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Subject Topic: off to france - cash or card?? Post Reply Post New Topic
Personedjillgeorge
03/8/2013 at 10:29pm
 Location: east yorks
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hi all
as above what do people take? staying in a tent for 2 weeks plus an overnight in a hotel on way down and way up
cash, cards? maybe both?
thank you


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Personphathamster
03/8/2013 at 10:56pm
 Location: None Entered
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i always plump for both IE a Caxton and cash, plus credit card as backup (i have a post office one as its free euro transfers)

caxton can be a bit iffy if low on funds in a petrol station, but i normally use it for shopping with no problems. cash is handy for markets etc. plus the credit card is there if needs must.
:)


PersonVal A
04/8/2013 at 5:59am
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Little bit  of cash, usually just what's left over from the last holiday, and cards.  Credit card for large spends in supermarkets,on fuel, and campsite fees, and a debit card for withdrawing more cash for small spending in markets, and on coffees, bread, and other small items.

Both are transaction free/charge free.  We have an N and P debit card, and a Halifax Clarity credit card, plus Nationwide credit cards and debit cards for back up.  All these offer the inter-bank  exchange rate so you get the best currency rate there is too.


Personlegenetay
04/8/2013 at 6:50am
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Again, a bit of cash. This year I have 45 euros left over from a school trip in July. The rest is bank debit card plus a credit card for backup.


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Personpaul+julie
04/8/2013 at 10:30am
 Location: Otley W. Yorks N Yorks border
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We usually take mostly euros then pay for petrol and site fees with credit card but are re thinking this year and now have a clarity card which we will use for most purchases, we have 50 euros left from last hol but will want some more, not sure which is the best way, get it here or use our bank debit card to draw abroad, J x


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PersonFrancais
04/8/2013 at 10:52am
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We don't pre-order any cash to take with us as the rates given for under £500 or so are rubbish.

So we always keep back 50€ from the last trip, this gives us enough cash until we find the first ATM when we get to France.

For all cash in France we use Norwich and Peterborough Debit Card, for use at ATM's with the N&P card there are no ATM charges and no currency conversion charge or commissions, and the exchange rate given is the interbank rate, so better than pre-loaded cards etc.

The N&P account is the best deal in town for cash in France IMHO.

For all none cash purchases we use a Halifax Clarity Mastercard Credit Card, again no currency conversion or commission usage charges, and exchange rate at the interbank prices, plus they give you £5 reward each month for using it.


Personscrumble
04/8/2013 at 12:30pm
 Location: Cambridgeshire
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Most bank debit cards are not such a good way of taking cash out abroad, becuase they charge a fee (typically a min. of £2) + the currency loading. Which is why the prepaid cards tend to work out a better deal.

I would try to pay with as much as possible on the Clarity as it is such a cheap way of buying abroad and then just take cash I think.

If you need extra cash out there you might find though that your Clarity card is wort considering for cash withdrawls as well. Normally a bad idea on credit cards, but thought they charge interest from the date of withdrawal, that isn't going to be a lot (check the daily rate, not the APR to see the costs if you are able to pay it off failry quickly and there are no other charges.

Money Saving Expert have a good section on travel money, charges for different cards etc.


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Personscrumble
04/8/2013 at 12:33pm
 Location: Cambridgeshire
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Quote: Originally posted by Francais on 04/8/2013

For all cash in France we use Norwich and Peterborough Debit Card, for use at ATM's with the N&P card there are no ATM charges and no currency conversion charge or commissions, and the exchange rate given is the interbank rate, so better than pre-loaded cards etc.

The N&P account is the best deal in town for cash in France IMHO.



It ids a good deal. We have a nationwide Flexplus account, this gives us free withdrawlas abroad as well. (it is a fee paying account - £10 month, but it includes annual travel ins, breakdown cover and some other bits, so is decent value)


PersonFrancais
04/8/2013 at 12:51pm
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Yep scramble, found out about the N&P account on here, I only use it for holiday use and nothing else, in fact it is used for saving up cash through the year, in readiness for cash required on holiday.

There are no charges at all for the N&P account, the only requirement is that £500 passes thought the account each month, otherwise there is a charge of £5.

To get round that, I have £500 transferd from our regular Natwest joint account at the end of each month into the N&P account and then at the start of the next month, the £500 goes back into Natwest.

It's all so easy these days with Internet banking.


Personedjillgeorge
06/8/2013 at 10:01pm
 Location: east yorks
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hi thanks for all your replies, this forum really is great
we are sorted now
because weve left it quite late we actually did something quite old fashioned and walked round a few places, then went to tescos and got a pre paid euro card from them,( and a bit of cash ) they priced matched the best high street deal as well so we got euros at 114 to the pound up from their advertised 110 !and got clubcard points too
cheers all


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Personhdv61
07/8/2013 at 10:08am
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We have the saga credit card, again no fee for overseas use and take euros also for markets,bars etc.

-------------
One Life, Live It.


Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!


Personfranbee
07/8/2013 at 10:49am
 Location: Lancashire
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OH keeps an eye on the exchange rate throughout the year, then when he thinks it's right, changes £500, which gives a better rate and lasts us a few holidays. We never have to draw cash, use our credit card for larger payments, tolls etc, and pay it off promptly. The exchange rate is no worse, and there's no fees for us.


Personsunshinetours
07/8/2013 at 12:07pm
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Having a mix of at least two ways to pay is always best practice. For most people taking a few hundred Euros the differences aren't that great but if you have time to plan then fee free cards and searching for best rates for cash can all help the extra wine/beer fund!

Certainly wouldn't have more than a couple of hundred in cash at any time



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