Do You use A Travel Credit Card ?

The type where you load up before you travel. I've used Caxton for years, but having just returned from hols, I feel the service has deteriorated, as there is no statement or record of spend available, in addition I was not able to load it with Thai Baht, so everytime used it I had to pay a conversion charge. this has prompted me to look for something better, any recommendations ?

I use Revolut. Just upload how much you need, and spend away. No conversion charges, and just transfer back any balances when you get back, or leave on card til your next journey.

I tend to take cash and then use my normal bank card sometimes, as the charges seem minimal. It's some time since I was outside of Europe though, unfortunately.

As you know, I live in France, but.....I use UK credit cards for all purchases. MBNA and Santander. There are NO transaction fees and the exchange rate is pretty good.. Pay off monthly so no cost....these can also be used worldwide (just probably wise to advise them where you are travelling and your travel dates). I would say MBNA are better as if I have needed to phone them, it is freephone and they answer fairly quickly.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by A Quiet Monkfish

I use Revolut. Just upload how much you need, and spend away. No conversion charges, and just transfer back any balances when you get back, or leave on card til your next journey.

---

I have a reovolut card too, and would use it for transactions abroad, although haven't been away to use it yet!

I use a Halifax Clarity Mastercard and pay it all off when I get home.
It comes second in the Money Saving Expert of best credit cards to use abroad.
https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/cr...-credit-cards/

I use a chase card which is a debit card, just transfer my holiday money over and the use it on my phone (have a physical card as well).

Find it brilliant, so much easier to keep track of what I’m spending and also so easy then to transfer any left over money back to my usual account.

It was Martin Lewis who recommended it because of the exchange rate or fees or something lol.

I've used a Halifax Clarity card for years and best thing i've ever done

I always use cash and just take what I need from the hotel safe when I go out and nothing else in my wallet, if I lose my wallet or, God forbid, get robbed I only lose a minimal amount. Another thing I wouldn’t advise just taking a card out only in Europe, take some cash as well. With us leaving the EU a lot of bar staff from the UK are being paid cash now due to the 90 day residency thing so some bars & restaurants have ‘cash only’ signs on the door now.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by splott parker

I always use cash and just take what I need from the hotel safe when I go out and nothing else in my wallet, if I lose my wallet or, God forbid, get robbed I only lose a minimal amount. Another thing I wouldn’t advise just taking a card out only in Europe, take some cash as well. With us leaving the EU a lot of bar staff from the UK are being paid cash now due to the 90 day residency thing so some bars & restaurants have ‘cash only’ signs on the door now.

---

Go to a different bar?

I haven't changed any cash in the last 5 years of travelling.

1 credit card
1 emergency back up card held in another bag

Job done

Sterling Bank is good. A debit card.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by WJ99mobile

Go to a different bar?

I haven't changed any cash in the last 5 years of travelling.

1 credit card
1 emergency back up card held in another bag

Job done

---

Same here

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by WJ99mobile

Go to a different bar?

I haven't changed any cash in the last 5 years of travelling.

1 credit card
1 emergency back up card held in another bag

Job done

---

I don’t use cards over here either, much prefer cash. You hear about card fraud quite a bit, I s’pose when you’ve had a few an unscrupulous bar owner could request you ‘tap again’ as the first tap hadn’t ‘gone through’. I notice ‘cash only’ signs over here now as well, one that surprised me was at a dental practice last week where I had some work done, ‘Strictly cash only, no debit or credit cards’. Apparently businesses get charged by their banks for transactions, something I wasn’t aware of, if true. Also observing some paying by card, it seems as there’s no brakes to the spending, it must be a shock to some when they eventually check their balance when sober. Each to their own though, although as I said keep a bit of cash on you as bars in tourist areas that employ UK workers seem to be edging towards cash only. And why ‘go to a different bar’ if you’re having a ball in the one you’re in, keep your options open.

Revolut to load dollars when I think the rates are good ( been a few years now, so not bothered with it )

Starling bank ( its app based and you get a notification when you spend ) its my bank at home, you can have " spaces " that you can load money into that you cant spend without moving back to your account, so I can chuck a few spare quid in when its not needed,
all my family have Starling, so its easy to ping money around, £100 a week to my daughter in Uni goes out as a reoccuring payment, but its just a flick of a slider to turn that on and off

Halifax Clarity is my " real credit card " for car hire etc etc who often take Ghost payments at certain Times ( check in and Tolls )

Post Office Card, mainly used to load money on ( you the Caxton is )

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by splott parker

I always use cash and just take what I need from the hotel safe when I go out and nothing else in my wallet, if I lose my wallet or, God forbid, get robbed I only lose a minimal amount. Another thing I wouldn’t advise just taking a card out only in Europe, take some cash as well. With us leaving the EU a lot of bar staff from the UK are being paid cash now due to the 90 day residency thing so some bars & restaurants have ‘cash only’ signs on the door now.

