Do you use credit card or get EURO's for holiday abroad?

[system2319]

HI all,

Been ages since we went abroad, it was the time that you used travellers cheques!

We are off to Lanzarote in August, do we get a card to make payments or get EURO's (and from where?)

Sure I saw a thread yesterday that asked more or less the same question but I am unable to locate the thread!

Thanks all

I use Revolut.

On the back of this thread (and moneysavingexpert.com) I've just set up a Revolut account.

I use a Revolut card in Euro

Always always a credit or debit card with free withdrawals / use of different currency. We use Starling or Halifax Clarity. No charges and you get the best rate. We sometimes take out some euros when we arrive in the country at a local ATM, this is free but we only do this if the country uses cash (like Greece). We travel every few weeks and rarely take cash.

We have taken some Euros and our credit/debit cards are fee free for purchases abroad (Nationwide I think) - we're in Lanzarote right now

One option that hasn't been mentioned I don't think is a Currensea card. It is not a bank card - it is a travel card that is linked to your bank account. No fees and it is one of MSE's recommendations. I have a Halifax Clarity card but have one of these as a back up as my other cards aren't as competitive on cash withdrawals, and a fair few places I go like cash. But you can also use it like a debit/credit card to pay directly for goods.

Another Halifax Clarity Card user here, no fees.
Small amount of cash.

I use a currency card (Revolut)

Been abroad 3 times this year so far and managed completely fine without any cash at all.

Thank you all. Went for the Halifax Clarity card in the end. Will get some cash exchanged before we go also.

We have Starling bank accounts anyway so just use our normal debit cards abroad. We’ve been abroad 4 times this year and haven’t used cash once.

Never a credit card to withdraw money, use your debit card for that.

We have some cash with us or use a cash machine when needed. Paying by card can be expensive as every transaction means you by a fee. Fee-less cards often have less-good exchange rates to make up for the costs. I must admit, I just use my normal card, I don't want a variety of cards with me.

Pre-paid cards - check if you can add funds on them and also check how to block the card/get your money back if they are stolen.

I wouldn’t be afraid of using a credit card to withdraw cash from an ATM as long as you pay the amount off asap. The interest you get charged will be negligible.

I've ordered the Halifax Clarity Card for my holiday too. However, I also have a good amount of cash too. My reason for this is that, when I was abroad in Austria, my card wouldn't work when I went to draw money out/purchase anything. The bank staff didn't speak good English and I only managed to get some cash because my mum was with me and she used her card.
When I got back to the UK it turned out my card number had been used fraudulently and traced back to a garage I'd filled my car up just before I left to go abroad. The credit card company had suspended the card. I'd have been screwed if my mum hadn't have been with me - hence why I now take cash and a card.

I just used my normal bank debit card, didnt draw any cash out.