Paying for things in France and Italy.

Wellington

Wellington

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I presume one no longer carries travellers cheques (can you even still get them?) so how do you keep your money secure and accessible in the road? We are going to France and Italy and do not intend to visit many towns, just villages and small sites. Will I be able to pay in most restaurants, bakeries and so on by card, or should I plan to use mostly cash and find some good hiding places? Which cards or bank accounts are good deals for spending Euros?
 
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Wellington said:
I think I might be cutting it fine to get a new card before we go in ten days. (especially given that Barclays have done something unspeakable to my credit rating, and have yet to sort it out). I’ll try and get a safe fitted, and am planning on some extra door locks. I’m very tempted to get cash and hide it around the van in smallish amounts, in fake baked bean tins and so on. It one less thing to bother about (dragging a kid around looking for a cash point is zero fun) which is always helpful.

I might look at a starling card, and I bank with Santander anyway, so they might be able to sort something out. Barclays are no longer going to benefit from my custom very soon!

Where does the best cash rates? I generally just go to Tesco’s because it’s convenient, but I usually only get a couple of hundred. I’ll need a bit more this time, so it’s probably worth shopping around.
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If you've got a debit card and money in the bank just use that to draw out money while away. There will be a charge using Barclays but overall this will still be cheaper than going to Tesco as you will get the Visa exchange rate.

I personally wouldn't like to carry more than around €300 in cash in the van. If thieves get in they will find your bean cans. :)
 
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EX51SSS said:
Halifax Clarity v
Credit card. Direct debit to pay off at statement time.
Better rates, no commission or loading. Always pay in local currency ie, Euros in Europe and sterling in England
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Yep same as, always use this in preference to a prepayment card. Don't want my cash tied up.
 
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Wellington said:
I think I might be cutting it fine to get a new card before we go in ten days. (especially given that Barclays have done something unspeakable to my credit rating, and have yet to sort it out). I’ll try and get a safe fitted, and am planning on some extra door locks. I’m very tempted to get cash and hide it around the van in smallish amounts, in fake baked bean tins and so on. It one less thing to bother about (dragging a kid around looking for a cash point is zero fun) which is always helpful.

I might look at a starling card, and I bank with Santander anyway, so they might be able to sort something out. Barclays are no longer going to benefit from my custom very soon!

Where does the best cash rates? I generally just go to Tesco’s because it’s convenient, but I usually only get a couple of hundred. I’ll need a bit more this time, so it’s probably worth shopping around.
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Definitely see if you can get a Santander card as you already bank with them but we aware it is only the Zero one that is fee free.

Another possibility is a Metrobank account. You used to have to go into store to open an account but now can be done online and card arrives within a few days according to their website. Both debit and credit cards are fee free in Europe. Another plus for this account is that there is no minimum monthly payment into the account so can be used just as a holiday account which is what my account used to be. Just transfer what money you want to online and draw out in cash as needed or use the CC and set up an auto payment.

Denise

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We take some cash plus credit cards. The one we use wherever possible is Angela's Nationwide credit card because it gives the best rate of exchange by far. Beware of "zero exchange fees" cards. Sound good, but the exchange rates they apply are often appalling.
 
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If staying on sites or paying aires you will need some cash handy as not all accept cards.

When travelling we carry cash plus Nationwide and Halifax cards .
 
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I now use revolut excellent exchange rates and free ATM use. Beware using any top up card in a garage for fuel though, unless you have at least 100 in the account as the garage shadows 100 euro. Mine got declined until i realised and when i topped the card up it then got accepted. The sale showed at €141 for a few hours then dropped down to the actual amount of €40. I used Caxton fx for many years f before this but find that revolut gives a higher exchange rate and i get instant feedback through their app to tell me where and when I've used it. I can also take a picture of the receipt to keep within the app which is useful to me to keep records of where I've been.
I do keep a small amount of cash and i have santander zero card which i believe is no longer available to me account holders so i use mine at keast once every 6 months to keep it active. I use a cashback card from Nationwide at home as i can't use that fee free when abroad.
 
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You can get a money card from the Post Office the same day. You load it with any currency you want so don’t pay FX charges.

The card is free and you can also use to draw out cash at ATM’s in the country.
 
