Holiday Spending

[fierbois16]

A question for the well travelled members. The past few years we have spent family holidays camping around France but as a special treat for my wife who has just had a significant birthday we are off to Canada. We have various stops planned including Vancouver, Vancouver Island, Whistler, Toronto and a quick stop in Niagara.

Its been years since we have gone on a long haul holiday (pre kids), so just wondering what's the best way to take spending Money. Currently looking at a mixture of cash, a credit card that doesn't charge for use abroad and perhaps some kind of prepaid travel card? Trying to avoid any unnecessary charges by using bank cards or travelling with too much cash.

Any tips or recommendations would be gratefully received. Many Thanks

[stoneyloon]

I always take a wee bit of cash but do the majority of my spending on my Halifax Clarity credit card.
It's worked for me from Western Canada to SE Asia .

Cheers,

Adam.

[jukeboxs]

Worth a read:
https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/cr...-credit-cards/
https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/tr...-travel-money/

For cards, Halifax Clarity credit card (I've had this for 10+ years) or Chase debit card (comes with cash back too).

Enjoy your trip - Canada's a wonderful country.

[bloater]

Always a bit of cash and the rest on card, unless going well off the beaten track then I take a little extra cash.

[MrSmith]

Revolut.
ask if any of your friends have one as there’s a £50 referral.
so easy to use, and you can have multiple currencies/spending and transaction limits etc. you can even transfer across at particular times of day for a better rate. (rates are competitive too)
they do not work on aircraft for buying food/booze for some reason.

[Mj2k]

Another Halifax Clarity fan here. Makes life easy.

[dandanthewatchman]

Used to be a big Caxton fan. Now I just use Halifax Clarity and take a bit of cash out at a cash machine in the airport on arrival for bits and bobs.


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[Bravo73]

Starling bank cards also don’t have any foreign charges.

[craig1912]

Halifax Clarity which we’ve used for years plus Monzo and Starling which both have charge free cash withdrawals abroad and good exchange rates. When using them abroad if given the choice, always pay in the local currency.

[Chris_in_the_UK]

Bit of local currency, Monzo card - pay in local currency not GBP.

[fierbois16]

Thanks, looks like Clarity and some cash may be the way forward for us. I will look into some of the other cards people have mentioned, ideally a tap n go and only able to spend what's on the card without being charged for each transaction, perhaps loading up with Canadian dollars beforehand ?

[Toddy]

Another here for a bit of cash and the Halifax clarity card 👍

[blackal]

I started reading the OP, and eyes skipped ahead a bit......................

I thought you were going to NIGERIA !!!!!

[vertex]

Starling bank cards also don’t have any foreign charges.

Another vote for Starling.
We have used it extensively in Thailand with a really good xchange rate.
Regards
V


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[Thewatchbloke]

I don’t even bother with cash, I just take the clarity card. On my last three trips abroad I haven’t needed any cash, everywhere seems to be tap and pay.

[fierbois16]

I started reading the OP, and eyes skipped ahead a bit......................

I thought you were going to NIGERIA !!!!!

I hear its nice at this time of year😄.

[Troubled_Joe]

Hey, want to join me at Chase UK? We'll both get £20 when you join and pay in £20. Get started: https://link.go.chase/emNK/refer?code=sVJSFLQY. T&Cs apply.


Annoyingly I recommended this to lots of friends and family before the referral offer but now we both get free money if you get one.

With the current account you get 1% cashback on all debit card spending and it’s fee free for use abroad.

You don’t need to do a full switch with direct debits etc so I just transfer money from my main account and spend from it.

Also you get a 1.5% savings account which is as good as it gets for easy access savings.


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[Stonewood]

Hey, want to join me at Chase UK? We'll both get £20 when you join and pay in £20. Get started: https://link.go.chase/emNK/refer?code=sVJSFLQY. T&Cs apply.


Annoyingly I recommended this to lots of friends and family before the referral offer but now we both get free money if you get one.

With the current account you get 1% cashback on all debit card spending and it’s fee free for use abroad.

You don’t need to do a full switch with direct debits etc so I just transfer money from my main account and spend from it.

Also you get a 1.5% savings account which is as good as it gets for easy access savings.


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Thanks mate!


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[Troubled_Joe]

Thanks mate!


