Euros - Prepaid card or cash
Discussion
Away for 6 nights with the family and only breakfast is included with the hotel. Was aiming for about £600, which converts to about 680 Euros. I've always done cash for weekends away or had all inclusive so not had to deal with this amount of cash.
Also never done a prepaid debit card so looking for advice on what is best?
Will have a hire which I plan to prepay for but will need to fill it up at the end, other than that should only be meal and experiences to pay for.
Also never done a prepaid debit card so looking for advice on what is best?
Will have a hire which I plan to prepay for but will need to fill it up at the end, other than that should only be meal and experiences to pay for.
Open a Monzo or Revolut online bank account..(download from Apple or android store on your phone.)
Transfer money from your normal account into the desired online account you have chosen to use.
Both have free cash withdrawals and better exchange rates.
Just do your research to make sure which ever account you choose to open meets the needs that you are going to have.
Transfer money from your normal account into the desired online account you have chosen to use.
Both have free cash withdrawals and better exchange rates.
Just do your research to make sure which ever account you choose to open meets the needs that you are going to have.
MB140 said:
Open a Monzo or Revolut online bank account..(download from Apple or android store on your phone.)
Transfer money from your normal account into the desired online account you have chosen to use.
Both have free cash withdrawals and better exchange rates.
Just do your research to make sure which ever account you choose to open meets the needs that you are going to have.
Or ChaseTransfer money from your normal account into the desired online account you have chosen to use.
Both have free cash withdrawals and better exchange rates.
Just do your research to make sure which ever account you choose to open meets the needs that you are going to have.
Or Starling
Or Kroo
Some bars still like cash so handy to have it when cash withdrawals can charge you punitive fees.
I have a Chase account. Pay in £500 in a month and get 1% cashback and use the card anywhere, no fees, straight bank conversion rates for whatever currency.
Current account also pays 1% interest and the savings account 3.8, soon to be 4.1% so easy to keep money in savings and transfer it to current in seconds.
I have a Chase account. Pay in £500 in a month and get 1% cashback and use the card anywhere, no fees, straight bank conversion rates for whatever currency.
Current account also pays 1% interest and the savings account 3.8, soon to be 4.1% so easy to keep money in savings and transfer it to current in seconds.
I usually take enough cash for at least the first few days/week.
If need be one or 2 large cash transactions will minimise fees at the atm for longer stays.
I take my normal bank cards too. Just tell them when and which country you are going to. Im with RBS. You just do it on the app.
I usually take €200/300 out with me per day depending on where we are going etc and top up when back at the hotel for the next day. Keep the rest in the room safe or secrected in the suitcase somewhere with the passports.
Never been a problem.
If need be one or 2 large cash transactions will minimise fees at the atm for longer stays.
I take my normal bank cards too. Just tell them when and which country you are going to. Im with RBS. You just do it on the app.
I usually take €200/300 out with me per day depending on where we are going etc and top up when back at the hotel for the next day. Keep the rest in the room safe or secrected in the suitcase somewhere with the passports.
Never been a problem.
€100 Cash for those places that don't take cards for the first couple of days.
Then a Credit Card with zero foreign transaction fees and that tracks the VISA/Mastercard exchange rate. Gives you protection if it gets stolen / you get skimmed. You won't have that on a Prepay.
Post Office used to do a Credit Card free of fees (now JAJA) not sure if any others do these days.
Then a Credit Card with zero foreign transaction fees and that tracks the VISA/Mastercard exchange rate. Gives you protection if it gets stolen / you get skimmed. You won't have that on a Prepay.
Post Office used to do a Credit Card free of fees (now JAJA) not sure if any others do these days.
I've just done this. In the end I opened a Chase account - very simple to do and the option to add a 'virtual' card to Apple Pay. I believe there is no limit on Apple Pay (Chase) so if your physical card doesn't arrive in time it's not the end of the world. It all seems simple and once you've read the instructions it's quite self-explanatory.
If you bank with HSBC you could look at Global Money - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/current-accounts/products/g...
If you bank with HSBC you could look at Global Money - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/current-accounts/products/g...
Mick Dastardly said:
I’m abroad at the minute and I’ve used my Halifax Clarity card for everything.
No fees, accepted everywhere via Apple Pay. It just works.
This is what I do.No fees, accepted everywhere via Apple Pay. It just works.
Also have a Revolut card as a back up, and so I can easily transfer money to my daughter's Revolut account when required.
Both work well and are widely accepted,, but Clarity is slightly cheaper than Revolut on currency conversion. The basic Revolut card also charges for cash withdrawals at the weekend. Clarity is free all the time.
I would (and recently did) get a credit card that has no charges when abroad. I've just had a couple of weeks driving around Europe including a stay in Lake Garda and used a Halifax Clarity for pretty much everything.
Nationwide, First Direct, Starling and a load of other current accounts don't charge on foreign transactions either.
I can't see any reason to risk carrying a big pile of cash with you these days, especially in Europe. You can pay on card for pretty much everything and if you ever do need cash when you're there, just go to an ATM.
Nationwide, First Direct, Starling and a load of other current accounts don't charge on foreign transactions either.
I can't see any reason to risk carrying a big pile of cash with you these days, especially in Europe. You can pay on card for pretty much everything and if you ever do need cash when you're there, just go to an ATM.
I’m off to Germany in a few weeks. I know it’s still very much a cash driven country so wondering how much to take.
I thought I could use my Revolut card to get cash from the German ATMs but apparently that’s restricted to £200 per month unless you pay their fees.
Is there a better way?
I thought I could use my Revolut card to get cash from the German ATMs but apparently that’s restricted to £200 per month unless you pay their fees.
Is there a better way?
bad company said:
I’m off to Germany in a few weeks. I know it’s still very much a cash driven country so wondering how much to take.
I thought I could use my Revolut card to get cash from the German ATMs but apparently that’s restricted to £200 per month unless you pay their fees.
Is there a better way?
Clarity credit card. No fees on cash withdrawals or currency exchange. Spend up to your credit limit. Free so long as you pay off the full balance every month.I thought I could use my Revolut card to get cash from the German ATMs but apparently that’s restricted to £200 per month unless you pay their fees.
Is there a better way?
dontlookdown said:
bad company said:
I’m off to Germany in a few weeks. I know it’s still very much a cash driven country so wondering how much to take.
I thought I could use my Revolut card to get cash from the German ATMs but apparently that’s restricted to £200 per month unless you pay their fees.
Is there a better way?
Clarity credit card. No fees on cash withdrawals or currency exchange. Spend up to your credit limit. Free so long as you pay off the full balance every month.I thought I could use my Revolut card to get cash from the German ATMs but apparently that’s restricted to £200 per month unless you pay their fees.
Is there a better way?
bad company said:
dontlookdown said:
bad company said:
I’m off to Germany in a few weeks. I know it’s still very much a cash driven country so wondering how much to take.
I thought I could use my Revolut card to get cash from the German ATMs but apparently that’s restricted to £200 per month unless you pay their fees.
Is there a better way?
Clarity credit card. No fees on cash withdrawals or currency exchange. Spend up to your credit limit. Free so long as you pay off the full balance every month.I thought I could use my Revolut card to get cash from the German ATMs but apparently that’s restricted to £200 per month unless you pay their fees.
Is there a better way?
Edited by Old Merc on Wednesday 9th August 09:45
bad company said:
Yes, I already have one of those but Germany is very cash orientated still, a lot of shops, cafes & bars are cash only. I need to be able to get money from the ATM.
You can use your clarity card to get cash from an ATM. No fee, just the same MasterCard exchange rate you pay on card purchases . Gassing Station | Holidays & Travel | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff