Prepaid credit cards for holiday money?

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James
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Has any one used one?

I am off to Spain for 2 weeks on my motorbike, I don't want to carry loads of cash and wondered if any one had used one, I have heard they are not great for purchases but good for getting cash from ATM's.

Any feed back and experience would be appreciated.
 
James, I use both the Fairfx card and the Caxton card depending on whether it's a purchase or ATM transaction. I can't remember which one at the moment, but one of them has no ATM transaction charge, so works out cheaper for cash.

Cliff
 
I've recently used a Travelex one on a trip to Belgium and Holland. Getting cash from an ATM was easy enough but I was surprised how many pub/restaurant businesses in Belgium don't take any form of credit/debit card - even some upmarket places.

There were also problems in Holland as most stores/restaurants/etc don't accept pre-paid cards. Again ATM cash was easily available. Buying fuel with the card was okay.

No experience of Spain though, I'm afraid.
 
Cheers guys, that's the feed back I have been getting, good for cash but not so great for purchases. Still think I will get one as I don't want carry lots of cash.

Just got to decide if I buy a new lens to take with me... (that's for another thread!)
 
Don't forget to check that your intended route doesn't clash with the Vuelta a España.
 
me and the wife are just off round europe on the bike and personally we are taking 2 cards with us, get money if we need it the rest on the credit card (airmiles woohoo) to be paid off when we return.
What are the real benefits to these pre paid cards if you can only draw money from a machine with them????

spike
 
SpikeK6 said:
me and the wife are just off round europe on the bike and personally we are taking 2 cards with us, get money if we need it the rest on the credit card (airmiles woohoo) to be paid off when we return.
What are the real benefits to these pre paid cards if you can only draw money from a machine with them????

spike
Click to expand...

Some people can't get a credit card.
 
Ricardodaforce said:
Don't forget to check that your intended route doesn't clash with the Vuelta a España.
Click to expand...

Thanks for that, right when I will be in Spain also! Might end up in Portugal to avoid any issues, no route planned at present so I can work my way around the event.
 
I've used Caxton and can't fault it. You get a better rate of transfer at the point that you load your card (by internet or mobile text), and then it's like having a debit card in your host country's currency. Therefore, no atm charges and no exchange rate to consider when using it for purchases. BUT, don't use it as 'security' (i.e. when picking up a hire car) as that triggers penalties, though you can use the card to pay for your hire at the end...
The other thing is not to load more than you're going to need - it looks like recovering/'retransferring' back to sterling is problematic (not done that yet, but remember reading something about it).
Seem to remember you can get a second card, and anyone over 14 (I think) can have a card. Check out the website here: http://www.caxtonfx.com/currency-cards/

And no, I don;t work for them... just a happy customer :)
 
Like TifferJ says, transferring money back off the card can be an issue - or so the nice lady at the bureau de change told me - when you get back to the UK. To enure I didn't have any problems I simply went to an ATM in Calais on the way back and drew the remaining amount out in Euros. Ended up with just €2.75 left on the card :)
 
I used a thomas cook pre paid card in SA a couple of years ago, everywhere accepted it with no issues. ( well almost, had 1 minor problem at an out of town petrol station but they just used an old paper swipe machine ) It took a while to add more money to the card while I was away but hastle free and better than having cash on me the whole trip.
 
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