Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

hotels abroad

106 replies

Flute56 · 04/09/2023 20:46

I am going abroad on holiday and big hotels take a payment for any damages occured. I do not have a debit card as I lost it. I do not have a credit card. I only have cash. A friend of mine said the hotel need a card payment. They will not take cash. The travel agent said they will probably take a cash payment if I do not have a caard. Does anyone know. The agent said just because my friend said they will not accept cash literally means they will waive the fee and not take any payment/ The travel agent have emailed the hotel to ask

OP posts:
katscamel · 05/09/2023 03:38

You might be able to get a card pre-loaded with the currency you'll be using from exchange offices, post office, ASDA etc. These are used the same as debit cards and so would be ok to use in the hotel.
I got one for Canada loaded up with Canadian $s from ASDA and it took about 10 minutes to get...just remember to take passport.

OhDoh · 05/09/2023 03:44

If you have the banking app, can you see the new card number/expiry date that you can set up in apple/android pay? I've done this in the past when lost my card.

Flute56 · 05/09/2023 03:56

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

General money Holidays
junbean · 05/09/2023 04:01

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Wow, I’m stupid? I was just trying to help by thinking of places that might take cash. I think they were pretty good ideas. I took my time and energy to help problem solve for you. And you call me stupid. Wow. Also, hotels don’t charge until check in. Hope you have a wonderful trip 🫠

Original poster
Flute56 · 05/09/2023 04:04

junbean · 05/09/2023 04:01

Wow, I’m stupid? I was just trying to help by thinking of places that might take cash. I think they were pretty good ideas. I took my time and energy to help problem solve for you. And you call me stupid. Wow. Also, hotels don’t charge until check in. Hope you have a wonderful trip 🫠

Edited
Show quote history

what do you mean they dont charge until check in???

OP posts:
Original poster
Flute56 · 05/09/2023 04:08

you have actually made things worse. I do not have time or money to look for another accommodation

OP posts:
Mumdiva99 · 05/09/2023 04:16

Honestly I wouldn't go with no plastic.

There are too many places that no longer take cash. Even on the bus in Spain last week we needed cards to pay for the ticket.....

I remember losing my credit card before travelling to the US once. It was so inconvenient- this was 20 years ago. Fortunately I was in a group and was able to use someone else's and pay them back. But it impacted my spending as I didn't like to ask to often.

moresleepthanks · 05/09/2023 04:19

You sound pretty stressed OP.

Can you use another card to set up Apple Pay, my dc both have my credit card set up for their Apple Pay. Theirs will get them many places.

Take a cheque book if you have one, even without a card it is better than nothing.

You won't be the first person to have lost their card at a large hotel.

alwayscrashinginthesamecar1 · 05/09/2023 04:24

I don't think many hotels will accept a foreign cheque, especially without a card. Could the OP get anyone else to use their card to pay, as I can't think if any other way to get round needing one.

BarbaraofSeville · 05/09/2023 04:27

almostoverthehill · 05/09/2023 00:50

Like I say personal choice

Show quote history

But not having a credit card leaves a person open to many inconveniences that would easily be solved with a credit card, none of which involve spending money they don't have or getting into debt.

Unless a person has previous history of bad debt everyone should have at least two cards, preferably a credit and a debit card, from different banks and both of Visa and Mastercard.

OP you will find life very limiting without at least one payment card. Many places don't accept cash and if you only deal in cash, if its lost or stolen, then what will you do?

Just open a card from one of the challenger banks (Monzo, Kroo, Starling) after checking which will give you a virtual card straight away).

Original poster
Flute56 · 05/09/2023 04:31

moresleepthanks · 05/09/2023 04:19

You sound pretty stressed OP.

Can you use another card to set up Apple Pay, my dc both have my credit card set up for their Apple Pay. Theirs will get them many places.

Take a cheque book if you have one, even without a card it is better than nothing.

You won't be the first person to have lost their card at a large hotel.

what makes you think i lost my card at a large hotel. Have I ever said that? NO

OP posts:
alwayscrashinginthesamecar1 · 05/09/2023 04:34

Blimey.

Original poster
Flute56 · 05/09/2023 04:44

BarbaraofSeville · 05/09/2023 04:27

But not having a credit card leaves a person open to many inconveniences that would easily be solved with a credit card, none of which involve spending money they don't have or getting into debt.

Unless a person has previous history of bad debt everyone should have at least two cards, preferably a credit and a debit card, from different banks and both of Visa and Mastercard.

OP you will find life very limiting without at least one payment card. Many places don't accept cash and if you only deal in cash, if its lost or stolen, then what will you do?

Just open a card from one of the challenger banks (Monzo, Kroo, Starling) after checking which will give you a virtual card straight away).

