I remember a discussion on here pre pandemic about taking money abroad and pre paid cards. What is the advice and do any of you recommend a card in particular? 

Just back from Paris and I can confirm that Revolut did exactly as expected. Just transferred funds across and then topped up as needed at the end. Simple and safe. Not sure how good the exchange rate is but they need to make some money somewhere along the line. 

2 minutes ago, Nowack said:

 Not sure how good the exchange rate is but they need to make some money somewhere along the line. 

Pretty much as good as you'll get during the week. There's a weekend levy, of sorts, though.

Was going to check this

Dont withdraw cash or pay with card at weekend?

Is that the plan?

13 hours ago, Casino said:

Was going to check this

Dont withdraw cash or pay with card at weekend?

Is that the plan?

The difference isn't massive to be fair and still works out cheaper than using a regular UK debit card.

27 minutes ago, Traf said:

The difference isn't massive to be fair and still works out cheaper than using a regular UK debit card.

Get a starling bank account, Mastercard exchange for all transactions. No fee using card. HSBC cost me a fortune 

Can’t you just take sterling notes and change into local as you require? No exchange fees 

edit - the No exchange fees is once home selling unused foreign currency. (Not that I ever do, it all goes into a drawer for use next time.

Edited June 6, 20224 yr by MickyD
Clarity

9 minutes ago, MickyD said:

Can’t you just take sterling notes and change into local as you require? No exchange fees 

edit - the No exchange fees is once home selling unused foreign currency. (Not that I ever do, it all goes into a drawer for use next time.

You can, of course.
Not everywhere wants cash, though.

10 minutes ago, MickyD said:

Can’t you just take sterling notes and change into local as you require? No exchange fees 

edit - the No exchange fees is once home selling unused foreign currency. (Not that I ever do, it all goes into a drawer for use next time.

What you been told on here over the Years 

DONT TOUCH THE MONEY 

2 hours ago, little whitt said:

What you been told on here over the Years 

DONT TOUCH THE MONEY 

I have? I don’t recall that sage advice.

going to greece friday

so got the revolut app installed and added to google pay

so am i right in thinking I just transfer money into the revolut account, then use that to pay over there, at a lower exchange rate/commission than I would on my normal card?

thats it?

don't spose I can withdraw cash if need with the app but whatever, should be reet

That's right, just make sure you set up a euro account on the app and transfer money into that. I also set it as default on your google pay while away but not sure if you need to. I believe you can withdraw cash but I have not done it.

12 minutes ago, Nowack said:

That's right, just make sure you set up a euro account on the app and transfer money into that. I also set it as default on your google pay while away but not sure if you need to. I believe you can withdraw cash but I have not done it.

never had to setup the euro account.

just keep it in sterling, and when you use it, it pays in euros at the current (better than touists) rates.

if you set the euro account, and transfer, your exchange rate is locked at that time (which could be better or worse)

use it as normal at an atm (but limited to £200 per month iirc)

theres an extra 1% charge at weekends iirc.

 

Greece really dont like cards.....

Theyll take them but we like the people we deal with so happy to use cash

Ive got a card which allows cash withdrawals and ive been geeting 1.16 and 1.17

Good luck getting that at the post office

I have gone well over the 200 limit so im paying, i think, 2% 'penalty' but even so, its still very good

 

Dunno where youre going, but its fucking hot atm

What if you have dosh left on the card at the end of the holiday? Can you transfer it back over? Or do you have to chuck it in a massive Bell's Whisky bottle?

Just now, mickbrown said:

What if you have dosh left on the card at the end of the holiday? Can you transfer it back over? Or do you have to chuck it in a massive Bell's Whisky bottle?

It's just a debit card with money on.
Spend it or transfer it back to another account.

No need to load Euros, just have a sterling balance, but if asked whether you want to pay in sterling or local currency, always pay in local.

22 minutes ago, Traf said:

It's just a debit card with money on.
Spend it or transfer it back to another account.

No need to load Euros, just have a sterling balance, but if asked whether you want to pay in sterling or local currency, always pay in local.

👍

8 hours ago, Casino said:

Greece really dont like cards.....

Theyll take them but we like the people we deal with so happy to use cash

Ive got a card which allows cash withdrawals and ive been geeting 1.16 and 1.17

Good luck getting that at the post office

I have gone well over the 200 limit so im paying, i think, 2% 'penalty' but even so, its still very good

 

Dunno where youre going, but its fucking hot atm

Cash is king all over Greece. It’s part of their economic woes though. They really think it’s ok to pay the tax on card payments and not so much on the untraceable… sorry, I mean cash payments.

17 hours ago, Zico said:

going to greece friday

so got the revolut app installed and added to google pay

so am i right in thinking I just transfer money into the revolut account, then use that to pay over there, at a lower exchange rate/commission than I would on my normal card?

thats it?

don't spose I can withdraw cash if need with the app but whatever, should be reet

Just reading this did you get the card as well as they do virtual accounts now where it’s just for tap payment. I needed a new card as I’m going to Munich and sometimes the Europeans aren’t as mad on tap payment as us.

I bought the card, mainly to use atm

6 hours ago, tomski said:

Just reading this did you get the card as well as they do virtual accounts now where it’s just for tap payment. I needed a new card as I’m going to Munich and sometimes the Europeans aren’t as mad on tap payment as us.

I only applied yesterday and go tomorrow, so just went with the app as didn't think card would turn up in time

14 minutes ago, Zico said:

I only applied yesterday and go tomorrow, so just went with the app as didn't think card would turn up in time

Fair dos. Hope it goes well.

Set up a Revolut account. Ordered the card the other day. All easy.

Went to load it up using Google Pay today. Couldn't get the fucker ro work at all.

After fucking about for ages, turns out that today is the day where they stopped you being able to use a credit cards.

 

2 minutes ago, mickbrown said:

Set up a Revolut account. Ordered the card the other day. All easy.

Went to load it up using Google Pay today. Couldn't get the fucker ro work at all.

After fucking about for ages, turns out that today is the day where they stopped you being able to use a credit cards.

 

When you had a choice of card style, did you get the one with a Union Flag?

23 minutes ago, BobyBrno said:

When you had a choice of card style, did you get the one with a Union Flag?

Didn't have a choice 

Just now, mickbrown said:

Didn't have a choice 

Maybe it’s just for the older account holders. One day, not long off now, you’ll have the choice. Nothing better than walking into some far off land and flashing the colours when making a purchase. 😉