TRAVEL MONEY CARDS - EURO

Foreign Currency Cards are the most efficient and convenient way of spending your money while you are abroad.

What is a Foreign Currency Card?

Foreign Currency Cards, also known as Travel money cards and FX currency cards, are becoming the more popular method of spending your money while you are away. These cards are a great way to carry and spend money abroad; you can carry all your spending money on one convenient card. They are a much more secure alternative to carrying around large amounts of cash.

The way they work is that they are similar to prepaid cards. Funds are put into your card through a ‘top-up’ service where your money is then in the relevant currency for your trip. You will get some of the most competitive rates on the market.

What are the benefits?

There are additional bonuses of using a travel money card:

Travel cards can be used like any credit or debit card. You can use them in retailers, online and withdraw money from cash machines. With a foreign currency card you can avoid the charges of using your usual credit or debit card in another country and benefit from a lower exchange rate.

They are very secure as many cards come with a chip and pin feature to safeguard you against fraud and furthermore, your money is protected if you lose your card. If your card is stolen or gets lost any unused funds will be put on a replacement card and sent to you whereas you are unlikely to get any cash you lose or have stolen back.

You will be given an online account where you can top up your card, check your balance and even view your transactions. Most cards also come with a 24/7 helpline so you can check and top up your balance online, by phone, or text wherever and whenever is convenient for you.

Many cards are also reusable and can be used time and time again. This means you don’t have to worry if you don’t spend all of your money while on holiday, although you can ask for the money to be redeemed if you wish.

Great for Budgeting

These cards are great for budgeting. You set the amount that you want on the card and when this runs out you simply top it up with funds to use it again. You won’t risk going into debt with these cards because you can only spend the money you have loaded onto the card and there are no overdraft facilities. You also won’t receive any unwelcome bills when you return from holiday. This helps you stay in control of your spending while you are abroad.

There are no credit checks because you are not borrowing any money so anyone can get one.

How To Choose the card for you

You should choose the card that best suits you and your currency needs. Look at what currencies the card providers deal and decide how much you want to load onto the card. This will affect which card is best for you because all cards will come with a minimum and maximum load amount which can vary.

Card issuers may charge you for certain things look into this in advance. You may find that there are initial purchase fees with some cards. You can also be charged for making cash withdrawals and commission charges may apply.

Use the table above to compare different foreign currency cards.