Is monzo best for travel?

[Butteredradish3]

Looking to get a card for travelling to America. Previously colleagues used the prepaid monzo but see that was done away with years ago and it’s now a bank account. Looked at Sainsburys and Ramsdens too but a lot of reviews with issues like card being blocked etc. Just wondering if any tips on what to go for? Thanks

I used a Revolut card and account on my trip to Florida last year, it was brilliant. You can have one account with multiple currencies, and move money from.one currency to another really easily. I had no trouble at all with it, and the app is really good.

Fab thanks will have a look. I’m not the best at knowing what to go for and the most important thing is it’s reliable! Would hate to put half my money on it and then be stuck unable to use it, some of the reviews were giving me the fear. We are staying at an air BnB so no safe thought a card would be a good way to go!

I have a Monzo account and have used my debit card and Apple Pay in America on two separate trips in the last year without any issues. The app is also great. Would definitely recommend.

Starling bank. No fees to use it abroad, higher cash amount you can withdraw each day, excellent app.
Revolut has only just got Bank status and your money wouldn’t yet be covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme.

Monzo is great, no charges for paying with your card and you can take out an amount of cash (I can’t remember exactly, I think £200-£250 a day - more than I’d ever take out anyway!) without being charged as well. Never had any issues with my card being declined

Thanks that’s brilliant. Feel with mono I’ve known so many people who have used it although it was the prepaid so feels safer. I was just on starlings website there! Good to know I didn’t have a clue about that. Not very financially minded other than the basic stuff!

I love Monzo! Never had any problems using it abroad. When you're back using Sterling , it sends you a summary of what you've spent abroad which is useful.

Monzo is fab and their app is the best banking app I've used yet

I have both Monzo and Starling. Both are the right answer

There's Kroo, Chase, Starling, Monzo, Revolut and some bank and credit cards such as a few of the Santander ones, Halifax, Barclaycard and more.

This has expanded quite a lot post covid likely because the main banks have seen people move away from their accounts that overcharge. Moneysavingexpert has a good article discussing the ins and outs of the most common cards.

I like Kroo because it pays over 3% interest on the balance and use it as a general spending account both here and abroad.

Whichever card you choose, make sure you always pay in the local currency as you'll often be given the choice to pay in pounds which traps you into a ripoff exchange rate.

Main bank is Santander who charge per transaction for foreign use of current account debit card. However they gave me a Zero credit card which has no foreign use charges so that's my go to tool in the US or Euroland. Mrs B has a second card on that account.

We both have Barclaycards which are useful as a back up.

Tried pre-paid but acceptance is a bit of a lottery. French motorway tolls for example would not accept them.