Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

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:
RLmadmum · 05/09/2023 09:22

OP, you are beimg unnecessarily and ridiculously rude to people who are giving you helpful suggestions. I appreciate that you're stressed, but there is absolutely no need to be calling other people stupid and ripping their heads off. Especially when they are perfectly viable suggestions but you won't even consider them because you don't want to. Therefore I'm struggling to comprehend why you've posted on here for help? Was you hoping the magical card fairy would pop up from MN audience and grant you your wish of a debit card ASAP?

Jeez, I'd this is how you speak to people online, I would hate to see you interact with friends and family. Your lack of preparation doesn't become everyone's priority, especially when you're being this rude.

Heyhoherewegoagain · 05/09/2023 09:26

Flute56 · 05/09/2023 08:31

for the umpteenth time and for the benefit of those who are confused. I only have a debit card. I lost it so I had to order a new one. At the same time i ordered a CREEDIT card

Is this clear enough for anyone reading. I have said all this before.

Now i have to work and then have an appointmet and I do not want a virtual card

end of

Then it looks like you’re screwed. I understand you’re stressed, I would be too, but people have tried to help you and you’ve been completely arsey to them.
Good luck with your holiday

JustWhatWeDontNeed · 05/09/2023 09:31

You've already been recommended to go and get a Post Office Travel Money Card. Do that. Or don't.

Most places want a credit card to insure themselves against you causing damage or running up a huge tab. A debit card doesn't offer them the same protection as they're limited by your bank balance. Personally, I consider credit cards a basic financial necessity. I have a Halifax Clarity which doesn't charge for overseas transactions.

I wouldn't expect a hotel to take a cash security deposit, but they might. You'd have to contact them directly.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

General money Holidays
Original poster
Flute56 · 05/09/2023 09:54

update. Just had a phone call from the travel agents. They said the hotel told them to tell me that because I have no plastic card they will allow me to pay cash. They also said that because I booked through a travel agent and not direct to the hotel they do not need me to show a plastic card before they can check me in and besides I do not have a card to show them anyway. So its all sorted and I feel better

As for a virtual credit card on the phone, my friend said it is dangerous and she would never do it because if you lose your phone someone can take your phone and copy the ap and take all your money and then just dump the phone so I said to her would you ever get a virtual card and she said never

OP posts:
AuntieMarys · 05/09/2023 09:55

Flute56 · 05/09/2023 09:54

update. Just had a phone call from the travel agents. They said the hotel told them to tell me that because I have no plastic card they will allow me to pay cash. They also said that because I booked through a travel agent and not direct to the hotel they do not need me to show a plastic card before they can check me in and besides I do not have a card to show them anyway. So its all sorted and I feel better

As for a virtual credit card on the phone, my friend said it is dangerous and she would never do it because if you lose your phone someone can take your phone and copy the ap and take all your money and then just dump the phone so I said to her would you ever get a virtual card and she said never

You clearly should listen to your friend

BIWI · 05/09/2023 09:59

Why bother to ask Mumsnet then, if your friend is so wise?

FFS. You have been so rude to people here who have only been trying to help you.

G5000 · 05/09/2023 10:02

so your friend was wrong when she said you can't check in without a card. But still unqestionable authority as far as virtual cards go.

Heyhoherewegoagain · 05/09/2023 10:05

Flute56 · 05/09/2023 09:54

update. Just had a phone call from the travel agents. They said the hotel told them to tell me that because I have no plastic card they will allow me to pay cash. They also said that because I booked through a travel agent and not direct to the hotel they do not need me to show a plastic card before they can check me in and besides I do not have a card to show them anyway. So its all sorted and I feel better

As for a virtual credit card on the phone, my friend said it is dangerous and she would never do it because if you lose your phone someone can take your phone and copy the ap and take all your money and then just dump the phone so I said to her would you ever get a virtual card and she said never

You could always think about looking after your property and not losing things!!