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Just updating to say that I have applied for a starling card. It took about five minutes, and the account is up and running immediately (I tested it with a small payment, although obviously I don’t have the card yet) so that should be that sorted.

Annoyingly, I went and lost my bank card yesterday, although only the Santander one that I won’t be using at £1.25 per transaction!
 
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Something to bear in mind if your paying at an automated petrol pump by card they can hold a couple of hundred euro as a gaurenee against your transaction. Got caught before so wont make that mistake again. You do get it back but can take a few days.
 
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My mother lived in Italy for 28 years and my wife is Italian. Credit cards accepted 95% throughout. Markets however like cash. Consider installing a safe to given you some piece of mind.
 
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Wellington said:
I presume one no longer carries travellers cheques (can you even still get them?) so how do you keep your money secure and accessible in the road? We are going to France and Italy and do not intend to visit many towns, just villages and small sites. Will I be able to pay in most restaurants, bakeries and so on by card, or should I plan to use mostly cash and find some good hiding places? Which cards or bank accounts are good deals for spending Euros?
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I haven't been to Europe for a while, but I have backpacked independently through many countries over the years, for months at a time. I'm talking a backpack on my back, a wallet in one pocket and a passport in the other, with nothing booked and organising as we go along.

One thing I've learned is that most things are mostly available everywhere. Money included. The internet is a wonderful thing as you can check for banks on the move.

I just use debit cards, credit cards and cash. I carry the same ones, and the same amounts, as I would traveling in the UK. I also look after my personal safety the same as I would in the UK.

I appreciate that your circumstances are completely different to mine, but if I can mange traveling independently through South America etc., including some very dodgy areas and some really out of the way places, then you should be able to manage Europe. I'm not trying to be dismissive, just the opposite. I think you'll find its a lot easier to manage the money than you first thought. In all the years I've been doing this, I've only once nearly run out of money, and that was up in the cloud forest where the ATM's were rarely topped up.

Good luck and enjoy your holiday.

P.S. the very first backpacking trip I ever did was over 4 decades ago, around Europe, when there was no internet, no mobile phones and basic banking. Those were the days!!!

P.P.S. your cards etc. are probably all sorted now, but whichever you use, my advice is not to get too hung up on an odd percent here and there. Yes, withdraw or charge for free if you can, but if your only option is a 3% withdrawal charge, then get the equivalent of £100 out and tell yourself you've spent the price of a coffee. It's no big deal in the grand scheme of things.

P.P.P.S. you and your daughter are creating the memories; that's what matters. In 10 years you wont remember where you withdrew the money, but you will definitely remember walking to the bakery and buying fresh baguettes for breakfast, eaten with a large mug of coffee and a croissant. Enjoy.

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Ditto the Halifax clarity card plus a little ready funny money.
Usually ring ahead if planning to stay ,don't want my card ,won't get my business.
 
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jollyrodger said:
Ditto the Halifax clarity card plus a little ready funny money.
Usually ring ahead if planning to stay ,don't want my card ,won't get my business.
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Ditto Halifax Clarity card - very good, accepted throughout EU and very good bank to bank exchange rate when you get your statements. Austria and Germany do not like credit cards nearly always insist on cash (tax thing). Exchange rate for cash try Ace or Ice. Better than the Post office and bank rates and you will have it delivered within 2 days of ordering it.
 
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A quick update (the rain here is deafening!)

We’ve had plenty of cash to keep us going so far, and were able to top up at a random out of town bank the other day, as I got better deals on my Venetian glass purchases for cash. The Starling card has worked well so far for everything except one fuel purchase that was cash only (in a bit if a backwater as we’d had a detour and were almost out) and it doesn’t work for Italian tolls. Don’t wait behind us at the toll station, we take forever!!! (Really wish I’d bought the telepass, now, it’s such a faff)

I know everyone thinks I get in a right tizzy over this sort of thing, but it really does make a huge difference to how pleasant things are for us if I’ve got this sort of thing covered in advance.
 
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Wellington said:
A quick update (the rain here is deafening!)

