Credit card or cash for Europe?

UnworthyBean

UnworthyBean

UnworthyBean

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Joined
15 Jun 2009
Posts
2,494
Planning on driving through Europe later this year (France, Belgium, Germany, maybe more) and was wondering the best option here. Obviously I'll need it for fueling up, food and general other stuff. I'll be taking a card thats accepted there regardless just incase of emergencies.

A card would be less hassle but are the fees generally alright?
 
I use my Metro Bank card for taking cash out in Europe. Post Office Credit Card for no fee card payments worldwide.
 
Need an auto reply set for these threads :p - Halifax Clarity.

Yes, you are charged interest from day 1 for cash withdrawals, but I racked up a total of about 50p interest over 6 months of cash withdrawals most days. I would normally pay off a few times a week, never immediately, but quick enough that the charges were low. If you just direct debit it once a month then cash is going to cost you - just pay it off when you think about it.
 
Auto reply should really be set for Revolut
Zero fees all the time for withdrawals and transactions
Same or better exchange rates
Much easier sign up
More useful app
Top-ups with Apple pay, card, bank transfer
Multiple physical and/or virtual cards
Better security
Better support

Revolut is better in almost every way. I don't understand why people constantly recommend Clarity...
 
dowie said:
don't they load a % fee on top of the visa/master card rate even if not explicitly charging a 'fee'?
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No.

dowie said:
this seems like the better solution
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It is but for some reason I couldn't get the Clarity. This was a few years ago though I should try again. Actually will do right now!

/Edit Approved :cool: so now will have all 3 :D
 
Last edited:
MonsterMoshi said:
Auto reply should really be set for Revolut
Zero fees all the time for withdrawals and transactions
Same or better exchange rates
Much easier sign up
More useful app
Top-ups with Apple pay, card, bank transfer
Multiple physical and/or virtual cards
Better security
Better support

Revolut is better in almost every way. I don't understand why people constantly recommend Clarity...
Click to expand...

In what way does it have better security?
 
Which is annoying and impractical.

Meanwhile as a proper credit card the Clarity has full protection against fraudulent transactions.
 
MonsterMoshi said:
Auto reply should really be set for Revolut
Zero fees all the time for withdrawals and transactions
Same or better exchange rates
Much easier sign up
More useful app
Top-ups with Apple pay, card, bank transfer
Multiple physical and/or virtual cards
Better security
Better support

Revolut is better in almost every way. I don't understand why people constantly recommend Clarity...
Click to expand...

I got one of these for a US trip at Christmas, was great, really quick and easy to use and manage via the app. :D

Just topped it up with £100 whenever I needed to. Even if its stolen they can only use whatever balance is on it and you can just shut it down via the app or other methods anyway.
 
Hedge said:
The guy wasn't wrong was he? A card disabled is more secure right?

Sometimes think you're just looking to argue with people.
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Certainly seems like it. How is a disabled card not more secure. Not sure how its annoying either either, personally i would turn it off at the end of each day and back on in the morning. Turn off all online use, then fully turn it off at the end of the holiday.

I myself use the Supercard, its just a dummy credit card that you connect what ever cards you want. So i get perfect bank exchange rates, while using my debit or credit card from home. No need to pay anything off quickly either.
 
Because it isn't how people normally use cards so the reality is that most people won't do it. Having to interact with a card beyond simply handing it over to pay is an unacceptable level of faff and most people despite the best intentions simply won't do it. I mean seriously, you see no issue with having to remember to enable and disable your card all the time?

With a proper credit card you simply use it normally and are covered by the legal fraud protection measures in the unlikely event of anything going wrong.

No need to mess about topping up either.
 
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