grez
Registered user
Caxton FX - used in Europe and the USA. Easy to use, load when the rates are good, one card does both. Allways carry some cash for when the banking system goes haywire or when in France (as the French are permenantly haywire).
Not too good in petrol stations which immediately charge 100 euro and then take goodness knows how long to refund the difference back to the card. I have four outstanding 100 euro charges on my Caxton Mastercard for petrol bought in France and Spain last week.The new Caxton Mastercard now copes with multiple currencies. Chose your currency. Load it up. Away you go.
Most of the replies here involve Europe, I would like to ask what do people use when travelling further afield ?
My daughter is doing a 12 month mega trip in the far east and Australasia. A lot of travelling and countries involved....Thailand/Malaysia/Cambodia/Vietnam/China/Hong Kong/Australia/NZ.....you get the picture....
She wants to know, which current account/debit card is best for withdrawing currency in and around the countries mentioned ? When I was travelling in the far east/Australasia (10/15 years ago) I used to use 'Maestro' which was on most debit cards. I never had any problems...I used to withdraw local currency, from any ATM, in any country. I can't remember the charges but I guess that suggests it wasn't that bad...
Any ideas ??.....Thank you.....
Same as listed above - most of the bank accounts listed above have no currency conversion charges or ATM fees regardless of location. For me that would mean using the Post Office credit card for purchases, paid off by direct debit each month. I also have a Santander Zero account for cash withdrawals but not available to new customers. For cash at ATMs then look at this one http://www.nandp.co.uk/current-account/ - seems to be top of the charts. Needs £500 a month paid in or pay £5 a month fee.
Can I use my Caxton FX card for security deposits such as hotels and car hire?
Do not use your Caxton FX card for any security deposits when you check into a hotel or hire a car. Use any other card (we suggest a credit card) and only use your Caxton FX card to settle the bill. When a card is used for security deposit, a block is put on the funds for the relevant amount on that card. Unlike a credit card your Caxton FX card holds a prepaid balance and the block will stop you from spending the deposit amount of your travel cash. A block can last for up to 30 days. Use any other card for the security deposit and your Caxton FX card when the payment transaction is required. The funds will still be pre-authorised on the other cards. If you have any questions regarding this, do not hesitate to contact us.
The dangers (and frustrations) of pre-authorised sums - for instance for reserving hotels or in automatic fuel stations - being debited against Caxton and other pre-loaded debit cards are well known and documented.
Caxton's own website carries notices about it.
Other useful info here: https://www.caxtonfx.com/faqs
Used properly, the cards are excellent.
As my previous ... buy your euro's at a favourable rate and pay cash.
Works wonders