---

That's quite interesting. I'm pretty pro cash. Hate card-only places but the choice should be there really.

Interesting thread and take on things. I didn’t know about or consider such an approach. I’ve travelled to around 30 countries in the last couple of years and do have small amounts of different currencies that I carry but like others have said I use cards for 99% of transactions.

I always use Monzo, usually get a good exchange rate, and never had any problems in Europe, Dubai or the U.S.

For hotels, car hire, and bigger purchases I use a Virgin Atlantic CC….for the air miles.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by blue matt

Revolut to load dollars when I think the rates are good ( been a few years now, so not bothered with it )

Starling bank ( its app based and you get a notification when you spend ) its my bank at home, you can have " spaces " that you can load money into that you cant spend without moving back to your account, so I can chuck a few spare quid in when its not needed,
all my family have Starling, so its easy to ping money around, £100 a week to my daughter in Uni goes out as a reoccuring payment, but its just a flick of a slider to turn that on and off

Halifax Clarity is my " real credit card " for car hire etc etc who often take Ghost payments at certain Times ( check in and Tolls )

Post Office Card, mainly used to load money on ( you the Caxton is )

---

After my German state pension kicked in just over a year ago I had difficulty finding a bank account in Euros (as I reside in the UK) and I saw no point in the amounts concerned (a mere 40 Euros a month) attracting conversion fees into Sterling when I wanted to use the money in Europe anyway.
However, I became aware of Starling Bank, which permits customers to have a Euro account if just £1 is held in one of their Sterling accounts. Apparently, it's easy to switch money between the two accounts and one card covers both. Not used it yet in anger but I'm glad I'm not now paying conversion rates in both directions.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Peajay

The type where you load up before you travel. I've used Caxton for years, but having just returned from hols, I feel the service has deteriorated, as there is no statement or record of spend available, in addition I was not able to load it with Thai Baht, so everytime used it I had to pay a conversion charge. this has prompted me to look for something better, any recommendations ?

---

Apply for a chase debit card , just load up your card from your main account, its brilliant , can use in cashpoints overseas no charge get 1% interest on what you spend and I opted for a round up of each spend saved a good sum each month with interest.

Thier savings card gives 3% ..no restrictions or penalties on withdrawals . Great phone app . You get a card as well


https://www.chase.co.uk/gb/en/?utm_source=jpmc&utm_medium=usbanner&utm_campaign= us_website_banner_redirect_homepage&pid=jpmc&af_ch annel=usbanner&c=us_website_banner_redirect_homepa ge

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by splott parker

I don’t use cards over here either, much prefer cash. You hear about card fraud quite a bit, I s’pose when you’ve had a few an unscrupulous bar owner could request you ‘tap again’ as the first tap hadn’t ‘gone through’. I notice ‘cash only’ signs over here now as well, one that surprised me was at a dental practice last week where I had some work done, ‘Strictly cash only, no debit or credit cards’. Apparently businesses get charged by their banks for transactions, something I wasn’t aware of, if true. Also observing some paying by card, it seems as there’s no brakes to the spending, it must be a shock to some when they eventually check their balance when sober. Each to their own though, although as I said keep a bit of cash on you as bars in tourist areas that employ UK workers seem to be edging towards cash only. And why ‘go to a different bar’ if you’re having a ball in the one you’re in, keep your options open.

---

Especially lap dancing clubs gals luv dem bills

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by life on mars

Especially lap dancing clubs gals luv dem bills

---

My name’s not Bill though :shrug:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Taunton Blue Genie

After my German state pension kicked in just over a year ago I had difficulty finding a bank account in Euros (as I reside in the UK) and I saw no point in the amounts concerned (a mere 40 Euros a month) attracting conversion fees into Sterling when I wanted to use the money in Europe anyway.
However, I became aware of Starling Bank, which permits customers to have a Euro account if just £1 is held in one of their Sterling accounts. Apparently, it's easy to switch money between the two accounts and one card covers both. Not used it yet in anger but I'm glad I'm not now paying conversion rates in both directions.