Show quote history

never heard of these banks and I do not have time to faff around trying to work them out. I am so stressed up to the fducking max

I have had virtually no sleepl I want to cancel the whole holiday but i will lose the money.

My parents never had a credit card and they were fine. They had a debit card though and I think as long as you have a debit card you are ok, My parents grew up in a time where shops and restaurants took cash and my parents never went abroad and when they went on holiday in the uk they paid with debit card. My parents are both passed away but if they were still alive I do not think they would be able to function in the world as it is now because they were very set in their ways

OP posts:
Original poster
Flute56 · 05/09/2023 04:47

i am so fucking stressed

OP posts:
arielmanto96 · 05/09/2023 04:57

You've been given two good suggestions. Set up a virtual account, which you don't want to do. Fine. And ring the hotel and explain the situation and ask what their policy is.

There's nothing more anyone can say. I get that you're stressed, but snapping at posters who are giving up their time to offer solutions isn't on.

Original poster
Flute56 · 05/09/2023 05:05

i have had no sleep and have a headache through all this stress and I wish i had never booked this holiday

OP posts:
Caspianberg · 05/09/2023 05:21

You need a credit card usually, no just a debit card.

We are in a hotel now, we had to give a credit card details on check in not debit card. As they need to be able to take x amount out on credit if you run off without finalising bill or with high damages. which they can’t do with a debit
Its the same for car hire, credit card
needed. We don’t use credit cards for anything else bar as deposit insurance like in hotels.

It will be different in various hotels, but ours is all bills ie drinks, extra expenses like excursions go onto room number. When you check out you pay the final bill.

Its a mixture out and about, but many places are either cash only or card only, not both. On our drive here toll booths were now all card only, the stop off hotel was card only, and service station card only. We have an electric car and I think every electric charger out and about only has the option of card payment and operate machine via app. What would you do if you suddenly ended up in hospital abroad? Most won’t treat without a credit card added to Your name, as it can take time for insurance to confirm. So you start on credit card, and insurance refunds or then covers after.

You need a card. As others said revolut is easiest. You can do all the registering via app, they will FaceTime you for passport id etc, and you get a virtual card immediately you can use via your phone for hotel. And physical card will arrive within the week. You can get a debit and credit card via them

Original poster
Flute56 · 05/09/2023 05:40

how many more times do i need to say. I do not want a virtual card

OP posts:
Original poster
Flute56 · 05/09/2023 05:41

i do not use apps and I have not got an i phone so i cannot do face time

Jesus blooky christ I am having a nervous breakdown

OP posts:
WelcomeToMonkeyTown · 05/09/2023 05:41

You may not want one, but that might be your only option unless you're prepared to be turned away from a hotel in a foreign country !

WelcomeToMonkeyTown · 05/09/2023 05:43

You've asked people for help and keep saying how stressed you are.

You've been offered a solution but you don't want to do it.

What's the point of this thread ?!

CeeceeBloomingdale · 05/09/2023 05:55

There isn't anything you can do if you don't want to get a virtual car, prepaid card or ask the hotel. You seem to just want to snap at people who are trying to help. Go and see if they will let you check or don't go and lose your money appear to now be your options if you have ruled out the self help choices.

Caspianberg · 05/09/2023 05:56

Well yes, but that’s your options.

  1. you need to go in into actual bank with appointment and sort debit and credit card
  2. get a phone with internet. Get apps and virtual card - it’s quick
  3. use friends card if travelling with them and own them big time
  4. cancel

its 2023. It’s life now. Without phones with video, cards, apps, life is going to get very hard. I have just had to sort my 92 grandfather out with iPad as he can only make doctors appointments by app now, and needed camera for Face ID call for something important government wise. It’s was pretty easy, and he’s using it for loads of stuff for make life easier.

You can’t simply leave modern life, but also expect to continue benefiting from stuff like foreign travel without adjusting

Oftenaddled · 05/09/2023 06:11

Go into a post-office in person today and ask for one of these. Load it up with cash while you are in there. It will work wherever MasterCard are accepted

https://www.postoffice.co.uk/travel-money/card

Lots of other places and companies do them, but if you're stressed and just want to get on with a definite solution, this could be it.

I've travelled without a working card because I'm not an organised person. It was no fun pre-Covid - small things going wrong. It hasn't been possible since COVID without a smart phone. But one of these will sort things out for you I hope.

Travel Money Card - Prepaid Currency Card | Post Office®

Manage your holiday money easily and securely with Post Office Travel Money Card-accepted in 36 million Mastercard® locations worldwide. Order yours today!

https://www.postoffice.co.uk/travel-money/card

WildFlowerBees · 05/09/2023 06:22

Jesus op take a breath, you might be stressed but it's absolutely no excuse to be an ar*ehole to others trying to help you.

Call the hotel they will have your answer.