When I go travelling around Europe, I am wanting to put a lot of the things like Hotels, Fuel, Food etc on my Credit Card so I dont have to carry loads of cash.

I currently have a Halifax one, which is a MasterCard. Are these accepted as much as Visa?

Is there a better card I should maybe apply for which gives me more protection?

Do they use Chip and Pin, or do you still sign for things?



Any other advice about using it abroad would be much appreciated  
 

Thanks

Dunno but I used my mc fine in the states - most places I went to you sign for stuff.

Only thing to watch out for is if the exchange rate changes between purchase and the bill you pay the exchange rate at the time of the bill. Well on mine you do anyway and it sucks.

MC is just as accepted as Visa dont worry. Youll use either pin or sign. I use my cards all the time when in Europe.

Cool, cheers guys.

Just all the adverts you ever see on tv always seem to mention Visa. I will be spending about £1000 on fuel, then hotels on top of that etc.

Think I will have to phone my credit card company and let them know I will be abroad, so they dont stop it or what ever they do.

Abbey seems to be good, as does Post Office!

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/travel/cheap-travel-money#topcards

Quote from: chrisdickoCool, cheers guys.

Just all the adverts you ever see on tv always seem to mention Visa. .

prob because they are visa adverts ;o)

You could also get yourself a pre-paid debit card - they can be a little expensive to use all the time, but great for emergency money - American Express do one.

http://www.prepaid365.com/compare-prepaid-cards.html

looks like tesco could be the best one
http://www.tescofinance.com/personal/finance/travel/travel-card/index.jsp

lol, yeah your right actually, they were Visa adverts!  :whoops:   :mutley:


Will check them links out thanks!

Quote from: chrisdickolol, yeah your right actually, they were Visa adverts!  :whoops:   :mutley:


Will check them links out thanks!

Doo dah  dooo dah diddly dah dah wooop wooop dooooo dah diidddly dah !!!

Po Ta Toes

Not sure but whatever you do let them know that your going, we went to san franscisco about a month ago, didnt think wed need to tell the credit card company but his card got blocked while we were there and we had to ring up and get it sorted (after his mum already told them he was away on holiday when they rang the house)

Get a pre paid card from:
travelex.co.uk/uk/

Or https://www.chequecentre.co.uk/Currency.aspx give good rates and I think they also sell the cash passport too

another point is... depending on how long youre going for.... it to make sure your bill gets paid !

I dont like direct debits.... and forgot when I went to india for 2 weeks... Id told them I was going... and the dates... but my bill must have arrived just after I got to india.... a few days from the end they cut me off !
(even tho Id used less than a quater of my credit limit up)

lucky for me I had my debit card with me so just used that instead

I was pretty pissed off tbh.... my current account is with them too and there was more than enough in there to cover it... Ive had that account for 10+years with a perfect credit history.... but they still cut me off !

Quote from: knightyanother point is... depending on how long youre going for.... it to make sure your bill gets paid !

I dont like direct debits.... and forgot when I went to india for 2 weeks... Id told them I was going... and the dates... but my bill must have arrived just after I got to india.... a few days from the end they cut me off !
(even tho Id used less than a quater of my credit limit up)

lucky for me I had my debit card with me so just used that instead

I was pretty pissed off tbh.... my current account is with them too and there was more than enough in there to cover it... Ive had that account for 10+years with a perfect credit history.... but they still cut me off !

trouble is these days its almost certainly an automated system, theres no human there to say "but hes always been a good customer, we know hes got the money and hes told us hes on holiday, give him a weeks grace", theres just a computer going "bill unpaid -> cancel card"

  Yeah I will make sure I dont have anything on there to be honest, and should have internet access most place I go, so will make sure I dont get blocked!

Thinking about it, I dont really fancy a pre-paid card. Not sure why to be honest, would rather a normal credit card.