Prepaid currency cards

staffordjas

Well-Known Forumite
Any advice on which one to get for sons holiday to Cyprus please ?

Last time me & hubby went abroad it was all travellers cheques ,so I've never used them before. Need one where I can load some onto it from here in case of emergencies.

Co-op travel gave son a leaflet for their 'Cash Passport Prepaid Mastercard Currency Card' ( and told him he could keep going in and topping it up a bit at a time leading up to the holiday with no extra charges, but reading the small print on the leaflet it mentions loading charges each top up?? Bit naughty of them if that's the case!)

Got a leaflet from the post office for the 'Travel Money Card Plus Prepaid Mastercard as well .

Also seen Caxton FX currency cards (visa) recommended on various sites.

Or are there any others you would recommend ?
 

photography_bloke

Well-Known Forumite
We used a Post Office Travel Money card on a trip not long ago - worked fairly well, although we only really used them at cashpoints to take cash out as we needed it, we didn't use one in a shop/restaurant

When we arrived at the hotel we had to put a debit card against one of the rooms, and we did find we couldn't use it for that (their system wouldn't accept it) - not sure if that could mean issues using them in other places?

All in all though, was very handy and easy enough to top up at the Post Office/online
 

Toble

Well-Known Forumite
I use a card from Cashplus/The Money Shop. You can put money on at the two Money Shops in the town (one by the Grapes, the other behind Sports Direct), or at a post office.

Available in Euro or Dollar variants, along with the usual Sterling.
 

staffordjas

Well-Known Forumite
Thanks :) We have the leaflet from the post office. Will go for that one then. Will most likely get the currency from there as well.

I'm assuming son will use the cashpoints to get enough money out for the day/night and not use the card in the pubs.

His debit card is staying safely at home! (Along with his expensive phone- whatever is he going to do , not being attached to it 24 hours a day . Loading an old cheapo PAYG mobile for him :D )
 

staffordjas

Well-Known Forumite
I use a card from Cashplus/The Money Shop. You can put money on at the two Money Shops in the town (one by the Grapes, the other behind Sports Direct), or at a post office.

Available in Euro or Dollar variants, along with the usual Sterling.


The Money Shop site mentions a monthly subscription fee as well as account opening fees ?
 

Toble

Well-Known Forumite
The Money Shop site mentions a monthly subscription fee as well as account opening fees ?
I've got mine set up that that I pay a transaction fee instead. Ok, so I pay 99p to use it, but its a lot less hassle that other alteratives.
I'm not going to switch in to capitals and use asterisked of swearing because this next bit is really inportant:

DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH ANYTHING CALLED FREEDOMCARD, FREEDOM-CARD, FREEDOM-CASH-CARD OR ANYTHING THAT EVEN SOUNDS LIKE THAT. THE BUNCH OF C*NTS WENT BANKRUPT BUT ARE STILL TRYING TO TRADE.
 

staffordjas

Well-Known Forumite
I'm not going to switch in to capitals and use asterisked of swearing because this next bit is really inportant:

DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH ANYTHING CALLED FREEDOMCARD, FREEDOM-CARD, FREEDOM-CASH-CARD OR ANYTHING THAT EVEN SOUNDS LIKE THAT. THE BUNCH OF C*NTS WENT BANKRUPT BUT ARE STILL TRYING TO TRADE.


Thanks for the warning .
 

Catabatic

Well-Known Forumite
I've used the one from the Tesco exchange booth for Aussie dollars and Euros. Only disadvantage was not having a chip so not usable everywhere. Used mine mainly for cash from holes in walls but did use it in supermarkets. A friend got one from a travel agent, sorry - can't remember which, and there was a charge for each transaction so be aware of any small print skulldugerry.
 
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