---

My daughter has a Euro account with them aswell, one of her coaching jobs pays her in Euro's, he app just lets her move the money around from account to account, its very easy

I also have a Halifax Clarity card for overseas and have been impressed.
I usually take some currency, which I buy on my John Lewis Credit Card - no fees and points, I think.
If going outside of Europe, it’s always good to have done US Dollars, as they’re accepted anywhere.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by splott parker

I don’t use cards over here either, much prefer cash. You hear about card fraud quite a bit, I s’pose when you’ve had a few an unscrupulous bar owner could request you ‘tap again’ as the first tap hadn’t ‘gone through’. I notice ‘cash only’ signs over here now as well, one that surprised me was at a dental practice last week where I had some work done, ‘Strictly cash only, no debit or credit cards’. Apparently businesses get charged by their banks for transactions, something I wasn’t aware of, if true. Also observing some paying by card, it seems as there’s no brakes to the spending, it must be a shock to some when they eventually check their balance when sober. Each to their own though, although as I said keep a bit of cash on you as bars in tourist areas that employ UK workers seem to be edging towards cash only. And why ‘go to a different bar’ if you’re having a ball in the one you’re in, keep your options open.

---

This is why some shops have a minimum spend, as they get charged per transaction.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by dembethewarrior

This is why some shops have a minimum spend, as they get charged per transaction.

---

Yeah I wish more people realised this. It can cost businesses pretty large sums. There are a few signs posted on twitter now of businesses (particularly smaller ones) asking people to pay in cash as some are losing several hundred a month etc.

So important that the cash economy is healthy alongside electronic payments.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by JamesWales

Yeah I wish more people realised this. It can cost businesses pretty large sums. There are a few signs posted on twitter now of businesses (particularly smaller ones) asking people to pay in cash as some are losing several hundred a month etc.

So important that the cash economy is healthy alongside electronic payments.

---

I keep 20 quid in the car now. I don't carry cash just my phone, and I've been caught out a few times. Recently I had to drive from an event that was cash only, as I didn't have my bank card either (I don't like carrying my Wallet) I had to use my banking apps "emergency cash" option to get cash out...which meant driving in traffic both ways and extra messing about with parking etc.

Would be easier to just carry my wallet with some cash in and leave it there until I need it, but I'll then use cash not card and not replace the cash used so I'm back to square one :hehe:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by JamesWales

Yeah I wish more people realised this. It can cost businesses pretty large sums. There are a few signs posted on twitter now of businesses (particularly smaller ones) asking people to pay in cash as some are losing several hundred a month etc.

So important that the cash economy is healthy alongside electronic payments.

---

Yes in tax a lot don't like paying it so prefer cash so they can not declare a large percentage and keep more for themselves.

Obviously, it does cost to use cards too, but that's just a normal business expense like deliveries which most businesses accept.

I used to, mostly use the Halifax clarity card, which is Worldwide and has very good conversion rates, far better than changing cash, and still do for bigger purchases abroad.

I now mostly use the Monzo card, again good conversion rates, but the best benefits are that you can withdraw cash free abroad to use alongside the card at bars/shops that are trying to stop traceable card payments or save card fees, the transactions are also instant, so help with fraud. if you've paid it flashes a notification and shows on your app that instant. Really useful so they can't say it didn't go through as it shows immediately that you've paid.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by North Cardiff Blue

I used to, mostly use the Halifax clarity card, which is Worldwide and has very good conversion rates, far better than changing cash, and still do for bigger purchases abroad.

I now mostly use the Monzo card, again good conversion rates, but the best benefits are that you can withdraw cash free abroad to use alongside the card at bars/shops that are trying to stop traceable card payments or save card fees, the transactions are also instant, so help with fraud. if you've paid it flashes a notification and shows on your app that instant. Really useful so they can't say it didn't go through as it shows immediately that you've paid.

---

So does my NatWest app.

Starling and Monzo both are very easy to use the app to freeze cards ( Halifax app also has the feature ), so when abroad Starling card is frozen, when we go to use it, I unfreeze it and away we go, then freeze it after, Its especially good in restaurants the US where they take the card away to take payment, which can lead to the card being cloned, so it gives you piece of mind that you can freeze it

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by blue matt

Starling and Monzo both are very easy to use the app to freeze cards ( Halifax app also has the feature ), so when abroad Starling card is frozen, when we go to use it, I unfreeze it and away we go, then freeze it after, Its especially good in restaurants the US where they take the card away to take payment, which can lead to the card being cloned, so it gives you piece of mind that you can freeze it

---

being able to freeze the cards is one of the best new features i think with bank apps :thumbup:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by poc

being able to freeze the cards is one of the best new features i think with bank apps :thumbup:

---

The freezing option is a very good thing, thanks for letting us know about it:thumbup:

Am an extensive traveller (for work, sadly) I only use a credit card when travelling and then pay it all off when my expenses are paid, which is within days after I submit my expense claims so I don't get charged interest.

