DD (16) travelling abroad alone- how should she take money?

[OwlMother]

Dd (16) is going to Paris at half term to stay with a friend and her family. When we go abroad I just use my debit card ( fee free foreign transactions) but looking hers up online it seems an expensive way to do it. I don't really want to give her one of my cards- I have friends that do this.

Has anyone found a good solution for under 18s?

Can you get a preloaded card from the travel agent?

I may be being stupid, but is it the same as a gift card? Like if you lose it, it can't be replaced?

Try a WeSwap card. I use it for all foreign holidays and it works brilliantly. You can download the app and see where money is being spent (and top up if needs be). Works any where that accepts MasterCard via contactless and chip and pin

There isn’t a good option- i’ve checked as i also have an under 18 lone traveller.

I give mine mainly cash, with one of my currency cards as back up.

The only other option is you use her debit card but costly fees.

Revolut card! It's a prepaid card that comes with an app so you can top it up/freeze it if you lose it, and has the same exchange rate as the banks & no charges for using it abroad. Best thing ever, costs £5.

Try a WeSwap card. I use it for all foreign holidays and it works brilliantly. You can download the app and see where money is being spent (and top up if needs be). Works any where that accepts MasterCard via contactless and chip and pin smile

Do the t&c’s say it can be used by under 18’s?

Sorry posted too soon. Not sure if she will be allowed her own one at 16 or if it would be registered to you but would think it's a better option than being without a bank card for a week.

I work for a high street travel agent and we do Pre Paid currency cards. They work exactly like a debit card and you get 2 in case one gets lost/damaged or stolen!

They're widely accepted especially in European countries and work anywhere you see the MasterCard symbol free of charge, just a small fee for withdrawing money out of the ATM. Great and most importantly safe way to take money abroad.... when I'm selling them I always say "you wouldn't walk down your local high street with between £200-£1000 in your bag/pocket why would you do it on holiday?" As she's quite young too it might be a good way for her to feel in control of her money

Hope this helps and If you want more details please do PM me

You can get pre-loaded cards from most bureau de change, including ones in supermarkets. They are easy to top up on a daily basis and you can transfer the balance back to your account if she loses it, providing she tells you before someone spends on it. I've used them in the past, I think it was called cash passport.

Just checked- over 18 for weswap....

When DS went we got a Sainsbury's one. Two cards, easy to use app we could both access too.

Have a look at Monzo card.

Hope this helps and If you want more details please do PM me smile

Do you know of one that allows under 18’s to have their own card?

Mastercard generally is over 18’s.

I’m looking for one she can have in her own name- she could borrow mine but it wouldn’t pass an id challenge as names are different and she’s under 18.

Account holder had to be 18+ but second card had no name so registered to DH and used by DS.

Sainsburys and monzo are over 18’s.

Monzo?

O/p looks like you’re just going to get people recommending currency cards generally and not answering the question of whether they’re available to an under 16.

If you do find one let me know

If you get a Caxton fx currency card, anyone over 13 can be the second card holder.

Can't you transfer money to the friends parents and ask them to withdraw it for her when she gets there?

Monzo or Caxton.

My DD14 has a Nationwide account with her own debit card/online banking, I’d open her an account.

Moneycorp has pre loaded cards that can be used all over. If lost, the money remains on the account and the card needs a PIN to be used. I think ours used it before they were eighteen.

From what I've read she can't have a monzo card, I'll look into the prepaid ones mentioned and see what they say about under 18s.

I don't really want to involve the friends parents- I don't know them and we've only exchanged a few texts. Worse case scenario, I'd rather take the hit on the transaction charges.

After a bit of googling the Nationwide Flexone account looks like a good option, no fees that I can see.

Revolut card. They will provide to under 18's with special T&c's but we just gave ds one of our cards. We preloaded the card and then he messaged us if he needed a top-up.

Jkscot4 that must be the one I'm looking at. Dd has her own debit card etc at the moment but the bank it's with has really high charges.