Credit Cards abroad - help please.

Keithchesterfield

Guest
For some years we've used a Post Office Travel Money card when we've been to France – no exchange rate fee, no withdrawal fee and no charge when it's paid off in full.

We've just received a new PO card and now there's a monthly maintenance fee and cash withdrawal fee.

We bank with Santander and their Santander Zero Credit Card seems to be a good card without any fees – does anyone use that card and, if so, are there any hidden 'extras' that aren't initially obvious?

What Card do you use abroad for the best deal?

:dog: :dog: :dog: :dog:
 
We use Halifax Clarity, no charge for cash withdrawals abroad unless the atm being used charges, no chareg for purchases. Interest charged on the cash but if it is paid off immediately it is minimal. Good exchange rate for both purchases and cash
 
Halifax & Revolut

Halifax Clarity Credit card & Revolut.
The Halifax card is reported to give the best point of purchase rate available.
The Revolut app & card will allow you to lock in to the best rates the second you find them; such as in the last few days.
 
Post Office Credit Card

For us
Works well sensible rates

You can get a cash advance as well but that costs

I also have a PO prepaid eurocard OK for purchases but not good for cash...too much fuss with no real advantage

Use our Lloyds debit card for cash but as little as possible

Ie ROI for 6 weeks in June July but only £200 in cash (euros) :juggle:
Food Fuel etc on POCC
 
Keithchesterfield said:
For some years we've used a Post Office Travel Money card when we've been to France – no exchange rate fee, no withdrawal fee and no charge when it's paid off in full.

We've just received a new PO card and now there's a monthly maintenance fee and cash withdrawal fee.

We bank with Santander and their Santander Zero Credit Card seems to be a good card without any fees – does anyone use that card and, if so, are there any hidden 'extras' that aren't initially obvious?

What Card do you use abroad for the best deal?

:dog: :dog: :dog: :dog:
Click to expand...

I'm gonna be a pain in the **** and check what type of card you want - are you absolutely after the best CREDIT card? Or are you also including debit and prepaid/front loading cards?

If it's the latter we have; Revolut (for the best exchange rates - great for point of sale stuff, but seriously limited if you want to withdraw cash) and Caxton (reasonable exchange rates and same cash withdrawal limits as any card), but both of these need to be loaded with funds beforehand - which is easy enough to do using apps and mobile banking. Neither of these have any "charges" be they interest or transaction.
They can function similarly to debit cards if you only preload what you will use in the immediacy (is that a word?) but we've scored with the Revolut by buying euros when the rate was 1.19 (how I wish I'd bought more!!).

For CREDIT cards, people seem to favour Halifax but that may be out-of-date info.
 
Last edited:
Revolut for buying currency at the best rate and choosing when to buy it but the no ATM charge limit s £200 a month. Easy to load and can hold multiple currencies, e.g. I have just bought some Indian rupees for my winter sojourn. Runs off a smartphone App. No credit check as the account must be in credit to use it. Uses a instant Mastercard exchange rate. The rate is poorer at weekends so they don't get stuffed if there is bad news over the weekend. They charge £5 for delivery.

Halifax Clarity credit card. Good rates and no ATM charge but will charge interest unless you go to the bother of paying it off immediately which needs the internet. Uses the daily Mastercard exchange rate.

Starling Bank. This is a new full bank account so will get a credit check. Runs off an App like Revolut but at the moment gives a daily no charge ATM limit of £300. Uses the daily Mastercard exchange rate. Very easy to get. Free delivery at the moment. They also give 0.5% on balances up to £2000. What's not to like?

I use all three.

Mr B.
 
I can vouch for the Santander Zero. We keep it and use exclusively only abroad. No downsides. Pay off every month.

Had Caxton FX when we did 6 months too.

Chrz Mul.
 
Halifax Clarity for us . No fees or charges on cash withdrawals if funds transferred within 48 hours . Bank rate. Pay off purchases at end of month
 
Halifax clarity card for me also.Pay it off asap hardly any charges,good exchange rates.
 
Saga credit card, pay off by direct debit
Santander debit card as a standby on the odd occasion when the machine rejects the saga card.
 
Another vote for Halifax Clarity from me. Wholesale Mastercard exchange rates with no fees for card transactions and reasonable interest on ATM cash withdrawals (but only until the withdrawn amount is repaid, which you can do by internet bank transfer).
 
You can overpay Halifax Clarity card so you don't incur charges if you withdraw cash - very easy to do using the app if you have another Halifax account to transfer from. I usually overpay ours before we set off from home.
The only thing good about Santander in Spain (only), you can withdraw cash at Santander ATM commission free it's confusing though the way it's worded when you use it (can't remember exact details though). Also if the Santander ATM is out of order (happened to us twice) you cannot go into bank to withdraw cash. You also pay a commission fee when you use card - only ever done that once:mad2:
 
Halifax Clarity - no contest ...

They seem to be encouraging people to stay with them too. I was offered recently a 0% deal on purchases through to April next year. Useful to pay off my large repair bill incurred recently!
 
Credit Cards Abroad

We always use Nationwide, But make sure your transaction is in Euros, as you will get a better rate than Sterling.
 
Credit cards abroad

Halifax Clarity used home and abroad, wouldn't leave home without it. Pay total of every month and no charges, except for cash withdrawals. Use for all purcheses and Toll charges, if wife gets in correct lane.:dog::dog::heart:
 
Another vote for the Santander Zero credit card. We only use it abroad and pay off in full. It seems to be a good exchange rate and no fees.
 
MONZO pre pay card. This is not a credit card, but you do get a great rate and it is really easy to use. Based on Mastercard, so accepted pretty much everywhere. It comes with a brilliant app which keeps a track of your spend for you and shows the equivalent in £sterling, so you know what rate you have been charged. Easy to top up as well via the app, from your UK account.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Users who viewed this discussion (Total:0)

Back
Top