Is it worth me getting a Fairfax card?

[higgy66]

Hi

As we're stopping on Disney we'll be getting one of those key card thingys - you know what I mean!

As the girls are young we're only planning to do Disney and Seaworld this time so 80% of our purchases will be with Disney. I plan to do the same as when we went to DLRP and put everything on our key card and settle up with the resort.

A) Can we settle up at the end of the holiday or do they ask for interim payments?

B) Am I right in thinking by doing it this way I'll only pay the one payment on my visa so only 1 commission charge etc

C) Would it still be cheaper paying at the end with a Fairfax card?

Hope somebody understands what I'm getting at and can explain the best option.

Many thanks in advance

 

[jtlover]

We are staying Disney and we will be getting a Fairfx card this time.

Depending on which hotel range you stay at depends on the amount of credit you are allowed by Disney before they charge the card you have reserved with them. It works really well for us as we go regularly to check what our balance is. We then pay up at the end of the holiday with one bill.

We are staying AKL and deluxe hotels give you $1500 before they charge the card. I think it is $1000 moderate and $500 (I cant remember what you call this level)

I am getting a card as I dont like not knowing what I have spend when I get back from holiday

 

[iluvtot]

Hi

As we're stopping on Disney we'll be getting one of those key card thingys - you know what I mean!

As the girls are young we're only planning to do Disney and Seaworld this time so 80% of our purchases will be with Disney. I plan to do the same as when we went to DLRP and put everything on our key card and settle up with the resort.

A) Can we settle up at the end of the holiday or do they ask for interim payments?

B) Am I right in thinking by doing it this way I'll only pay the one payment on my visa so only 1 commission charge etc

C) Would it still be cheaper paying at the end with a Fairfax card?

Hope somebody understands what I'm getting at and can explain the best option.

Many thanks in advance

Hi,
When we stayed at Disney last year, I registered my fairfx card details with the desk when we booked in, and they deducted the room immediately. We then had express checkout, and they automatically deducted the rest of our spending off the card the night before we left. (they do tell you there is a cut off time, after which anything outstanding will be deducted from the card details they hold) If you want to pay another way, you just have to go to the desk before the cut off time.
As there is no charge for the fairfx card(providing you either load it first time with £500+ on their website; or go through the Matalan link and load £100. There does seem to be a bit of a problem with the Matalan link at the moment, there is another thread about it; but I have put another free card link up, which only requires $20) where was I? Oh yes, if you get your fairfx card free, then you just load it as and when, and the only other charge is for cash withdrawals, which I believe is $2. So yes, definitel cheaper to use fairfx, and rate at the moment is £1.57!
Hope this helps

Jules x

 

[Frances999]

A) Disney's Deluxe resorts (and DVC resorts) give a $1500 "credit limit" and then charge the balance to the credit card you have on file. I believe the limit is $1000 at Moderates and $500 at values. As long as you don't exceed the limit you can settle up at the end of the trip. If you do exceed the limit before then, you'll need to ask them to charge your card so that the balance is re-set to zero.

B) If you made one final payment on check-out then, yes, you'd be charged only one commission fee (but if the commission is calculated on a % basis it wouldn't make any difference if you settled in one lump-sum or via interim payments).

C) Depends on a number of factors, but probably not. Credit cards use the full interbank exchange rate but most charge a foreign exchange fee of around 3% which means they end up having a rate similar to FairFx. Fee-free cards such as the Post Office Card and Abbey Zero charge no fees so therefore offer a better rate.

 

[Stageman]

I'm getting a dollar account through Citibank -

http://www.citibank.co.uk/personal/banking/international/eurocurrent.htm?merchant=citi

There's no commission charges and the you should always get the best rate.