Some travel tips that I have picked up over the years:

Tell you credit card company when and where you are travelling, this avoids being blocked if the CC company think transactions are spurious.

Use a credit card which will help with accumulating miles and a credit card with special travel insurance.

Download and set-up travel apps - booking.com, uber and link to your credit card - avoids cash & you get electronic receipts

Have online banking on your phones for your credit card so you can keep your eye on transactions and instantly contact the company if there is a problem

Loyalty pays - hotel chains and airlines in particular - it's worth paying an extra few quid for flights if you are a frequent flyer with the same airline - money off flights, use of lounges, extra baggage, fast track security, upgrades etc - Hotels too - I get a 15% discount off a particular chain.

Have paper copies of tickets, passport pages, visas, insurance, other travel docs, and immunisation cards... I lost my passport once in an airport and thankfully the copies helped. In India (I'm there now) some airports won't even let you into the departure area unless you have paper copies of your tickets.

Always have a pen! Can't tell you how many times I have forgotten a pen and have had to hunt for one on arrival at certain airports that require you to fill in an arrival card.

In your wallet have a slip with your flight numbers, passport number etc... this saves having to get multiple documents out when completing entry forms / visas.


I could go on, but I am sure you're all much smarter than me and know all this!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by AfricanBluebird

Am an extensive traveller (for work, sadly) I only use a credit card when travelling and then pay it all off when my expenses are paid, which is within days after I submit my expense claims so I don't get charged interest.

Some travel tips that I have picked up over the years:

Tell you credit card company when and where you are travelling, this avoids being blocked if the CC company think transactions are spurious.

Use a credit card which will help with accumulating miles and a credit card with special travel insurance.

Download and set-up travel apps - booking.com, uber and link to your credit card - avoids cash & you get electronic receipts

Have online banking on your phones for your credit card so you can keep your eye on transactions and instantly contact the company if there is a problem

Loyalty pays - hotel chains and airlines in particular - it's worth paying an extra few quid for flights if you are a frequent flyer with the same airline - money off flights, use of lounges, extra baggage, fast track security, upgrades etc - Hotels too - I get a 15% discount off a particular chain.

Have paper copies of tickets, passport pages, visas, insurance, other travel docs, and immunisation cards... I lost my passport once in an airport and thankfully the copies helped. In India (I'm there now) some airports won't even let you into the departure area unless you have paper copies of your tickets.

Always have a pen! Can't tell you how many times I have forgotten a pen and have had to hunt for one on arrival at certain airports that require you to fill in an arrival card.

In your wallet have a slip with your flight numbers, passport number etc... this saves having to get multiple documents out when completing entry forms / visas.


I could go on, but I am sure you're all much smarter than me and know all this!

---

👏

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by blue matt

Starling and Monzo both are very easy to use the app to freeze cards ( Halifax app also has the feature ), so when abroad Starling card is frozen, when we go to use it, I unfreeze it and away we go, then freeze it after, Its especially good in restaurants the US where they take the card away to take payment, which can lead to the card being cloned, so it gives you piece of mind that you can freeze it

---

You can bet Mr X, no names will have tried putting their card in the freezer to see if it works :hehe:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by dembethewarrior

So does my NatWest app.

---

Does it, free cash withdrawals from oversea cash machines and no conversion charges?

OK thats good for a big bank if correct.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by North Cardiff Blue

Does it, free cash withdrawals from oversea cash machines and no conversion charges?

OK thats good for a big bank if correct.

---

Option to freeze card.

I read your post as if you were making out it was new. It's been about an age.

Edit that. The instant notification was what I was replying to sorry. Thought that was standard.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by dembethewarrior

Option to freeze card.

I read your post as if you were making out it was new. It's been about an age.

Edit that. The instant notification was what I was replying to sorry. Thought that was standard.

---

OK, my other accounts don't show in the same way, Monzo bleeps and shows without opening the app the very second, I find that useful :thumbup:

Starling is supposed to be just as good too!

I've done a fair few trips abroad, and on some occasions I used a travel card, and on others, I didn't. At the end of the day, I don't think it makes a whole lot of difference, cost-wise. Yes, one card will charge you a bit for the transaction, but the other might catch you on the exchange rate. There's very little in it, from what I've seen. I do always take two credit cards, but it's more a case of 'just in case', as you wouldn't want to be stuck abroad without one.

I'd second the chase card. No fees, very close to real exchange rate and cashback on most transactions. Good account for UK use aswell