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! 🙏🏻

Two weeks 😃

Oh my good god!

He needs 250 euros cash MAX!!! 😅

Yeah they’ll all work but likely she will get a nasty surprised when she finds out she was charged £1-3 on every transaction

first direct and hsbc debit cards don’t charge

Strange! It’s always worked fine for me, including in Spain.

This is why I love Mumsnet! Really?

It’s been a really long time since I went abroad! 😂🤣

Starling is the best card I’ve used abroad. Monzo and revolut are ok but can have limits/no protection etc. starling is UK based, no fees, no withdrawal limits and quick to set up. I’ve heard chase are also very similar to the starling card

We’re contributing to his food etc at his friend’s relatives house but I really didn’t know how much to give him for spends! 😆

As an update just saw he’s with NatWest, they’ve just launched a travel card have a look into it!

he is 17 though. None of these are available to u18’s.

unless o/p signs up in her name and lets him use it. Which could cause problems if it’s stolen or cloned.

I dont know how anyone could possibly spend 600 euros in 2 weeks at 17 years old where he is going!

I can imagine the family bbqs, trips to beach and nights out in local town where he will need 20 euros if he buying him and his friend a couple of drinks!

You will get change from 250 euros and he will need cash. Fewer and fewer atms here plus, bars take cash! Beach bars will only take cash.

He should offer to pay 20 euros if in a restaurant out (and that would be generous) and the family will not accept it. Even if they do... he will have loads of money, but a card will not be much use!

monzo.com/features/16-plus/

Monzo is fine for 17 year olds

I'd think how much does he need per day. Is he contributing to a food bill? Buying a gift at the end for the family? Souvenirs? Travel costs?
I'd do £30 a day so £420

Chase bank

The natwest travel account is the best option. You use your normal card but move some money to your travel account. Then while abroad it becomes your default account. U can also withdraw cash free of charge I believe.

You can sign up at 16 for starling, before that it’s a starling kite account. I believe monzo has something similar

You need cash here. seriously. Teens do not have cards.

OK would go with 400 EUROS not pounds, if you are an absolutely paranoid mother (like we all are)

So 400 euros ish, in cash. (340 pounds) 20 euro denominations.
Say you expect 100 euros back!!! 100 euros is for emergency.

https://www.natwest.com/life-moments/travel/spending-abroad/travel-account.html

Thank you!

I’m used to the cost of living here currently, plus not having any idea how expensive it is in this area. Didn’t want DS to struggle with minimal spends and then me (embarrassingly) needing to either message his friend’s DM, to send her a bank transfer so that she could give DS the cash. That’s why I was hoping a travel card could be a better option, then I could just top it up with an amount I had my eye on.

Thank you! Will look into this!

Will speak to DS tomorrow and see if he can check this on his app.

Thank you for all of your tips! Cash is definitely welcomed in the area?

€250 for two weeks is ridiculous. That is less than €20 a day

He is 17, not 7. I would assume that he will be taking his host family for dinner at least once as a thank you for their hospitality? That could be at least €100 depending on how many of the family are there

I would go closer to €500 and that includes dinner for the family

Chase, opens quickly online, no charges, do on phone. But give him plenty of cash as Europe is much less card-based

Monzo and then set Apple Pay to use it. You can also set up daily spend etc on it. My children like it so much they both use it (through Apple Pay) at their UK unis.

We’re on 3rd po travel card and never had any issues. Though if you leave a euro balance its not really worth converting it back.
also worth noting 1st direct don’t have overseas transaction charges if he ever wants to change banks.
overseas charges are around 3%

I don’t think anyone (teens or others) use cash or card - everyone uses Apple Pay - my teens (well one not teen anymore) haven’t used any tease for years (at home and abroad).

We all use Revolut