highlandjambo3 Posted June 2, 2023 Share Posted June 2, 2023 As per the title. I’m looking at using a travel money card on holiday in Canada later this year, Sainsbury’s looks decent and fairly straightforward…….any advice anyone? (Including ones to avoid) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
graygo Posted June 2, 2023 Share Posted June 2, 2023 (edited) Is there any benefit over getting a Monzo or Starling type card? Only asking because as far as I know those money cards come at a cost. Edited June 2, 2023 by graygo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lovecraft Posted June 2, 2023 Share Posted June 2, 2023 What about Revolut? https://www.revolut.com/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Percival King Posted June 2, 2023 Share Posted June 2, 2023 4 hours ago, highlandjambo3 said: As per the title. I’m looking at using a travel money card on holiday in Canada later this year, Sainsbury’s looks decent and fairly straightforward…….any advice anyone? (Including ones to avoid) We've used the Sainsburys card a few times, most recently in Florida last year. Easy enough to set up in store (but allow half an hour) and absolutely no problem to use. Using it again this summer. Whatever you do, always make sure you have a back up card - cards can get nicked/swallowed or can be blocked by the bank/provider so best not to rely on just one card. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hughesie27 Posted June 2, 2023 Share Posted June 2, 2023 Revolut. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tian447 Posted June 2, 2023 Share Posted June 2, 2023 Revolut is the answer. I haven't taken local currency on holiday with me in years! Load it with pounds, spend it in whatever currency you like, just make sure they don't hit the GBP option on the card reader. It even works in ATMs so you can take some cash out if you really need it. You don't need to worry about creating wallets for other currencies, just use the main one. Used it in Poland (PLN), Germany/Austria/Slovakia (EUR) , Hungary (HUF), Croatia (at the time, HRK), and very frequently across the border in Ireland. So easy and convenient. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tian447 Posted June 3, 2023 Share Posted June 3, 2023 Revolut has actually replaced my Bank of Scotland card as my every day card. I stick my monthly "allowance" (i.e. how much I'm willing to spunk on beer and pizza) on it when I get paid, and use it for everything. It's so easy to use in every country, and I haven't even bothered with anything else since Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
graygo Posted June 3, 2023 Share Posted June 3, 2023 (edited) Still looking to see what the advantage one of these has over something like a Starling card which is what I use. I only use it for holidays, can load instantly from my normal current account and back again if necessary, exchanges at the MasterCard rate which is as good as it gets, no fees whatsoever, has an app which controls everything, can add it to Apple or Google Pay, the card is free. So why a pre-paid card, I accept I'm maybe missing something. Edited June 3, 2023 by graygo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mister T Posted June 3, 2023 Share Posted June 3, 2023 (edited) . Edited June 3, 2023 by Mister T Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrmarkus1981_1 Posted June 3, 2023 Share Posted June 3, 2023 Revolut here too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stewie Griffin Posted June 3, 2023 Share Posted June 3, 2023 How does it work with the exchange rate when you use the Revolut card in Spain for example ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A.C. Posted June 3, 2023 Share Posted June 3, 2023 https://www.currensea.com No need to pre-load. Spend in local currency, no fees, and automatically cleared via a DD set up from your regular current account. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarthVodka Posted June 3, 2023 Share Posted June 3, 2023 21 hours ago, graygo said: Still looking to see what the advantage one of these has over something like a Starling card which is what I use. I only use it for holidays, can load instantly from my normal current account and back again if necessary, exchanges at the MasterCard rate which is as good as it gets, no fees whatsoever, has an app which controls everything, can add it to Apple or Google Pay, the card is free. So why a pre-paid card, I accept I'm maybe missing something. prepaid cards kinda predate the accounts with no fees for abroad. Plus their exchange rates are worse than the actual bank accounts, when you load them you get the dollar rate at that time, not when you spend. I would stick with your Starling account Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
graygo Posted June 3, 2023 Share Posted June 3, 2023 2 minutes ago, DarthVodka said: prepaid cards kinda predate the accounts with no fees for abroad. Plus their exchange rates are worse than the actual bank accounts, when you load them you get the dollar rate at that time, not when you spend. I would stick with your Starling account Thanks, that was the answer I was hoping for. I'm not missing anything then. 👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Footballfirst Posted June 3, 2023 Share Posted June 3, 2023 50 minutes ago, graygo said: Thanks, that was the answer I was hoping for. I'm not missing anything then. 👍 I have a Starling account too. Never had any issues using it, at least in Europe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
graygo Posted June 3, 2023 Share Posted June 3, 2023 24 minutes ago, Footballfirst said: I have a Starling account too. Never had any issues using it, at least in Europe. No me neither and I love that it notifies me instantly how much the transaction has cost me in sterling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevie1874 Posted June 4, 2023 Share Posted June 4, 2023 3 hours ago, graygo said: No me neither and I love that it notifies me instantly how much the transaction has cost me in sterling. It’s pretty much the same as a Revolut card. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarthVodka Posted June 4, 2023 Share Posted June 4, 2023 10 hours ago, graygo said: Thanks, that was the answer I was hoping for. I'm not missing anything then. 👍 Chase gives 1% cash back on purchases anywhere. They have capped it now though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
graygo Posted June 4, 2023 Share Posted June 4, 2023 1 hour ago, DarthVodka said: Chase gives 1% cash back on purchases anywhere. They have capped it now though Yes, I considered moving to them earlier this year. Not sure why I didn't tbh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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