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No worries. Someone has already signed up so thanks if it was you.


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[Mr Curta]

Nationwide FlexPlus is another option - costs £13 a month but benefits include worldwide travel insurance for all the family and fee free withdrawals overseas.

[paw3001]

I would also recommend looking at the Wise card.

You can load up any number of different currencies via bank transfer, debit card, Apple Pay via the app. It is super quick and easy.

They will give you a physical card as well as a digital one and you can tap and go or use pin and chip.

It logs what you have spent and allows you to swap or move currencies on the fly. Rates are very competitive but there is a small fee depending on how you transfer money. Debit card is best and using pennies rather than pounds.

It also works on planes for food and drink!

This link will help you sign up but not sure if there is any direct benefit to you. Apparently if 3 people sign up I’ll get a bonus for total transparency!

https://wise.com/invite/i/paulw377

[Gee252]

I'm away at the moment and it's the first time since COVID hit and a chance to use my Revolut card and its great.
Using it for meals with no charge, changed GBP to Euro at a great rate.
Either pay for things with the card or draw Euros out of the cash machine again no charge.
Always used to take loads of cash on holiday with me then change whilst away for a better rate but never again after my experience using Revolut.


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[100thmonkey]

Think I would be a little cautious how much money i had in the Ukraine/Russian bank that is Recolut

[MrSmith]

Think I would be a little cautious how much money i had in the Ukraine/Russian bank that is Recolut

Well it’s not a russian bank.
that and the fact you don’t have any significant amount of money in the bank as you just have whatever you want to spend for the day.

perhaps you should read this before jumping to conclusions https://www.forbes.com/sites/johnhya...cross-ukraine/

[100thmonkey]

Well it’s not a russian bank.
that and the fact you don’t have any significant amount of money in the bank as you just have whatever you want to spend for the day.

perhaps you should read this before jumping to conclusions https://www.forbes.com/sites/johnhya...cross-ukraine/

Is it not owned by a Russian and Ukraine team?

And also I do keep a significant amount of money in a bank, thats what they are for!

[MrSmith]

Is it not owned by a Russian and Ukraine team?

And also I do keep a significant amount of money in a bank, thats what they are for!

It’s based and registered in the UK. The whole point of a Revolut card is you can travel and pay in local currency and just top up for the day from your app. You don’t have thousands sat there in a bank (UK, Russian or Ukrainian) it’s not meant to replace your current account.

I have about €4 on my Revolut card left over from a pre covid trip, when I finally get to Japan I’ll stick £200 of ¥ on and convert the euro’s before I leave and top up from there.

I don’t think you realise what these cards are for, spending multiple currencies when travelling, getting cash out in local currencies, not paying high rates or fees and be able to not risk losing large amounts of money should they be stolen.

[stoneyloon]

I'm currently in Barcelona and thought I'd check what rate I'm getting on the Halifax Clarity card. It looks to be between 1.16 and 1.17 Euro/Sterling...

Cheers,

Adam.

[andy tims]

Revolut.
ask if any of your friends have one as there’s a £50 referral.
so easy to use, and you can have multiple currencies/spending and transaction limits etc. you can even transfer across at particular times of day for a better rate. (rates are competitive too)
they do not work on aircraft for buying food/booze for some reason.

This

[100thmonkey]

It’s based and registered in the UK. The whole point of a Revolut card is you can travel and pay in local currency and just top up for the day from your app. You don’t have thousands sat there in a bank (UK, Russian or Ukrainian) it’s not meant to replace your current account.

I have about €4 on my Revolut card left over from a pre covid trip, when I finally get to Japan I’ll stick £200 of ¥ on and convert the euro’s before I leave and top up from there.

I don’t think you realise what these cards are for, spending multiple currencies when travelling, getting cash out in local currencies, not paying high rates or fees and be able to not risk losing large amounts of money should they be stolen.

Ahh ok. I use monza for trips although not done many!

[Chinese_Alan]

Shout here for Revolut. Been using it for 6 years.

[I a n]

Referall link to sign up for Revolut in case anyone wants an account.
https://revolut.com/referral/ian7prjq!MAY1-22-AR

[deepdivedaz]

Another fan of Revolut here.
4 years on the metal plan.
Never had a problem.


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