cash or credit card??

[Gareth& Hayley]

the post office card sounds like a good idea I found when I used the Martin Lewis forum to compare exchange rates Travelex beat all the others so we used them last time.

The post office card is a Master-Card so it is very widely excepted, you would struggle to find anywhere that accepts card payments to reject master-card.

 

[tennisfan]

If you apply for the Nationwide credit card, make sure you inform them before you go that you are going abroad as they will block your card. I used to be on my dads Saga CC account which was commission free, they used to say if you go for a day they don't need to be informed but they always blocked the card.

I have since switched over to Nationwide who informed me to let them know all the time I go abroad as the card will be blocked otherwise.

You could always open a Nationwide current account & get the debit card which is also commission free abroad. That way you can control your spending by saving money & putting it into the account. When you come back whatever hasn't been used can easily be transfered back into your main bank account, without you losing from the exchange rate.

 

[kevankiki]

I have since switched over to Nationwide who informed me to let them know all the time I go abroad as the card will be blocked otherwise.

Apart from one occasion, I always forget to inform them I'm going away, yet I've never had a problem. Perhaps they just think I moved to DLP though

 

[tennisfan]

Apart from one occasion, I always forget to inform them I'm going away, yet I've never had a problem. Perhaps they just think I moved to DLP though

Lucky you The guy told me when I phoned that as my card is registered to the UK if used abroad without letting them know they will block it. I don't know how true it is as I have never found out

 

[kevankiki]

Lucky you The guy told me when I phoned that as my card is registered to the UK if used abroad without letting them know they will block it. I don't know how true it is as I have never found out

It's never been true in my case, but then I always have a back up, just in case. I know I should call them, but I partly forget, but mostly I hate non-geographical telephone numbers. I can't understand why we can't notify them via the on-line portal anyway, using their secure messaging service.

 

[tennisfan]

It's never been true in my case, but then I always have a back up, just in case. I know I should call them, but I partly forget, but mostly I hate non-geographical telephone numbers. I can't understand why we can't notify them via the on-line portal anyway, using their secure messaging service.

Totally agree about notifying them online. I think i'm more cautious since I had an attempted clone on another CC. I hate non geographical numbers too which is why I use this site: http://www.saynoto0870.com/ a very useful site to bookmark.

 

[mummyal]

We just took 400 Euros with us for buying (too many) bits & pieces & lunch and then used our Nationwide credit card for big bills like dinner and shopping.

 

[kevankiki]

I hate non geographical numbers too which is why I use this site: http://www.saynoto0870.com/ a very useful site to bookmark.

I use that site too, though sadly the number given doesn't always get you through to where you need to be, and you you get some muppet telling you that you need to call a different (non-geographical) number


Hastily getting back on topic....

We just took 400 Euros with us for buying (too many) bits & pieces & lunch and then used our Nationwide credit card for big bills like dinner and shopping.

We do the same, but more like about €200, as there is just the two of us.

 

[rhysd2]

we took some euros with us and then registered the card with the hotel for the rest. To be honest it was nice to just have to carry round a lanyard with your hotel pass in rather than worrying about a wallet etc. Provided you keep track of your spending its a nice easy way and takes one worry out of your mind.

Plus if you do have a card that charges you a transaction fee it will only be charged once. as they total up all the bits you spend then just charge it all in a lump sum as you check out.

oh and as for blocking when used elsewhere, my debit and credit cards are natwest ones. I've had them even temporarily block them in england when they have been used "outside" their normal usage area.