Best account and debit/credit/prepaid card for foreign travel?

Hades

Hades

Hades

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I am looking for recommendations for a bank account with a debit or prepaid card which can be used in multiple countries with low fees.

Likely destinations, if that's relevant, are US, EU and (less likely) South Africa.

Any recommendations would be appreciated. Thank you.
 
I'd keep up to date on this:

www.moneysavingexpert.com

Top cards for travelling abroad

Going abroad, or spending on foreign websites? You can save £100s by using specialist travel cards for near-perfect exchange rates.
www.moneysavingexpert.com www.moneysavingexpert.com

It's always pretty accurate in terms of who has the best offering at the time :) Chase also offer a pretty decent easy access saver connected to the account as well so worthwhile tbh.
 
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Halifax Clarity, 0% fee for withdrawing or using abroad.

Was something about the interest though so you’ll have to make sure you’re paying it off at the end of month
 
dacads said:
Halifax Clarity, 0% fee for withdrawing or using abroad.

Was something about the interest though so you’ll have to make sure you’re paying it off at the end of month
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Double check the withdrawing perk because I think that may have ended?

I use Revolut for weekends (you transfer weekday and then exchange to what you need - almost all cards have weekend supplements to the FX rate that is pretty hidden). And then Chase for weekdays.
 
dacads said:
Halifax Clarity, 0% fee for withdrawing or using abroad.

Was something about the interest though so you’ll have to make sure you’re paying it off at the end of month
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Don't withdraw cash on Clarity - interest is charged daily on cash. The best card that allows fee free withdrawals with full 56 days to pay back (in the link I posted above as well slightly higher up the page) is Barclaycard. Both that and Clarity though are credit cards and not debit/prepaid.
 
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dLockers said:
Double check the withdrawing perk because I think that may have ended?

I use Revolut for weekends (you transfer weekday and then exchange to what you need - almost all cards have weekend supplements to the FX rate that is pretty hidden). And then Chase for weekdays.
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No transaction or withdrawal fees. Although the latter interest is charged from when you withdraw.

Barclaycard may be the better option then if you’ll be withdrawing cash.
 
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I many use my Halifax Clarity card and Revolut as an backup.

I also have an Jaja Card which use to be Post Office credit card for 0% fee for withdrawing or using abroad. But I rarely use it.
 
malachi said:
I many use my Halifax Clarity card and Revolut as an backup.

I also have an Jaja Card which use to be Post Office credit card for 0% fee for withdrawing or using abroad. But I rarely use it.
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I also had Post Office card turned into Jaja which I had specifically for EU spending - I had an email the other day saying they are giving up the product and closing my account in May so I'm also probably going to apply for a Barclaycard myself to replace it.
 
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Slackworth said:
I also had Post Office card turned into Jaja which I had specifically for EU spending - I had an email the other day saying they are giving up the product and closing my account in May so I'm also probably going to apply for a Barclaycard myself to replace it.
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I haven't got notification yet? Is that recent?
 
dacads said:
No transaction or withdrawal fees. Although the latter interest is charged from when you withdraw.

Barclaycard may be the better option then if you’ll be withdrawing cash.
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Yeah I recall there was a big debate as folk were talking cross purposes. I believe Clarity once-upon-a-time did allow cash withdrawals with no interest but that changed.

Our new King is definitely BarclayCard; altho the point still stands - most of these have a hidden surcharge on the FX rate when the markets are closed (weekends, bank hols) - so definitely supplement with a Revolut and pre-convert your $.
 
I am confused all these recommendations are credit cards? OP looking for a debit, of which best would be Starling or Chase bank
 
malachi said:
I haven't got notification yet? Is that recent?
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Received on March 8th:



ShivP said:
I am confused all these recommendations are credit cards? OP looking for a debit, of which best would be Starling or Chase bank
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That's why I highlighted the link which goes directly to the debit card section and skips past the credit card section :)
 
malachi said:
Thanks, just did some research. Some people got this who didnt use their card often. I probably get that letter too lol
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I only use mine when I'm abroad as I have better benefits on other cards for UK spending like cashback/points etc. so that's highly possible!
 
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A lot of "standard" banks also offer free usage abroad now.

For example, Barclays has a travel wallet you can use - they finally realised and built something to use given the customers drops I imagine.
 
I use my Nationwide account. Fee free cash withdrawls on the debit card and free purchases on the credit card, both at the VISA rates.
 
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