Is it better to take Euros on holiday or debit card

[Londongirl888]

Just that really got one of those pre paid Thomas cook cards but it charged you every cash transaction. Thanks!

Personally I would use money, I'd never bother with a prepaid paid card thingy, why would you? Now I use USD. Holidays in Spain I used my usual debit cards at ATMs.

Just use your debit card in local ATMs.

I like to have a bit of cash, but you can just take some out at the airport when you get there.

Using a cash point, I mean.

I have a monzo account. They don’t charge for foreign currency transactions and I like their app if I use my phone to pay (it tells me immediately what I have spent in pounds).

Get a Revolut card, no fees and best exchange rate.

I use monzo

I take some cash (I work by a branch of Thomas Exchange Global which has guaranteed best rates in London) and then put major items on credit card for the consumer protection and cashback, and aim to take cash out once or twice only. Other options might save a couple quid but not worth the hassle.

Don't use your usual debit card for cash or payments abroad without checking what the fees are. Most of them are extortionate.

Even pre paid cards and fee free travel credit cards charge for cash withdrawals. Just take cash.

Thanks everyone. I thought cash was the best option and I thought using your debit card was expensive at ATM. So might be okay for meals and shopping? I hope!

We take some cash and use our nationwide debit card for withdrawals as it is fee free and then use the nationwide credit card for purchases as it is fee free for them.

It depends on the particular card you have as to what the costs would be

Check out moneysavingexpert. I believe the best thing to do is get a Halifax credit card and weirdly use it for cash withdrawals

I would get a Halifax platinum card. Allows free cash withdrawals, use in shops etc.

Monzo / revolut / starling are good to use abroad
Atm transactions depend on the individual bank / machine - some do try to charge. Just reject card and try somewhere else
Choose to pay in local currency when using a card to pay

I usually take a mix of cash and use a Halifax clarity card - no fees and exchange rate is always good

I use a WeSwap card.

Read the moneysavingexpert guide. Starling is probably the best now, saves a fair bit over cards that charge and some places overseas still charge for credit cards but not for debit cards.

Halifax clarity credit card. It gives you the best exchange rates and no fees for withdrawals or card transactions abroad.

Halifax credit card. Free withdrawals abroad from ATMs. No charge if you pay it all, when you return home.

wetransfer is another good one - it sets up local bank accounts in whatever country so you can use them transaction free with the supplied debit card, and lets you push £ over to whatever other currency with very minimal transaction charges.

Yep I use the Halifax credit card but always take £100 or so in cash because I've had a couple of experiences at smaller airports of not being able to easily get money out for a taxi or whatever and it's a pain.

Thanks everyone some good options. Sound like a mix is the way to go. 

Iv used a pre paid Thomas Cook card twice when visited America. Also took some cash too. I never had a problem with using this card. Thought it was a good idea so not to have loads of cash on me.

Revolut is good for keeping track of spending, with no fees. Or a Tandem cc - no fees and you get cashback. I wouldn't use either for cash withdrawals though- I take a small amount of cash with me and pay for as much as possible on Revolut/Tandem. Just use cash for v small amounts or places that don't take cards.