Trip back to Blighty
 

Evening all.

If you were going back to the UK for a holiday, how would you access money whilst there? Would you use your Aussie Bank Account? I've heard you can get a card which you load up from Australia Post...thoughts anyone?

Cheers

Hazel

Re: Trip back to Blighty
 

Other options:

NAB gold banking = no overseas ATM fees.

28 degrees mastercard ($0 annual fee credit card preloaded with cash) = no overseas ATM fees

Re: Trip back to Blighty
 

Thanks bcworld.

Re: Trip back to Blighty
 

I have the 28 degrees card - it's the best card to use overseas

Re: Trip back to Blighty
 

I still have a UK account, just whack a few thousand dollars in it and bob's your uncle.

Re: Trip back to Blighty
 

if you still have a UK bank account, transfer the money there and withdraw it in the UK :thumbup: while smiling at the current exchange rate :o

Re: Trip back to Blighty
 

We always use a Travelex card

https://www.onlinetravelmoney.com.au/travelex/

You load money (online or in shops) directly from Aussie dollars to UK pounds. Then when you're here you use it wherever you see a VISA sign. AT ATM's, in shops, restaurants etc..

You pay absolutely no fees.

Re: Trip back to Blighty
 

Apart from an initially crap exchange rate?

Re: Trip back to Blighty
 

I just used an ANZ holiday cash visa card. Really easy to use, and they give you two in case you lose one. You can top it up online. http://www.anz.com/personal/travel-f...y/travel-card/

Commonwealth do them too.

Re: Trip back to Blighty
 

I use my visa debit/credit card. Don't have to worry about exchange rates as all transactions are converted to $Aus. No fees either.:thumbup:

Re: Trip back to Blighty
 

:confused:

Re: Trip back to Blighty
 

Why confused? Why would I worry when my expenditure in pounds would be converted to $Aus before being debited from my account?

Re: Trip back to Blighty
 

Well it was kind of a strange statement, everyone will have their transactions converted to AUD before they are deducted from their account - the question is what are the fees and how good is the ex rate - that is effectively what the OP wants to know I think, what is the best option. The 28 degree card charges no currency conversion fees. Which cards are you using that charge no fees?

Re: Trip back to Blighty
 

I've just left some of my pension in my UK bank account ready for our trip to the UK in September, so I can access it fee free using my debit card. Its been a double bonus as I've not had to cry at the piddling amount of dollars I get for it when I bring it here :D

Possibly not a lot of help to you though :)

Re: Trip back to Blighty
 

Visa debit from a credit union and the exchange rate is usual better than that given by others with no fee.

Re: Trip back to Blighty
 

Actually when we loaded it was the second best rate. The first best you had to take as cash and we didn't want that amount of cash on us.

Given there are no fees this card definitely wins for us.

Re: Trip back to Blighty
 

Thanks OneSmallVoice, I think this is the one we'll use. Just one other question, do you know what the difference is between the Visa ATM card and the Visa Debit card? Wouldn't they both be the same? Also, was there a fee for closing the 'account' at the end or do you just make sure there's nothing left!

Cheers

Hazel

Re: Trip back to Blighty
 

I would have thought that a Visa ATM is possibly just for ATM's where a Visa debit could be used in an ATM or wherever you see a VISA sign (ie: restaurants, shops etc..). is there some literature on each card on the travelex site?

Edit: all the info about the different cards is here http://www.cashpassport.com/1/en/au/...Cash-Passport/

When we ordered our first Travelex card (which we just top up each time we visit) we only had the option of a Visa card which we used everywhere in Australia.

I would sign up for online access with the Travelex card. That way you can see your transactions and ensure nothing looks dodgy. Set yourself up for online banking also so you can transfer any money if applicable from your Aussie account onto your travelex card. We did this as once I was paid halfway through our holiday and rather than taking money out of an ATM in Australia, I just transferred it free of charge onto my Travelex and it ws there the next day.

You will be charged a fee if you don't use the card within a certain amount of time - it may be a year or two years I can't remember (we use ours every year so haven't had this problem). All you have to do is make sure the balance is zero and close the account - check the T&C's.

have fun!