Travel Pre paid debit cards

[Rowie]

Could anyone tell me what they would recommend as a Prepay travel card when travelling Porto to Santiago? I'm from the UK. Thanks

 

[Lindsay53]

Hi Rowie. I used a travel money card once and found it a waste of time, more a gimmick to make money for the banks than a convenience for the customer. Your normal debit card will be fine for accessing cash as long as it is a Visa or Mastercard etc. Just remember to let you bank know you will be travelling overseas.

 

[BombayBill]

I’m from Canada and like to use a preloaded card with Euros. Less conversion fees and and I like to use it at “dodgy” places to limit potential problems. Great for small transactions like trains, coffee shops etc.

 

[Feetzgerald]

Hi Rowie. I used a travel money card once and found it a waste of time, more a gimmick to make money for the banks than a convenience for the customer. Your normal debit card will be fine for accessing cash as long as it is a Visa or Mastercard etc. Just remember to let you bank know you will be travelling overseas.

Hi. I have to completely disagree with this. Your normal debit card is very likely to charge a fee for withdrawing cash (around £3 usually), and perhaps some conversion fees on top. I don't see how travel money cards could make the banks more money as they're usually free and don't charge overseas withdrawal fees.

For European withdrawals I use Monzo. It's actually a digital bank account (managed from an app) but one of their big plusses is they don't charge for withdrawing money in the EEA (after double checking it turns out this isn't true anymore. Only £200 is fee-free, so I can't suggest Monzo anymore) It's easy to set up an account with them, and then all you need to do is deposit money into the account and use your Monzo debit card to withdraw from a cash machine in Spain. A very similar option is Revolut but I haven't used it so can't say if it's any good or not.

Another option is a "travel" credit card. I've actually applied for one just yesterday as I'm planning to travel outside of Europe this year (Monzo only allows you to withdraw up to £200 per month). I chose the Halifax Clarity Credit Card. It doesn't charge you any withdrawal fees, but it does charge you daily interest on cash withdrawals, but as long as you pay it back on the same day, it's very minimal. For example, if I withdraw 100 euros from a cash machine, it would charge me about 5 cents in interest per day until I paid it off. A pretty good deal in my eyes.

Hope that was of help. And no, I have no affiliations with either product

 

[henrythedog]

Personally I’d recommend a UK credit card with no overseas transaction fees for general payment (I have Creation and JAJA with deliberately low credit limits) and your customary debit card for cash withdrawals. For cash in advance there are various internet brokers with good exchange rates (I use travelfx).

Preloaded cards have their place but in my understanding you have to treat them like cash. Lose the card and you’ll struggle to retrieve the balance.

 

[Rowie]

Thank you for all your help. As I'm with Santander bank I think I will use the CC the bulk for paying for goods and the Debit card minimally. The rates aren't too bad.I'm concerned about the issues if the travel card is stolen and think it may not be worth signing up to a travel card for the short amount of time I'm travelling.

 

[David with new Kit!]

I'm from the UK too. Prepaid cards have had their day as there are better alternatives.

As above, I also use a Monzo card as there are no international banking charges for using it.

Just have sterling in your account and allow the transactions in Euros.

 

[Chris RJ]

Could anyone tell me what they would recommend as a Prepay travel card when travelling Porto to Santiago? I'm from the UK. Thanks

My friends recommend Revolut. I think it’s easy to top up from your phone and I think it’s currency commission free

 

[Susan Peacock]

Always have euros too. Some places are cash only.

 

[Mad Manx]

Following

 

[simoneva]

I use Halifax Clarity credit card and withdraw cash as needed from ATMs. This is the best according to this:

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/credit-cards/travel-credit-cards/

Also in portugal ATM fees vary a lot. The cheap ones are liberbank, kuxtabank, ibercaja, espanaduero, unicaja, deutsche bank, bankinter.

 

[trecile]

I use Halifax Clarity credit card and withdraw cash as needed from ATMs.

Don't they charge interest on funds withdrawn from ATMs?

 

[Feetzgerald]

Don't they charge interest on funds withdrawn from ATMs?

Very little. As I mentioned above, a 100 euro withdrawal would only cost 5 cents per day. If you pay it back the same day, it'll cost you 5 cents total for the withdrawal.

 

[Vince Rollason]

Could anyone tell me what they would recommend as a Prepay travel card when travelling Porto to Santiago? I'm from the UK. Thanks

Hi Rowie
I am also from the UK and have been 4 times on the Camino. I only took an initial supply of Euros and used my bank card and credit card without any problems. hope this helps.
Buen Camino
Vince

 

[D74]

Could anyone tell me what they would recommend as a Prepay travel card when travelling Porto to Santiago? I'm from the UK. Thanks

It’s technically not a prepaid card, but I use it like one. The Starling online bank is great for travelling abroad, you can load it directly from your banking app. You aren’t charged exchange fees when making purchases in Spain.

 

[Gavin Kingsdown49]

As above Revolut and Monzo allow free withdrawals up to £ 200 each per month in EU so I suggest if you think you will need £400 cash for your trip you get one of each. You can top them up as you go along so no need to preload the total amount before leaving. That is my plan for my trip next month - then no costs for withdrawing from ATM's. Rest will be paid via Halifax Clarity credit card which has good exchange rate.

 

[Rowie]

It’s technically not a prepaid card, but I use it like one. The Starling online bank is great for travelling abroad, you can load it directly from your banking app. You aren’t charged exchange fees when making purchases in Spain.

Thanks for that. I had never thought of that idea. Very helpful

 

[Rowie]

Hi Rowie
I am also from the UK and have been 4 times on the Camino. I only took an initial supply of Euros and used my bank card and credit card without any problems. hope this helps.
Buen Camino
Vince

Thanks Vince for your help. Buen Camino to you too!

 

[Rowie]

As above Revolut and Monzo allow free withdrawals up to £ 200 each per month in EU so I suggest if you think you will need £400 cash for your trip you get one of each. You can top them up as you go along so no need to preload the total amount before leaving. That is my plan for my trip next month - then no costs for withdrawing from ATM's. Rest will be paid via Halifax Clarity credit card which has good exchange rate.

That's not a bad idea thanks

 

[Rowie]

I use Halifax Clarity credit card and withdraw cash as needed from ATMs. This is the best according to this:

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/credit-cards/travel-credit-cards/

Also in portugal ATM fees vary a lot. The cheap ones are liberbank, kuxtabank, ibercaja, espanaduero, unicaja, deutsche bank, bankinter.

Thank you Simon..that's very helpful

 

[D74]

Thanks for that. I had never thought of that idea. Very helpful

My pleasure. The Starling ATM withdrawal limit is £300 a day, so that should be more than enough to keep you going. Have a great camino

 

[Rowie]

Thank you. Bon Camino!

My pleasure. The Starling ATM withdrawal limit is £300 a day, so that should be more than enough to keep you going. Have a great camino

 

[JCarpenter]

I find that the travel cards that are "free" of fees make it up some way or another, unless it is a convenience your bank offers. As for the security of it, I open an account just for the trip, move over my travel cash, and debit out of that. If some scoundrel gets my card info, they can only get so much and not disrupt the rest of my finances. It also reminds me that I cannot extend my trip indefinitely, forget to go back to work, and just begin living my retired life early. Also from investigating the se vende signs along the way!
I am lucky in that my bank will not charge ATM fees or currency exchange fees separate from their exchange rate.