worth another 3%.

It's also interest-free for cash withdrawals as long as you repay in full by the due date. Others, like the Post Office credit card, charge interest from the day of withdrawal.

[Bibbles]

I've used Revolut for my past couple of trips, can't fault it. The exchange rate is good, transferring money over to it is easy and the immediate notifications you get from the app when it's being used means if it was cloned you wouldn't get hit for thousands before knowing about it. Also some of the nice features are you can control what the card can be used for so you can choose for your physical card not to be able to be used online and then you can have another virtual card that you can use for online purchases.

[mikeoz]

Originally Posted by ZedsRedBaby

I used a prepaid Mastercard (Cash Passport) last time we were in Germany. Just checked the statement and we used it in three different restaurants, the tourist office and Cologne Zoo. That was a couple of years ago.

Yeah thanks for that.
I tend to find it's supermarkets and shops I have issues with.

[ZedsRedBaby]

Originally Posted by mikeoz

Yeah thanks for that.
I tend to find it's supermarkets and shops I have issues with.

Not sure about those, sorry.

[pmgreenwood]

Another very happy Starling user here both at home and abroad

[ZedsRedBaby]

Originally Posted by Bibbles

I've used Revolut for my past couple of trips, can't fault it. The exchange rate is good, transferring money over to it is easy and the immediate notifications you get from the app when it's being used means if it was cloned you wouldn't get hit for thousands before knowing about it. Also some of the nice features are you can control what the card can be used for so you can choose for your physical card not to be able to be used online and then you can have another virtual card that you can use for online purchases.

I looked at Revolut but I think you can only take out £200 a month cash before they start charging? That wouldn't get me through a 2-3 week trip.

[Goneinsixtyseconds]

Originally Posted by davyk31

Spoke to Barclaycard this morning who are one of my card providers. They used to have a travel card but it’s withdrawn. The girl said normally there is a 2.99% fee on any transaction but she would put a note on the account to cancel that.


On that basis maybe my Barclaycard is all I need?

I always think about doing something different, but invariably just end up using my debit card.

Even if you have to pay, a 3% charge isn’t that much in the scheme of things. £45 on £1500, or £90 on £3000. Exchange rate usually seems ok, but given the overall cost of the holiday, I don’t tend to notice much.

I’m just always careful not to accept any payment or withdrawal in local currency, as you get a worse exchange rate and two lots of fees.

[Bibbles]

Originally Posted by ZedsRedBaby

I looked at Revolut but I think you can only take out £200 a month cash before they start charging? That wouldn't get me through a 2-3 week trip.

Not sure many places will be taking cash depending on where you go and they don't charge for foreign card transactions so no need to withdraw more cash than £200 as you can just pay for everything by card.

[Simon89]

I've used Starling for around 18months now. Used it in both Europe and USA without any issues at all, you don't even need to setup another account, just pay like normal and the conversion is all taken care of without being charged extra fees etc.

The benefit of Starling is there is no limit to what you can withdraw from a cash machine unlike Monzo.

I can see the foreign exchange cars eventually disappearing when we have options like Starling/Monzo about.