DS going to Spain soon. Please tell me THE best way of paying while he’s out there. Had been told about the Post Office Travel money card but recent reviews on the app don’t fill me with confidence.

[Elle7]

Apologies, asking here for traffic as it’s been some years since I went abroad!

DS is going to Spain next week and will be staying with his friend’s family.

I’m going to send him with some Euros but rather than using his bank card while he’s out there is there a better option? Have been told about the Post Office travel card, which we could add money to but the recent reviews state how glitchy the app is.

Any tips would be very gratefully received!

I’ll buy you all a ‘virtual’ ice cream as a thank you! 🙏🏻

My 2 daughters and son have used the post office travel card more than once. it is great. It even links to your phone. When they have been saving cash for their holiday spending they can take the cash to post office and put onto card.

I always use Monzo

Revolut is great - you can keep any money left on it and change it to a different currency in the future.

Don’t top up on a Sunday though as it seems to charge on Sundays.

17, and we’re (hoping) spends around £600 🫣😬 but with change.

He’s staying with his friend’s relative so no hotel, B&B extras to navigate. Just exploring funds.

Revolut don’t have a UK banking license and your money isn’t covered by the FSCS but they are a bank in several European states and they are regulated by the FCA.

Another vote for Monzo

Some cash but not a wad of it. 🤣

Revolut is the best and he should choose to pay in Euros.

It's easy to open with a passport.

Revolut card. You can top it up for him remotely as and when he needs funds. It can also be immediately blocked from the app if he should lose it, which would be my main concern.

He has Apple Pay but he will still incur NatWest Bank charges (I would imagine) when using it abroad.

A starling card would be brilliant for this. Recommended by Martin Lewis. No fees etc for using abroad.

We use the Post office card and not had problems.
Sometimes the contactless doesn't work so you need to put your PIN in, but that works fine.

I got myself a chase card in under a week after discovering my banks were some of the worst for foreign use (per transaction fee plus % for card use; withdrawal fee for cash; and rubbish exchange rate)
I have to say, it's been very easy to use. I have an app and I use it as my main account now as I also earn cashback on purchases. The only thing I would say is that to keep the foreign exchange benefits you have to pay in £1500 a month (I don't think you do for the first year though). So might not be feasible long term for your son.

If he’s under 18 he won’t get revolution, travel money cards, or many others recommended here.

i have never managed to find one.

Chase card

We use fairfx and have always found it very good. No charge for purchases and good conversion rates, but does (iirc) charge for ATM withdrawals. App is pretty user friendly, and works with Apple wallet.

Get a Chase, Monzo or Starling account

Revolut or Monzo, then no charges. App very handy at tracking expenses so he could check it each evening to see where he’s at and learn a bit of budgeting in the process (unless he’s already amazing at that ).

A family member had trouble with the Wise card in Spain in some places last time we went.

My Starling card worked everywhere and no fees as you get the standard MasterCard exchange rate.

I use Monzo abroad, never had an issue. Revolut's CEO is a total arse.

Starling is also an option. I've used a Post Office card before and it was fine.

DD 17 has just returned from Madrid (Metallica concert) and just used her debit (Maestro) card.

All the digital banks are good and offer better rates than using UK bank debit card.
While they don’t charge fees for withdrawing cash there will be a fee at the “hole in the wall” that you’re drawing from- anything from €1.80 to €7.50 per transaction 😳
For an under 18, you may have to apply in your name,
credit the account and give him the card. Wise do a digital card if you don’t get the actual card in time.

I use a starling card

We got ds a Revolut card to go to Spain last month. It came very quickly - about 48 hrs from application.