We’ve had plenty of cash to keep us going so far, and were able to top up at a random out of town bank the other day, as I got better deals on my Venetian glass purchases for cash. The Starling card has worked well so far for everything except one fuel purchase that was cash only (in a bit if a backwater as we’d had a detour and were almost out) and it doesn’t work for Italian tolls. Don’t wait behind us at the toll station, we take forever!!! (Really wish I’d bought the telepass, now, it’s such a faff)

I know everyone thinks I get in a right tizzy over this sort of thing, but it really does make a huge difference to how pleasant things are for us if I’ve got this sort of thing covered in advance.
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Sounds like you are having fun( apart from hot brakes!! )
Safe travels and enjoy making memories!! Is your little girl loving it?

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Wellington said:
I don’t have a lot of faith in them at the moment. I phoned on Friday to see if they had received a letter I sent ten days ago. It took an hour and three departments, and they still don’t know if they have it, or where it would have gone if they did!
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Pay for fuel etc on credit card and also draw cash on it,,No fees hardly on Halifax Clarity.BUSBY.
 
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Wagoneer said:
Take a look at NATIONWIDE plus account for commission free transactions using debit and credit card in Europe.
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Not so fast there Tiger, I use Nationwide Flex account and was charged commission every time in Spain this summer! :oops:
 
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OurMoreloLife said:
Not so fast there Tiger, I use Nationwide Flex account and was charged commission every time in Spain this summer! :oops:
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Ah, but were you using the FlexPlus debit card (cash withdrawals) and the Select Credit Card for purchases ? This facility is only available if you pay £13 per month for the privilege which includes other savings such as medical insurance, breakdown insurance, 4% interest on up to £2500 etc.
 
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If you want to learn a few French swear words then try to pay for your baguette at the Boulangerie in a morning with a Credit/Debit card and see the happy response from the proprietor.

You'll need a coin to release a Supermarche trolley for shopping, a coin or two to pay for water at the borne, loose change to pay a few Euros for an Aire overnight stop where the money is collected and a bag of frites at dinnertime at a Friterie will need coins.

Numerous other small payments are required on a French holiday and we always ensure we have plenty of one and two Euro coins and a few €5 notes to hand in a small pot in the Motorhome for the unexpected little charges that occur.

Credit/Debit cards for bigger items and services but without some loose cash you may struggle at times.

Well, that's my experiences …..

:france::france::france::france:

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Would never use a prepaid card like revolut or caxton.. You can't get the the same rates on a daily basis as halifax clarity card which gives to the spot rate for everything you buy.. Prepaid cards are old hat now offering sod all.
 
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Khizzie said:
Would never use a prepaid card like revolut or caxton.. You can't get the the same rates on a daily basis as halifax clarity card which gives to the spot rate for everything you buy.. Prepaid cards are old hat now offering sod all.
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With Revolut you top up in sterling but you spend euros using the current exchange rate, not the exchange rate at the time you topped it up.

Of course when the pound is falling this may not be the best plan. :)
 
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DBK said:
With Revolut you top up in sterling but you spend euros using the current exchange rate, not the exchange rate at the time you topped it up.

Of course when the pound is falling this may not be the best plan. :)
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You have two options , you can convert your sterling to euros in advance and gamble that you've managed to choose a day when the exchange rate is beneficial or leave it in sterling and it gets the interbank rate on the day you use it. I used mine in Budapest last week and converted some sterling to Forints in advance but on one occasion ran out but had plenty of sterling so clever Revolut did it for me until I remembered to convert some more.
 
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DBK said:
With Revolut you top up in sterling but you spend euros using the current exchange rate, not the exchange rate at the time you topped it up.

Of course when the pound is falling this may not be the best plan. :)
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Exactly!
 
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kennygray said:
Something to bear in mind if your paying at an automated petrol pump by card they can hold a couple of hundred euro as a gaurenee against your transaction. Got caught before so wont make that mistake again. You do get it back but can take a few days.
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That's usual with a prepaid card, doesn't seem to be the case with my clarity card.

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carolyn said:
You have two options , you can convert your sterling to euros in advance and gamble that you've managed to choose a day when the exchange rate is beneficial or leave it in sterling and it gets the interbank rate on the day you use it. I used mine in Budapest last week and converted some sterling to Forints in advance but on one occasion ran out but had plenty of sterling so clever Revolut did it for me until I remembered to convert some more.
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Too much faffing about to save the odd euro or two if you're only on holiday for a week or two.
 
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