Bank Card (1 Viewer)

[dbnosey]

We will be doing our first trip into Europe in May. We will be sailing to Dunkirk, then on to Brugge through Germany via Romantic Road to Austria ( Wolfgangsee area) then down to Lake Garda, Valencia. We then hope to travel back by Switzerland to Thann, then back to Dunkirk.
First question. Travelling from up't North West we will be low on Diesel when we reach tuther side of channel. Where is the best place to fuel up in Dunkirk or Belgium?
Second question. Which no fee card do I apply for to load with money from my current Nat West account?
Thank you
Colin

 

[Boringfrog]

Halifax Clarity. Its a credit card so set a DD up to pay off the full amount.
http://www.halifax.co.uk/creditcards/clarity-card/#

 

[Clickem]

While the Halifax Clarity card gives an excellent exchange rate I think that to apply for one you would need a Halifax Current Account

To load from the Nat West account I would recommend the Caxton FX Prepaid card. You load with whatever currency you want to use, whenever you want, and rates seem good, and then use it abroad like a bank card. You can top up from your current account while abroad and if you lose it you don't have to have too much currency loaded. No fee just the exchange rate. I think they are owned by Newcastle Building Society

https://www.caxtonfx.com/currency-cards/why-use-a-currency-card

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[xsparks]

I have the clarity card and I don't have a current account with Halifax.

 

[Deleted member 29692]

I have a Clarity card and no other accounts with Halifax at all.

The exchange rate is good and there are no fees on purchases but you will be charged interest straight away for cash withdrawals so it's not great for those.

I take a Clarity card for purchases and a Revolut currency card for cash withdrawals.

The Revolut card gives you the spot rate for exchanges which beats all the others by a mile.

 

[WynandJean]

We use Caxton. No charges for cash from ATM or purchases. Get your deisel from any of the large supermarkets, cheaper than petrol stations and often have 24hr self service with Pay At Pump.

They don't always take all cards at pumps but no problem at kiosk.



Wyn

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[WynandJean]

If you need gas you'll get that at the supermarkets too. NOT CALOR! Each country has different bottles with different fittings so be aware of this if you don't have a refillable system.



Wyn

 

[rickwiggans]

We've just come back through Belgium from France. Not a great deal of difference in prices (France or Belgium), other than Luxembourg, which is cheaper, although the difference between Luxembourg and the others is not as great as it was a few months ago. As above, the supermarkets or 24/24 pay at pump places are the place to go, but not all cards are accepted at the 24/24 pay at pump places. In particular, pre-paid cash cards such as Caxton FX are often not accepted.

 

[mitzimad]

we try to arrive in luxembourg empty

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[SomeoneElse]

We use the tunnel but when we head towards Belgium we fill up at Auchan Grande Synthe (51.00479, 2.28551) just off Junction 54 of the A16 motorway. I agree with others Halifax Clarity Card is the way to go, even for cash its better than a normal bank card.

 

[berni109]

Norwich and Peterborough building society debit card - commercial exchange rate and no foreign transaction fees even for cash machines.