Original poster
Flute56 · 05/09/2023 10:11

I do look after my property. I lost my debit card in a faulty cash machine. I put my card in the machine to get some cash and it retained the card. Not my fault

OP posts:
SagittariusDwarf · 05/09/2023 10:12

God you're so rude. Have a lovely holiday 😆😆😆

Original poster
Flute56 · 05/09/2023 10:15

I no longer trust random cash machines. They are dodgy. There is a cash machine outside my local train station. I never use it for obvious reasons. From now on if i want cash I will get cash back from a supermarket when I shop or go to a cash point that is attached to a bank so if the card is eaten up all I do is contact the bank and they can open up the machine and get the card out

OP posts:
BIWI · 05/09/2023 10:17

JFC your daily life must be hard.

kipperba · 05/09/2023 10:23

Flute56 · 05/09/2023 10:15

I no longer trust random cash machines. They are dodgy. There is a cash machine outside my local train station. I never use it for obvious reasons. From now on if i want cash I will get cash back from a supermarket when I shop or go to a cash point that is attached to a bank so if the card is eaten up all I do is contact the bank and they can open up the machine and get the card out

Based on your understanding of online banking, I'd recommend cash under the mattress.

And based on your understanding of human decency, I'd recommend hanging on to your friend with all the great advice, as you may struggle to make more in the future.

DupontsYellowDressingGown · 05/09/2023 10:36

Don't forget to pack your tin hat OP, that is if you've not lost that as well.

rookiemere · 05/09/2023 10:53

I'm very glad you got it sorted OP, but for your own sake you may want to embrace modern technology a bit more going forward. It's actually more dangerous going round with wads of cash than using a smartphone and apps for your transactions, or at least something like a Wise card which is a debit card you can use abroad.

You sound very much like my DM who is in her 80s, but I'm guessing you are a lot younger than that.

RLmadmum · 05/09/2023 11:00

DupontsYellowDressingGown · 05/09/2023 10:36

Don't forget to pack your tin hat OP, that is if you've not lost that as well.

Now this had me giggling away 🤣

almostoverthehill · 05/09/2023 11:00

Bloody hell what a head case 😱

Wiii · 05/09/2023 11:01

Your friend seems as fruitloopy as you.

Let's hope nothing else goes wrong because I'm pretty sure you'll spontaneously combust.

Bomba · 05/09/2023 11:08

"As for a virtual credit card on the phone, my friend said it is dangerous and she would never do it because if you lose your phone someone can take your phone and copy the ap and take all your money and then just dump the phone so I said to her would you ever get a virtual card and she said never"

You sound a right couple of bright sparks 🤣 have a great holiday OP wherever you're going on earth, just don't fall off the end of it will ya?

fluffiphlox · 05/09/2023 11:14

If only we knew where you were going, we could warn them. Blimey.

kipperba · 05/09/2023 11:19

Bomba · 05/09/2023 11:08

"As for a virtual credit card on the phone, my friend said it is dangerous and she would never do it because if you lose your phone someone can take your phone and copy the ap and take all your money and then just dump the phone so I said to her would you ever get a virtual card and she said never"

You sound a right couple of bright sparks 🤣 have a great holiday OP wherever you're going on earth, just don't fall off the end of it will ya?

Don't fall off the end of it 😂 that's me done

greyhairnomore · 05/09/2023 11:38

Good luck on holiday with no card. What are you going to do if you lose your money ? Or run out ? Or get robbed ?

Yalta · 05/09/2023 11:48

*Flute56

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

This isn’t about what you want. It is about what you need.

You are quite within your rights to say “you don’t want” and that is ok.
But you can’t expect the rest of the world to pander to your wants.

Your parents lived in a different era. Stop trying to compare even 5 years ago with how the world works today.

It is 2023 not 1983 the world has moved on. Stop trying to emulate your parents lack of flexibility. Get yourself a new phone, download the apps it will make your life easier and cheaper.

For your most pressing problem, phone the hotel, ask what their policy is and discuss alternatives and get to an exchange place and do what a pp said and get them to load your holiday money into a card with an extra amount for stuff you would usually charge to the room/damages etc

Stress is caused by not being in control. Time to take control.

drivinmecrazy · 05/09/2023 11:53

Do supermarkets still do cash back?
Every day is a learning day!

BarbaraofSeville · 05/09/2023 11:55

Yes. I only know this because I've only just started using a debit card in the supermarket after a couple of decades of using a credit card for the points.

I now have a debit card that gives more cashback and pays interest on my current account and now I see that if I pay by debit card at the do it yourself till, it offers cashback, when obviously it never did when paying by credit card.