Prepaid travel card

[angelicamy12]

Hey!

My boyfriend and I are travelling to Orlando one month today for two weeks *yeeehaw!*

We don't want to carry to much cash with us. I've applied for a Halifax clarity which I will use for shopping at the outlets etc but we want to get a prepaid currency card to use for meals etc to keep it simple. Last time we got the Thomas cool cash passport. Is that the best option or are there any that are better that we still have time to get?

Amy x

 

[OldKeyWelsh]

That's a coincidence. I just logged on to ask the same question. We've always used credit cards and cash, but our eldest daughter is going to New York and Washington with her school later this month and we think that a prepaid travel card might be the safest option.

I've had a look online and the Caxton and Ice cards look quite good, reasonable exchange rates and few if any charges. I was just wondering if anyone uses these cards or are there any better ones out there.

 

[MrRomance]

I think opinions vary on what is the best prepaid currency card. I usually take all cash but this year I've decided to try the Caxton FX card. It has minimal fees and the rates are good.

 

[wayneg]

If you want to keep it simple why add another card?
If you are happy using the Clarity CC for shopping then nothing could be more simple than also using it for meals.
TC Cash Passport = 1.579100
Clarity = 1.617838 (Taken from corporate visa rate http://corporate.visa.com/pd/consumer_services/consumer_ex_rates.jsp)

Unless you think the Clarity rate is going to fall by more than 5 cents before you travel then adding another card is adding something you don't need, just my opinion though, I only use fee free cards, don't see point in a cash card.

 

[wilma-bride]

Wlst I agree with Wayne, to a certain extent, we use a prepaid debit card to assist us with budgeting. I found, when using my credit card to pay for everything, that I lost track of what we had spent because there was no real need to keep track. I find using a pre-paid card easier as I can allow a certain amount per day and figure out how much we have left to spend. I also like the fact that the spending money is there, in advance (yes, we do keep money in the account to pay off the credit card but, again, without keeping track it sometimes comes as a bit of a shock when you get the bill).

Anyway, we have used two different ones: the Travelex Cash Passport (exactly the same as the ones sold by travel agents) and the Fairfx card.

For our spending, we find the Fairfx card to be much better, simply because we often have/keep a balance on the card at the end of the holiday. The Cash Passport, unfortunately, has an inactivity fee of $3.50 a month for every month it is unused after a period of 12 months. Some people get round this by using it to make a small purchase in this country but I couldn't be bothered trying to remember to do that (and, when I did try it, to preserve the balance on the card we had, the transaction wouldn't go through because it was a ££ transaction and a $$ card). The Fairfx card only has fees for withdrawals at ATMs, which we don't do and an initial fee, which is waived when adding a certain amount when you first get the card. We have used the Fairfx card for nearly 6 years now and are very happy with it.

 

[flortlebap]

I also like the Travelex cash passport.

Just make sure you use all the cash as it will diminish over time if you don't top it up (we lost $40 in about 18 months).

 

[orangetiggs]

We use fairfx and have done for five years now, would recommend to anyone

 

[Zeebs]

Wlst I agree with Wayne, to a certain extent, we use a prepaid debit card to assist us with budgeting. I found, when using my credit card to pay for everything, that I lost track of what we had spent because there was no real need to keep track. I find using a pre-paid card easier as I can allow a certain amount per day and figure out how much we have left to spend. I also like the fact that the spending money is there, in advance (yes, we do keep money in the account to pay off the credit card but, again, without keeping track it sometimes comes as a bit of a shock when you get the bill).

Anyway, we have used two different ones: the Travelex Cash Passport (exactly the same as the ones sold by travel agents) and the Fairfx card.

For our spending, we find the Fairfx card to be much better, simply because we often have/keep a balance on the card at the end of the holiday. The Cash Passport, unfortunately, has an inactivity fee of $3.50 a month for every month it is unused after a period of 12 months. Some people get round this by using it to make a small purchase in this country but I couldn't be bothered trying to remember to do that (and, when I did try it, to preserve the balance on the card we had, the transaction wouldn't go through because it was a ££ transaction and a $$ card). The Fairfx card only has fees for withdrawals at ATMs, which we don't do and an initial fee, which is waived when adding a certain amount when you first get the card. We have used the Fairfx card for nearly 6 years now and are very happy with it.

Joh,

Thanks for this information as I had been considering another method to ours, we usually take some cash about £1000 worth and then put other purchase on our credit card and then withdraw money when our cash runs out of our debit card. Obviously this sees us being charged.

Do you use the card for most purchases and then the cash for little things, like and ice cream etc?

Cheers Kirsten

 

[wilma-bride]

Joh,

Thanks for this information as I had been considering another method to ours, we usually take some cash about £1000 worth and then put other purchase on our credit card and then withdraw money when our cash runs out of our debit card. Obviously this sees us being charged.

