Adventure Bike Rider Forum

Off on a 13 day trip in two weeks, my traveling buddies are taking a wad of euros ( split into smaller wads ) i was in the post office today and they was telling me about their pre loaded credit card, seems like a good idea, better excange rare, if lost or stolen can be replaced in 24 hrs. Free for the card and 2 euros per transaction. anyone used one or got an alternative suggestion. Cheers sid

We had a preloaded card for America a couple of years ago and had 2 problems .....1) not everywhere accepted that card and 2) some hotels charged a deposit which is refunded 10 days later which meant we ran out of credit on that card and when it was refunded we were already back home ...... feckin useless.
Cash and debit card is all I use now.

just take cash and a debit card, most petrol is card and hotel . the pre loaded card wont work every where they cant replace it in two days . just enjoy the holiday and stop over thinking it . the exchange rate wont matter as it changes all the time .

If you use these pre loaded cards at petrol station pumps , tolls , you'll quickly run out of cash as they take a set amount as deposit each time , can take up to 14 days to be put back , fortunately I checked the small print on the one we had and only used it for cash points , which was free , depending on the supplier you can get a better exchange which doesn't alter once loaded , but their use is limited

I wouldn't use Pre pay cards they're problematic, I rate than along side travellers cheques as a PITA and outdated due to the introduction of fee free cards. As there's still time to apply online for one before you go why see if you can get hold of a fee free card such as the Halifax clarity, and Santander Zero. Use the card for fuel purchases, hotels and tolls, then use cash for misc spending. Then use your debit card for ATM withdrawals along the way.

Just remember to inform the card issuers your going on holiday so they don't block the card abroad

Used one for a few years. No problems just don't use them at prepay petrol stations.

I just use my debit card, on which transactions are charged at 2½%, and if I want cash I draw some out of an ATM. Simple

The Halifax Clarity MasterCard was designed for foreign travel. No charges for transactions, business rate of exchange and no charge for drawing cash if you pay it off on the same day.

Another one with a Clarity card here. Recommended. I use whenever and wherever I can. A relatively small amount of cash then goes a long way.

Been using a caxton FX card for years now. Free and very easy to load more Euros in seconds if you run out.

Highly recommend

https://www.caxtonfx.com/currency-cards/