Currency and Holidays

Hyburnate

Hyburnate

Hyburnate

Soldato
Joined
29 Jul 2011
Posts
15,696
Location
Near Northants / MK
As much as I can't wait that I'm off on a small break to Greece shortly, the GBP seems to be fairly dismal and I certainly should have exchanged a bit of cash prior to the PM resigning...

Anywho, it's been a very long time since I last left the UK, and therefore have never had to financially plan for holidays and spending money, primarily converting £.

Seeing as I'm off to Corfu in Greece, I've got myself a Starling account with a fair chunk inside, am I under the wrong illusion that Mastercard should be widely accepted either in shops, or at a large number of ATMs in the touristy bits?

Furthermore, am I wrong in assuming that a few hundred should suffice for a week, worth noting I don't drink alcohol so there should be a saving and I'm half-board!

What do the wonderful people of OcUK tend to take? And those that do have travel-friendly accounts, what's your usual plan?
 
Starling card should work fine everywhere. Just used mine lots in Spain. Just remember to always decline the conversion to GBP at cashpoints etc
 
Revolut if you don't want to pay fees / commission.

Starling if you don't mind paying a teensy weensy bit and don't trust Revolut.

Halifax Clarity if you want a credit card with the usual protections.

Done. NEXT!

I'm getting quite good at this GD malarkey.
 
Shouldn't have any problems with mastercard, i've managed to withdraw cash from an ATM in a 3rd world country, so Greece shouldn't have any problems.

Assuming you're eating in your hotel every night, then it's only lunch and treats etc that you need to buy. You can always top up your Starling account can't you whilst over there?
 
you should be able to pay most things with contactless or your card
i like to have about 100euro cash and if needs be you can go to an ATM for more
if you are half board and dont drink you'll probably get away with a couple of hundred for a week
i use revolut and it's fine
 
Semple said:
Could really do with a Finance sub-forum. For anything financial related.
Click to expand...

Nah, it's a lot more fun having it all in one forum for us to read. Imagine having to go to other sub forums to get our GD on :mad:


Here's a pic of @Hyburnate on holiday:

cx8wBIn.gif
 
XeNoN89 said:
Just remember to always decline the conversion to GBP at cashpoints etc
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This.

You might struggle with a few hundred for a week. When we went to Greece a couple of years ago we found it terribly expensive. London prices for every meal. Quite depressing.

Personally I have a Metro current account that has free withdrawals in Europe, and we have a Nationwide credit card that is free to use abroad.
 
Always take cash especially in Greece I have been to Corfu and not everywhere takes cards.

Take card and I would say 500euro backup in cash then you should be ok.

I always take cash when going on holiday as I have been stung a few times when away. Cash + hotel safe + credit card= win. ;)
 
Depends on the country, most countries I take a bit of cash then use Monzo abroad.

The cash for bits and pieces (or most things in Japan), and card for restaurants and large purchases.

If I had to take money out, I don’t direct withdraw from my account, instead I move what I want to withdraw into Revolut and withdraw from that.
 
Nice, i'm also off to Corfu in a few weeks :)

Was planning on just using card but will get some cash out too after this thread.
 
Diddums said:
For clarification, what @XeNoN89 and @Scam are alluding to is this:

Seriously, watch this video. Con artists, the lot of them:

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Good video. Even the ATM at Amsterdam airport when you get to the 'accept conversion' or 'decline conversion' it has the former in a bright green colour and the latter in a red colour. Little mental tricks to get you to do the wrong thing.

But what I was talking about more specifically when you pay at restaurant with your card. Always have to check when they hand over the machine it's showing you the amount in the local currency.

For what it's worth in both cases you can complain to your bank and get the money/difference back. They don't like their customers being tricked and neither do Visa/MC/Amex. The machine will get reported as well I believe.
 
Marvt74 said:
Nice, i'm also off to Corfu in a few weeks :)

Was planning on just using card but will get some cash out too after this thread.
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Where you off too and when? I'm off in circa three weeks to North Corfu!

Heh, I should be good then - I'll get around 500EUR converted prior to the holiday and have around the same on my Starling which isn't my main account so I'm not too concerned about it being swiped or what have you.
 
Diddums said:
Revolut if you don't want to pay fees / commission.

Starling if you don't mind paying a teensy weensy bit and don't trust Revolut.

Halifax Clarity if you want a credit card with the usual protections.

Done. NEXT!

I'm getting quite good at this GD malarkey.
Click to expand...

What charges are talking about with starling? I've been using mine exclusively in the eurozone for almost two years now (since beta). For example I used it this afternoon in a supermarket and got 1.1346 euros to the pound. According to XE the rate was actually 1.1327 at the time.
 
Off on the 28th June for a week to Kalami Bay, also in the North. Might see you in the airport on your way home :p

Been eyeing up an A3 Convertible as a hire car, just not sure if it's suitable now as we've invited my mother in law which takes it to 4 of us plus luggage :(
 
Been to agios nikolaos in the Peloponnese Greece and trust me you don't have cash or torch you done for.

I love Greece many a time I have been but some places are crazy as hell.

As for the torch shout we got lost in stoupa trying to get back to the villa, we asked the locals to help us out because the was no lights on the road. One local said have you not got a torch.:confused:

Corfu should be fine but always take cash.
 
Marvt74 said:
Off on the 28th June for a week to Kalami Bay, also in the North. Might see you in the airport on your way home :p

Been eyeing up an A3 Convertible as a hire car, just not sure if it's suitable now as we've invited my mother in law which takes it to 4 of us plus luggage :(
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We're off on the 23rd, don't fly back till the 30th so sadly you'll miss my gracious presence.
 
Another top tip in Corfu if you hire a car don't go up that mountain its brutal. I stopped for a pee and nearly jumped to my death.

The is a watering hole at the top and the beach is nice on the other side just don't ask for a can of coke as they wont know what you taking about.
 
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