Got my euros, but will my card work in French cashpoints? Just in case. Also what do I need to switch off on my iPhone to stop massive bills?
Should do. May not work in all machines, such as ticket machines.
Make sure Data Roaming is turned off.
Tell your bank you're going abroad, or they might stop your card to protect you from fraud and then spend the following day ringing you to tell you about it!
Yes, but you'll be charged a packet by your Bank/Credit Card Company.
Unless you're going tomorrow, you could apply for a currency card and load it up (and top it up using your phone if you download an app and have access to wifi).
http://www.caxtonfx.com/currency-cards/
Ours arrived within a few days of applying.
Phonewise, you need to turn off data-roaming in your settings, and check every now and again that some bastard app hasn't switched it back on. Don't know if you can also set 2G only on iPhone, but I did this on my Android phone as a double precaution.
Yes, but you'll be charged a packet by your Bank/Credit Card Company.
not necassarily, but check your bank website, ring them and ask, odds on a couple of quid admin fee and then just their exchange rate IIRC from HSBC last time i did it. Certainly cheaper to get currency before hand, but not the end of the world to use an ATM.
Lloyds bank, and a visa debit card. I had no charges for transactions but did for ATM withdrawals.
Nationwide don't charge IIRC
Yes, but you'll be charged a packet by your Bank/Credit Card Company.
No, you won't. Getting cash out of foreign cashpoints is generally the cheapest way of getting cash, assuming you're with a decent bank. IME it's a £2 cashpoint fee like those service station ones in the UK. Usually a bank has a partner in each country (in the USA it's Bank of America if you're Barclays - you should be able to look it up) that won't even charge that. And the exchange rate is decent.
Paying for things with your debit card is usually even better.
Your iPhone will probably automatically turn off data roaming.
Bank cards are a little more complicated. ATMs will have a charge from your bank to use them abroad and a slightly crappy exchange rate. Shops won't incur that charge (neither will bars, restaurants, hotels etc). One thing to be careful about is places that will offer to charge you in pounds. As said above, shops, bars etc won't incur a charge from your bank and the rate that you get charged is appalling (friend got 1:1 on the euro in a bar once)
My recommendation is get a load of cash from TravelEx or whoever before you go for the day to day stuff then bang hotels, restaurants etc onto the debit card.
You can speak to your network prov and get them to set a credit limit on your phone, so if you don't switch it off right or an app switches it back on you will only get stung for a bill upto that amount.
dont just turn off data roaming.
turn off all cell data- this will only let you connect via wifi.
I got caught out by this once - only cost me a couple quid but annoyed - emailed o2 who said it was my fault .... crazy eh ... who knew that data roaming didnt mean data when roaming .....
depends on your card .... never had an issue with visa but mastercard is picky . maestro - might as well stick it up your nose rather than try and get cash out an ATM .....
My recommendation is get a load of cash from TravelEx
TravelEx have always been a staggering rip-off in my experience. I went to get 50 € or so and they said 'that'll be £60 sir'. 'That sounds decent, I thought, a ratio of 1 to 1.2 which was about the exchange rate. Just in time I realised that it was in fact 1.2:1 - the wrong way round! They were charging me MORE than a quid per Euro! Told them to stuff it, and got 1.20 € per £1 at the cashpoint in Dublin.
Nationwide don't charge IIRC
Depends on your account. The Flexaccount used to be free but not anymore. Charges something like 2.95%.
nationwide charge for withdrawls but not for card transaction and its rate isnt horrendous.
used credit card for shopping and tolls and found rates very good, usually keep the cash for beers, coffee's etc as its easier to tip
TravelEx have always been a staggering rip-off in my experience. I went to get 50 € or so and they said 'that'll be £60 sir'. 'That sounds decent, I thought, a ratio of 1 to 1.2 which was about the exchange rate. Just in time I realised that it was in fact 1.2:1 - the wrong way round! They were charging me MORE than a quid per Euro! Told them to stuff it, and got 1.20 € per £1 at the cashpoint in Dublin.
I recently used Travelex for a business trip for work, pre-ordered the money online and collected at Heathrow, rate I got was better than the Post Office and 12% better what they were charging people who walked up to their desk.
I did once make the mistake of buying some Euros from Travelex at Luton (business trip so wasn't too bothered) but the rate they were charging in the departure lounge was worse than the one they were charging before security!
So seen good and bad with them.
Thanks guys info from bank ( Lloyds) was
2.99% purchase tax on each transaction and a pound purchase fee, cashpoint is 1.5% of value upto £4.50 ( so take one large rather than lots of small)
Got dads cc just in case it all goes tits up
See you later!! * kisses*
2.99% purchase tax, GOD
Get a bundle for your phone data and use it in the knowledge that you've only been mildly fleeced?
Yep, I've got a Lloyds card - those rates are why I got a post office credit card for transactions and a currency card for cashpoints.
Came somewhat unstuck when the credit card pin didn't work when I got to Venice, and I had to arrange a new card to pick up the hire car the next day, but hey ho...
