Using cash machines abroad.

[baconbarm]

Im off to Portugal next week for a well earned rest.

Its been about five years since I last went abroad, I used to rely on travellers cheques or carry a bundle of money in my pocket, surely in this day and age theres a better alternative?

Has anybody just used the cashcard whilst abroad and how does it compare as regards exchange rates etc, are they fair or a rip off?

 

[chunkolini]

I managed the last two years, it might be worth contacting your bank and teling them you are going so they dont stop your card.
Not sure if they still do this though.

 

[MCKDAVID]

do it all the time, no issues except they charge you for it when you take cash out of a hole in teh wall. As chunkolini suggests, definitely best to inform the bank first, just in case there's restrictions on your type of card, for example is it a debit or a credit card. not all of them can be used. Best to check, but other than expensive, it's usually fine.

enjoy your holiday...

 

[GrahamGKD]

The exchange rates are reasonable in my experience. As Chunko says, best to mention it to your bank beforehand, I had my credit card stopped (Halifax) a few years ago in Canada. Last time we went there I told them beforehand and it was fine. Have never had any problem with debit or credit cards in Europe. I think my debit card (Nationwide) has started charging for cash withdrawals abroad now but the charge isn't that significant as long as you don't make lots of tiny withdrawals. I'm surprised travelers cheques haven't been phased out, or maybe they have!? Have a great trip.

 

[Malvern]

I tend to take a small amount of cash in the local currency and use my Nationwide credit card for anything else as they don't charge a fee and give an excellent exchange rate but I do have to tell them I'm going abroad as they soon pick up on foreign transactions an suspend the card! If I do need extra cash I can use my debit card but then get charged a fee. I don't like fees! Enjoy your holiday.

 

[rich r]

I always use cash machines or credit card when abroad, though tend to take about £50 in local currency just so I've got something for that first day. Haven't touched a travellers cheque in over 20 years. Often you can actually get a better exchange rate from a cash machine than you can from a bank too. Usually the Co-op or Post Office offer the best rates on debit cards abroad, often with no charges. What was interesting was when I was in Portugal at the time they changed from Escudos to the Euro. One day the cash machines dispensed Escudos, the next Euros. Fantastic bit of logistics there.

Last year I was in Iceland, and I took no cash with me. I got out £50 worth of Icelandic Krona from a cash machine near the hotel and still had it when I got to the airport a week later. I seems nobody in Iceland uses cash any more, it's all credit card - even if you just buy a cup of tea!

 

[Master-of-none]

Some good advice here:
http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/travel/cheap-travel-money

 

[baconbarm]

Great advice (as usual) fellas, cheers

 

[brightspark]

my credit card got stopped abroad as they thought someone else was using it fraudulently best ring them up 1st and tell them your going and what limit u put on transactions then its fine

 

[baconbarm]

my credit card got stopped abroad as they thought someone else was using it fraudulently best ring them up 1st and tell them your going and what limit u put on transactions then its fine

Yes, im dropping some cheques in the morning so will speak to an actual person at the bank, rather than over the phone to someone from another country.

 

[norlander]

Its worth informing your card provider just in case-normally not necessary-but nevertheless worth doing. I assume you are not driving over there so will not need fuel.
For general info as France is popular for brits, plastic is almost essential as:

motorway tolls booths are not manned any more-some booths have slots for coins/notes though
fuel in some areas at lunchtime is card only from the pumps.
Many cash machines and some petrol pumps have an english language option. Probably Portugal/Spain have too.
Have a good trip.

 

[rich r]

I've never yet encountered a cash machine abroad that doesn't switch to English as soon as you insert a UK debit or credit card - or at the least gives you the option to switch to English, so don't worry about that. Same with the petrol pumps in France, Iceland and Holland (I haven't driven in any other countries, so can't vouch for others!)

 

[mike os]

exactly as above... even ticket machines fro trains etc change to English when you insert card... acceptable anywhere in western Europe certainly 9not done Portugal tho, but really cant see it being any different)

 

[shtu]

The moneysavingexpert advice is very, very good - the right credit card is cheaper than changing cash.

Bear in mind that the person in the bank will try and flog you one of their cards, not necessarily the best one.

Portugal will be fine, but there are still some far-flung places where ATMs and Chip and PIN are rare, so if you are going further afield it can be worth planning ahead a bit.

 

[mike os]

I always take about £100 in local currency and try not to use it until a couple of days before returning home, everything goes on a "fee free" card

 

[piman]

Hello Baconbarm,

as far as informing your card holder, I am with Barclays and up to about 18 months or so they advised informing them when using your card abroad, but now they say they have improved their security and it is no longer necessary.

Alec

 

[brightspark]

Hello Baconbarm,

as far as informing your card holder, I am with Barclays and up to about 18 months or so they advised informing them when using your card abroad, but now they say they have improved their security and it is no longer necessary.

Alec

where have we heard that before i dont even trust me granny

 

[julianthegypsy]

Whatever you do, don't take Sterling cash and hope to change it. It used to be easy in France, but the last time I tried they looked at me like I was a criminal and none of the banks change money anymore. Even in Lille, after going to all the major banks, they sent me to the station to a money changer, who wanted £1.10 for a Euro! Absolute nightmare. I found that some banks card machines wouldn't take visa debit cards last time I was there, but most did. I assume it's the same in Portugal. My card worked in all the shops too, but for some inexplicable reason not in the local co-op! Good luck and have fun!

 

[puffernutter]

Probably a bit late. I travel a lot in Europe and internationally on business. I've always had a small amount of sterling with me (say £40) but I never take the local currency, I always get it at a cash machine - generally plenty of them at the airport. As was said, tell you bank/credit card company otherwise it wont work (don't ask how I know!)
Cheers
Peter

 

[baconbarm]

Came back today,

Without doubt, the worst week of my life.

Despite the missus sterling attempts of organisation, we managed to forget a suitcase, luckily her dad saved the day and drove down to the airport with it, we hired a 9 seater which broke down so we lost a day,

Two days into the holiday, my mum phoned and said my dad had died, I was devastated- he was my Dad, best friend and a workmate rolled into one (hes the bloke on my avatar)

He was 64,

After 40 odd years of hard drinking, the doctors told him to pack in or die.

He didn't touch a drop from November 2013 and his liver count went from 700 to around 90.

From December til may he was fitter and healthier than he had ever been- from the outside.

But the damage had been done internally from his drinking, without warning his organs just packed in over a few days.


So- for all you lads who drink too much.................. think about the people who will miss you.