Paying by card in Spain

[bigchanges1]

We’re off to Spain & I’m wondering what is currently the best way to pay while there.

Gone are the days of travellers cheques 😊

Does anyone have advice for what’s the best choice please - bank debit card, barclaycard, cash or a credit card specifically for travelling?

When we went to Menorca we found that there was 2 bus companies, one only took cash the other only cards. We got on the 'card' bus one day, then tried to pay by card to go somewhere else but couldn't, so had to let the bus go, and then find some cash so we could go on our day out.

I’m surprised by that @Bjorkdidit
I thought TIB was the only bus service. One learns something new everyday!

I live in Spain. I can't remember the last time I used cash. I use my phone everywhere

We have a Barclays account and set up a travel wallet so that all spending money came out of that, that way you don't pay charges on the money you spend from your wallet, then just change it back after

I have a ‘Currensea’ debit card for all my overseas travel. It links to your own bank account so you don’t actually have to ‘add’ money to it, just use as normal when you’re away and it then converts to Sterling and takes that amount out of your normal account. There is no charge for this.

We just use cards, cash or phone wherever we go. Cards will be a mixture of bank debit/credit cards or Monzo. We have some cash too. I take some out with us but if more is needed we get some at a local ATM machine.

I do the same always fine

I always use Monzo. No fees and if you're splitting your spends into days, the pots make it super easy.

We are away for months atva time and use Starling card as much as possible, have a bit of cash in local currency just in case. Exchange rate is always great.

Monzo 100%. It’s no faff at all to set up and is far and away the easiest and cheapest way to do it. (Revolut/Starling are basically the same but Monzo has the best user friendliness I find). All free to use and everyone I’ve converted to this has never gone back to any other way.

We’ve used Monzo for the last few years, it’s so easy to use abroad and there are no charges. It comes with an App so you can keep an eye on what you are spending . Usually gives a much better rate of exchange than you get here.

I have found their exchange rate to be very competitive also.

Whatever’s you use, have more than one with you.

We have Nationwide accounts which do charge fees so we use the visa credit card for purchases and debit card for cash withdrawals.

but we also always take out Mastercard as well for emergency. That one charges a fee but it’s good insurance if something goes wrong.

we are often in the EU zone so always have some cash flying around at home.

Monzo has completely transformed the way I bank and save. I initially opened it to use abroad but now I have my wages paid into it.

As @YouBelongWithMesays the pots are fantastic. You can open as many as you want to save for your holiday spends and not have to open a separate savings account - plus it's 4% interest.

Revolut do free card transactions in the EU - I always use this card when travelling, just transfer money in £ from my bank account and use it/withdraw in € with no fees

Rbs is good. Travel account and you can put in or take out to whichever currency it is.

Valencia recently updated it's transport system to allow contactless card payments on public transport.

I second Monzo or Revolut. I use my Revolut card all over Europe. I have various pots on the app, which I save into whenever I get paid, and then withdraw just before my holiday

I think I only spent something like €20 cash the last time we were in Majorca. Even the markets accepted card