[Closed] How to pay for stuff when in USA and South America?

I have a FairFX card that works anywhere, just load it up from your UK debit card then withdraw or swipe wherever you are at the current Mastercard exchange rate (what you see on xe.com). Used it in Hong Kong and across Europe. They can also send out a replacement if you lose yours.

Best way really, the rates aren't going to get any better and you stay in control of your money, just don't use it for hotel authorisations and such as the pre-charge can wipe your balance and take a while to get "refunded", use a normal credit card for that (you won't get charged provided it's only being used for authorisation).

If you go through Quidco or Topcashback to sign up you can usually get a few quid as a sweetener.

FairFx tick

Halifax clarity credit card. No fees or charges for using it abroad

Is fairfx really much better than just using a standard debit or credit card? Looks like it charges a bit when you load up the card, and also charges again when you use it. I just use my existing plastic for most purchases, and get a bit of money out of ATMs as required.

In a word - yes.

Whatever it charges for loading pales into insignificance next to the fees your bank will charge you for withdrawing abroad.

It's a balance depending on how you spend when you are abroad.

I used to take out chunks of cash and use that as I would pay a fee on the transaction for the cash but save it on the small transactions (a coffee/drink etc.) but you have the downside of carrying lots of cash.

Pre pay cards also can get you in the exchange rate though with some (I have 2 with airline loyalty cards) you know the rate when you load them up but it's always worse than you would get by taking money out that day. (the load fee on mine is $2) however I save 1-2$ per transaction on the card every time I use it so it's much better.

My folks did the Halifax one and that worked well for them in Oz.

The other top tip is make sure you can get into your internet banking etc from abroard and have a spare card that you don't carry with you in case of loss/theft or the bank putting it on hold.

+1 what ComradeD says, that's what I always use.

For the full answer read Money Saving Expert:
http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/travel/cheap-travel-money

Last time I went to the US, the advice I got from everywhere was to use a prepaid card. I ended up with a Thomas Cook one IIRC. Worked well, accepted everywhere.

One thing to note though, with the one I had at least, if you don't use it for a period of time then they start charging you for it. You need to cancel it when you get home and get another next time you travel (unless you're over there every six months). Well hidden in the T&Cs, that little gem was.

prepaid cards here too - FairFX

I have a dollars one and a "universal" one that's loaded in £

Assuming you're not in the arse end of the amazon basin they should be OK

(in US, the card doesn't work in petrol pumps so you go in and prepay at the desk)

(If you email one of us folk who have a fairFX card and ghet a referral, they'll get a tenner credit and you will get your starup fee waived)

(Fair FX will post you cash at good rates too but unless you ask (and I don't know how) they send big denominations which can be a pain in the arse)

Thanks guys - FairFX sounds good, although they charge for withdrawals which TravelEx don't?

Is there a different exchange rate for dollar specific and "universal" cards?

Am I likely to struggle getting a FairFX card, being a student etc etc?

Thanks, Duane.

Looks like you can't get a spare card with FairFX which you can with Travelex :/

A bit off topic but something to note: when you pay by card in Colombia they ask when you want to pay, so you can delay payment, effectively using you debit card as a store credit card. To avoid interest and just pay debit you have to select 0 or 1 (sometimes 0 isn't an option, 1 just means end of the month as that's how their debit cards work). I've forgotten what they call this or how they ask you because I was with a colombian who dealt with it.

Also be prepared for some weird questions, address, phone number, passport number etc to pay even relatively small amounts by card as their anti-laundering regulations are understandably pretty strong.

OK, thanks for the headsup. I think when I'm in Colombia I'll mainly take cash out of an ATM and pay with cash as it will be a bit easier, plus stuff is fairly cheap so won't have to carry too much around.

Unless they've changed the TOCs Im sure you can get a spare Fair FX.

Sorry to bump this up but I was going to ask a very similar question regarding money in he US. My issue is I need to get it sorted quick as we fly a week on Sunday!

We where set on using the Royal Mail card (which the wife picked up one yesterday, but thinking of cancelling) but have read a lot of horror stories hence he slightly last minute looking! Has anyone used the RM card?

We used the Post office one last year in the US - we managed to load it okay via mobile and picked it up on the same day. I think MrPP had to take id with him to get one. You will need a phone that can be used in the US if topping up from a mobile.
We only found 1 motel that would not take it so make sure you always have a credit or debit card.
Hope you have a wonderful time.

Hi all,

SO we ordered a FairFX dollar card for communal use in the USA.

Still need to decide what to do for my personal spending. I imagine my spending in the US will be a mix of cash from ATM, and card transactions. Colombia will mainly be ATM withdrawals.

I thought about getting another dollar card, and just using my Natwest debit card to withdraw cash in Colombia, but the fees are pretty high - but that might just be the easiest way..

Any suggestions?

Ta,
Duane.