Do you use the card for most purchases and then the cash for little things, like and ice cream etc?

Cheers Kirsten

Hi Kirsten

We have 3 methods of payment that we use in Orlando. For large purchases or booking things in US $$, we use the Post Office credit card.

For meals, souvenirs, shopping, etc. we use the Fairfx card. I usually keep any receipts in my purse, then add them up each evening so I can keep a track of whether we're over/under budget.

For drinks, snacks, etc in the parks and other places, we use cash (we normally take around $1000 in cash for a 2 week holiday).

We also have a coin purse that I put all our change in, left at the end of the holiday (and by emptying my purse every so often), which we use for tolls.

 

[sammie1884]

I was just coming on to ask questions about this! If you get one of those cards can you get back any money you have left at the end of the holiday or is it stuck on there forever?

 

[arieliwish]

You can transfer it back to your account but they charge you to do this. We had a FairFx in August and loved it. We got cash from an ATM once and I think we were charged $1 or $2. When we used it in shops outside of disney the receipt showed our balance on the card.

A few times I topped up while we were there and again before settling our wdw bill. We came back with $17 left in it but this week I ordered my PP+ card and used it for the $15 charge.

 

[sammie1884]

You can transfer it back to your account but they charge you to do this. We had a FairFx in August and loved it. We got cash from an ATM once and I think we were charged $1 or $2. When we used it in shops outside of disney the receipt showed our balance on the card. A few times I topped up while we were there and again before settling our wdw bill. We came back with $17 left in it but this week I ordered my PP+ card and used it for the $15 charge.

Ok thank you, do you know how much they charge roughly?

 

[arieliwish]

I'm sure it's listed on their website but I would assume it's the $1 or $2 same as getting cash out. Although it could be a % I suppose.

The best way to avoid putting too much on us to review your total while you're there and top up as you go. Each time I did it on my iPhone and it was pretty instant, although they do state there can be a delay. As we were paying our wdw balance with it at the end of the holiday I checked what my balance was the night before check out and topped up then. I left around $40 on for snacks and drinks at the airports but this still left the $17 remaining.

 

[wayneg]

Ok thank you, do you know how much they charge roughly?

Says £10 minimum or 1.4% on their fee page.
Have a look at the fee page in FAQ's on their site.
$2 to take money from a cach machine (plus any local fee)
80p/min to ring customer services
Admin charge of £10/ disputed transation.

Not for me but others like the card and have no problems with it.

 

[angelicamy12]

Thanks guys, this is really helpful!

I think I shall order Fairfax cards for us....does everyone order them online?

Also, can you get two 'linked' cards so we can have one each or is it one card per account?

 

[2Tiggies]

Thanks guys, this is really helpful!

I think I shall order Fairfax cards for us....does everyone order them online?

Also, can you get two 'linked' cards so we can have one each or is it one card per account?

You have to order them online (not sure if you can do it by phone). Do you have a Topcashback account? There is usually a cashback offer for ordering if you go through their link

Yes, you can get a second card for the FairFX account

 

[wilma-bride]

You have to order them online (not sure if you can do it by phone). Do you have a Topcashback account? There is usually a cashback offer for ordering if you go through their link

Yes, you can get a second card for the FairFX account

Lee is right, you need to order them online. i went through Quidco for mine We have two cards but they are on separate accounts. You can get a friends & family card, though, which is linked ot the same account.

 

[sammie1884]

Thanks everyone, I think I will order one and then top it up as I go rather than put all my money on it.

 

[wayneg]

Thanks guys, this is really helpful!

I think I shall order Fairfax cards for us....does everyone order them online?

Also, can you get two 'linked' cards so we can have one each or is it one card per account?

Best way is probably via Martin Lewis' site http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/travel/cheap-travel-money
Scroll down to the link, it says a free card and £5 extra free, I guess that's a better deal than on the cashback sites but check them all.

 

[arieliwish]

I got 4 cards on the family and friends account. You have to order yours first and then add the others on, which I think are £6 each. You then log in to your account online or iphone app and add money to the main card and transfer to the others (and back again if you like).

I had an issue one evening where it wouldn't show as transferred from DH card back to mine but I'd have the confirmation email, so I emailed the customer service team and had a reply and the problem rectified by the time I woke the next day (5 hour time difference meant it was lunch time in the UK of course!)

I think the cards are valid for two years before renewal. We didn't have a problem using them anywhere - Walmart, Publix, Premium Outlets, Florida Mall (Tiffany and Apple shops ), Tampa Bay Buccs stadium, fuel stations, Universal, and WDW. I didn't use it to secure our hire car at Alamo as I'd read that they could block off part of the money, so I used a general credit card for that.