Best option for Euro holiday card?

I went with an HSBC global money account for our trip around Europe this summer. Mostly because I already have an account with them but it seemed to cover everything I needed it to do (no fees for transactions or cash withdrawals and easy management/transfer of funds) and gave me a better exchange rate than any of the usual bricks and mortar places.

Edit, remember to apply for whatever option you go for in good time to. My new card only turned up a few days before we left as I’d been a bit slow in sorting it out.

Where’s the cheapest option for cash? Post Office?

For actual cash you can compare here:

https://travelmoney.moneysavingexpert.com/

But unless the rate is really bad, /taking thousands in cash, it doesnt make a huge difference, I tend to use post office as it's usually competitive, and happens to be convinient for me, which is worth more to me than saving €1.50 or whatever on a couple of hundred euros.

Changing money at the airport is usually the most expensive way of doing it, so that's for emergencies only, really.

Used the post office card in the USA, worked well. I expect it'll work equally as well in the EU?

First Direct current account doesn't charge fees. There's a good guide on MoneySavingExpert about the best (and worst) option for spending abroad. I think the best option is always a pre-loaded card though.

When I looked a year or so ago, the Nationwide CC (not sure on name) was the best/easiest option. Was recommended on MSE.

No fees on use in Europe, decent exchange rate, and no interest paid if you pay off within a month.

Virgin Money CC is free to use in EU, as is the Chase current account. I usually load a Caxton FX card with Euros for incidentals before we fly and withdraw the lot at the first free cash machine I see.

Starling card/account works well for us, load a decent amount of money into the account too as it pays interest.  No fees, daily exchange rate which seems to be the same or better than others I looked at and very user friendly app.

As for cash, unless you think you will need it as soon as you arrive, just get some out of an ATM with your fee free card.  Last couple of trips abroad, I used about €10 cash in a week in Spain, and no cash whatsoever for 4 days in Iceland

I'm just coming to the end of my 1% cashback period with my Chase card
https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/credit-cards/travel-credit-cards/

If you have the cash up front, rather than needing a credit card then it's probably the best option.

There are also no fees and decent exchange rates with Starling and Monzo.

Another Chase user here.

Veery happy so far. It's accepted all over Europe (not just the western parts), interest on your balance that's paid monthly. I've also used it all over Armenia & Turkey with few issues. Customer service has been great with the only issue being accessing large amounts of cash i.e to pay US dollars for high cost items/services in countries with high inflation.

Revolut is another popular card for people travelling across multiple countries or spending long periods of time abroad.

Another option is Curve with your existing card.

I used to use a halifax card but have binned it off now first direct don't charge any fees

We’ve also just switched to Starling  for all our banking.  It gives access to overseas cash at the interbank rates with no charges. Plus you can have multiple “virtual cards “ on your account, linked to different spaces within your account so you can track your spending. Very impressed.

Oops, earlier I said Nationwide - meant Halifax (post Xmas food and booxe brain!)

Not sure if it's still the best option though. Worth checking on MSE

I just use the same cards as I use here

I use Halifax credit for anything chargeable/car hire then pay off on return and Starling current A/c to pull money out of cash point whilst away if required.  No fees and money at FX rate.

Another vote for HSBC Global money. However, we've just had to close our account because HSBC has sold their French operations. 🙁

I just swapped my standard Barclaycard Platinum to Barclaycard Reward as I like to use a credit card for holiday spending. No fees on payment or cash withdrawal abroad, plus a bit of cashback.

Halifax Clarity. Used it for several years and it’s been good.

Another vote for Chase, particularly if you think you might want to withdraw cash overseas. Does need the app to manage the account though, if that's an issue for you.

Check your bank account - mine (Barclays) has a Euro Wallet option where you just top it up with £, it converts to Euros and then you can just pay exactly as you would in the UK and it takes it from the Euro Wallet with no expensive conversion at point of sale fees.

For cash I just get money at the Post Office in advance, the exchange is usually to within a cent of two of everywhere else. Except the airport - avoid those places and automatic cash converters!

For outside Europe, I used a Post Office card, it has a related app for top up. Worked fine in Australia except the exchange rate took a tumble (not in my favour!) when I was out there due to Liz Truss crashing the economy.

Barclays wallet has a margin on the conversion up to 4.25%. Fee free on purchases and cash withdrawals, yes, but the margin on loading the wallet makes it poor value especially for purchases. Worked out better using Nationwide credit card for purchases as it's fee free and visa rate. Though their debit card isn't fee free anymore even for cash unless you're on the Flex Plus account.

The Barclays wallet is convenient for cash and avoiding fees at ATMs if withdrawn in local currency matching the wallet, but still there's that margin on loading the wallet. Don't know how that compares to Revolut.

Take care with prepay card options at petrol stations, car rental and hotel deposit, as it will reserve money on the card that may not clear for days or weeks, blocking that money.

Also, cash withdrawal on credit cards, watch out as may not have interest free period even if fee free, so get charged interest from the day you take out cash.

But I try to use cards and avoid cash but a few European countries still like cash for a lot of things.

Curve / Revolut / HSBC Global Money.

I use mainly Curve and HSBC. The HSBC is probably more convenient if you already have your current account there as you can top it up within seconds.

I have Halifax charity for travel use.

I also use Monzo and since getting that the Halifax card hasn't seen much use at all. But I find it useful to have a backup.

We use wise card/ app. It’s really efficient and cheaper than using your bank debit card etc. basically you’re able to top up your wyse euro account on the app and then use the card abroad. They don’t really exchange the currency you use on the currency markets, rather use money from people in that country that are swapping their currency and vice versa so no currency exchange happens and hence less fees. It has worked for us for a couple of yrs, has an apple wallet card as well and a really solid app. Easy to keep track of spending as well…

Wise / wyse is a decent option, but the exchange rates are no better than what Chase/Starling/Monzo offer, and it can be a faff transferring the money in advance.

I've got a Nationwide flex plus account and CC so just use those.

Monzo. Is my main account anyway but can be used to pay for things and draw cash out (rarity) all over the EU, charge free. Loading up a prepaid card, or getting a euro specific account just for travels seems a bit… 2000s. 

Thanks all.

I'm with Barclays and have gone for the Rewards Credit Card.

Will get a decent wad of cash from the PO before we leave.

Will get a decent wad of cash from the PO before we leave.

Do you do this in the UK too - carry around loads of cash?

I just use the credit card I use in the UK (the one also on my phone).

I don’t bother getting any cash at all. Barclays travel wallet is great, you just use your own debit card or Apple Pay.