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! 🙏🏻

€600 for how long?

It is what I spend in a month for absolutely everything...bills, transport, food, clothes for me and teen DD.

Where is he going? That is a lot of money in Spain for a 17 yo!

I just got my daughter a starling card to use in Spain. There are no fees for using ATMs abroad, or anything like that. I can transfer money in sterling and she can spend it in euros at the conversion rate on the day. Pretty impressed so far. Good app too. You pick your own PIN on set up so only have to wait for the card in the Post.

I use a Revolut card. It’s much better than being charged using a debit card

Why does your monthly outgoings have anything to do with what OPs son takes as spending money on holiday? The two aren't comparable. Most people would spend far more on holiday than they wouldbi an average week at home.

Thank you! That’s well worth knowing!

It’s really a pity that I’ve paid for adult fares for him but in the eyes of everyone else, he’s still a bloody child! Therefore, we’ll get stung for extra costs as he’s under 18, therefore can’t get most of these cards.

Actually wondering now whether he could have had a Post Office travel card anyway?

Off to Google while I decide what rubbish I can eat for tea (dinner)!

This!! Monzo are great

Starling Bank don't charge you on foreign transactions and you can track your spending on the phone app. Have used them across France and Scandinavia with no issues at all.

Honestly? Cash is king here. So the PP who asked about just giving him cash is correct. Could you find out what he owes for the B&B situation and pay that in advance?

He wont be allowed in nightclubs under 18 unless he has ID. In nightclubs it is cash.

DD 16, only uses cash, ever.

But, depends where you are going. I live in Valencia.

The old ‘bring back the change’ has been discussed! 😂

Monzo let you open an account at 16, online and very quickly.

because he is 17 and it is very cheap here. I am giving an idea of what 600 euros would cover.

Get a Revolut card for you. The basic online one. You then get digital cards that you load onto the phone wallet. Then create an extra card in the app, call it your DS name so you can keep track and give him the number etc to load into his phone wallet. Then you can see everything he spends as he spends it and top up any money. If he runs into any problems, you can freeze that card instantly and create a new one and call him with the new info.

You can have pounds, euros, and any other currency you want, so its good for any future trips abroad as well

Monzo is brilliant. Used it abroad several times. Post office card awful. Can't transfer the balance back without ringing my the bloody helpline. Feels like something out the 80s.

He’s going to be staying around 40 mins East of Girona airport with his friend’s family (who have lived there for years) so no B&B expenses. I don’t know the family that well, hence not wanting to bombard them with questions, plus, DS taking notes out in the evening fills me with 😬😬😬

Thank you. He’s going to be staying approx 40 mins east of Girona airport. I didn’t want to not give him enough. If it’s cheap as chips then I absolutely will slash the spends! 😆

Why is Revolut so popular?

Kroo pays interest on the money you have in the account.

Chase pays cashback on all debit card transactions

All of Kroo, Starling, Monzo and Chase are proper bank accounts with full UK protection as well as the best exchange rate and no fees. None require a credit check or regular deposit.

Revolut doesn't have the same protection and has some charges, yet is recommended quite often on here.

Get a Caxton card. It's a pre-pay with an app that you will be able to top up if needed. You can also load it with a range of currencies so can use it elsewhere in the future. https://caxton.io/travel-money/free-currency-card

East of Girona could either be cheap as chips, or a town full of expats and tourists where a lemonade costs 6€. I’d go on google maps and have a look at what type of establishments the town has, maybe you could get an idea that way.

Will they constantly eat out or is the plan to buy tonnes of crisps and cold drinks and stay in / by the pool chatting away?

Is it for a month?

Valencia is more expensive than where he is going (lovely where he is going!) To give you an idea, DD in the holidays (working and with pocket money) has about 70 euros a week and it is more than enough and she buys clothes!

For her "graduation" evening, she spent 40 euros in a nightclub and a bar and a short taxi ride. For example. She took 50 euros out with her.

A beer or coke in the day is 2 euros max.

Just trying to give an idea as I know cost of living in UK is crazy atm.

€600 euros would be absolutely more than fine for a month. If less, I would consider less and cash! Teens have cash here, not cards.

In Spain, Santander is a good shout if you want cash and can find a Santander cash machine because otherwise it's quite hard to withdraw cash without paying fees even from proper bank machines.

Plus their Edge and Zero products at least don't charge for overseas transactions. But I don't know if it's available to a 17 YO.

Planning on BBQ’s with the family, possibly a few restaurant trips out with them but the three friends will be out and about, at times, by themselves. Staying close to the Playa de Pals area.

It has to be guarenteed by an adult.

As your son banks with NatWest it might be worth him opening their new travel account which is linked to your debit card - application is via app and the account is opened instantly.

Hyperjar has no charges abroad and you can put money into pots so it's easy to stick to budget. App and card based. Got it for kids pocket money but we actually use it ourselves to keep birthday and treat money separate from main bank account.

OP, how long is this for?