Not Sure We Will Be Ready (1 Viewer)

[MotorhomersRus]

Well we leave the country for our first ever winter away in Europe and I’m just beginning to realise we might not have time to do everything
Hubby retires 31st October Chunnel booked 2nd November
Things still to sort ...........everything motorhome needs jobs finishing then it needs loading up.
Got grandkids here all week and most of next week
No car as ours was written off last week through no fault of ours was rear ended
House to sort, clean and shut down.
And there’s bound be loads of stuff to do that I can’t think of now
Oh also so heath issues to sort out as well !

Main one though is I haven’t sorted out if it’s worth taking a prepaid money card to access money while away. Don’t normally have one but there again not normally away this long.
Just use our Visa card and take some cash usually. Not sure there’s time for it to come

I’m grey already and hubby has no hair as it is so good knows what all this will do to us
Sorry for the nervous post but we are really looking forward to going it’s just the strees to get to that day.

 

[Four of us]

I'm sure you'll be fine once you get off but why not delay your departure by a week so you can depart feeling slightly less frazzled? One of the joys of motorhome travel is it's flexibility after all.

 

[yodeli]

Hello!
As I read it you've already travelled in your motorhome so you probably have a must do list as well as a not to forget list. But if not, take all the worries and thoughts out of your mind and put them down on paper.

Then make a day by day list of things to sort out.
You'll be less in stress if you know that everything is written down.
And if you're afraid to forget things then ask on here for lists. Everyone will add his/her two pence worth advice and thoughts!

I wish you much joy while you're away!

Amicalement
Frankie

 

[Anthea M]

Hello!
As I read it you've already travelled in your motorhome so you probably have a must do list as well as a not to forget list. But if not, take all the worries and thoughts out of your mind and put them down on paper.

Then make a day by day list of things to sort out.
You'll be less in stress if you know that everything is written down.
And if you're afraid to forget things then ask on here for lists. Everyone will add his/her two pence worth advice and thoughts!

I wish you much joy while you're away!

Amicalement
Frankie

Great advice Frankie!
Lists are good and once things are done and ticked off, the stress melts away!
Will the insurance not provide a car for a few days at least .
Not sure about the pre paid card as we don't have one others will know!
Enjoy your retirement and travels and let us know how you get on when you can!

 

[Cat53]

We found Revolut extremely easy to apply for, set up and fast too. As for the rest. Sort M/H! Sort meds. Go!

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[mfw]

Think a credit card with decent exchange rate is probably better than prepaid card as long as you pay it off when they ask - weswap do prepaid debit cards with a bonus for putting a certain amount on or used to and you know exactly what rate you will get - weswap also do cash purchase which you would receive in a couple of days

I'm looking at halifax clarity credit card for when i go - and taking cash as well - but you have to look at options and make your own mind up

 

[Riverbankannie]

I agree with above, make lists!
Don’t worry about a prepaid card, if possible have 2 sets of credit and debit cards and keep one set locked in glove box but don’t worry if you haven’t got 2 accounts, set up automatic debits to pay the off every month.
Enlist grandkids to help you.
It will all be worth it!

 

[Four of us]

Another vote for Halifax clarity card. We use ours for all purchases and cash withdrawals when abroad and as long as it's paid off every month it only cost a few pounds interest on the cash part.

 

[Sundowners]

Change your tunnel crossing date, no charge unless you take a dearer crossing time. Gives you more days, less stress. Also agree with a list.

 

[mitzimad]

we use a weswap card but have had it a few years so cant comment how quick it will come

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Bailey58]

We found Revolut extremely easy to apply for, set up and fast too. As for the rest. Sort M/H! Sort meds. Go!

I'll second that. Still time to get the card through the post, download the app to your phone, register a bank card to Revolut and you can top up anytime, anywhere at the click of a couple of buttons. Once or twice I even topped it up whilst waiting in a queue at a checkout before paying.

Only slight negative was it didn't work in fuel pumps in Scandinavia but for that I used a Halifax Clarity card, no foreign transaction charges.

 

[Minxy]

We use Aqua credit cards, no charges for purchases abroad and you get 0.5% cash back ... soon adds up on fuel purchases!

We also have Revolut cards for cash withdrawals (1 each so €400 pcm) and a Starling bank account which charges nothing for cash withdrawals, either at home or abroad.

 

[TerryL]

I wouldn't worry about getting extra cards, they're not really necessary - we've got a loaded Caxton card but it's for emergencies, any extra cash we need we use a debit card, everything else is on credit cards with full repayment Direct Debit. I know exchange rates aren't the best but for the quantity we use it's immaterial. Forget about them.

Agree a week delay might help but there is very little in your "list" that would seriously affect your trip. Tip, why not print out that list, verbatim off here, and use that!

Stop, take a deep breath and r e l a x !

 

[Maureen]

Just go and enjoy!

 

[Just smiffy]

Don’t worry, if you forget anything they do have shops out there....

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Glas Robin]

Sounds fabulously exciting. Bound to be a bit nervy as it's quite a big change of life. But just take it easy and relax. If you have to delay by a few days, well that's the flexibility you now have.

Am very jealous. Enjoy.

Oh, and we've used Caxton currency cards/app in the past - very easy and much cheaper than the charges on our UK cards. The exchange rate was pretty competitive too. Plenty of time for them to still arrive.

 

[Figaro]

Just be aware, some banks Lloyds included hammer you if current account debit card used abroad. Check before you use would be my advice.
I'm another satisfied Revolut user.

 

[Oscar]

Good to hear your plans are coming together, revolut works well for us.

 

[MotorhomersRus]

I'm sure you'll be fine once you get off but why not delay your departure by a week so you can depart feeling slightly less frazzled? One of the joys of motorhome travel is it's flexibility after all.

Would hope not to have to move departure but if needs must !

 

[MotorhomersRus]

T

Hello!
As I read it you've already travelled in your motorhome so you probably have a must do list as well as a not to forget list. But if not, take all the worries and thoughts out of your mind and put them down on paper.

Then make a day by day list of things to sort out.
You'll be less in stress if you know that everything is written down.
And if you're afraid to forget things then ask on here for lists. Everyone will add his/her two pence worth advice and thoughts!

I wish you much joy while you're away!

Amicalement
Frankie

Thanks @yodeli
I have lists telling me where my other lists are

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[MotorhomersRus]

Great advice Frankie!
Lists are good and once things are done and ticked off, the stress melts away!
Will the insurance not provide a car for a few days at least .
Not sure about the pre paid card as we don't have one others will know!
Enjoy your retirement and travels and let us know how you get on when you can!View attachment 262854

@Anthea M

We have a car till Saturday and then that’s it ..........thanks I’ll let you know if we make the deadline

 

[MotorhomersRus]

We found Revolut extremely easy to apply for, set up and fast too. As for the rest. Sort M/H! Sort meds. Go!

Thanks @Cat53
Will look at Revolut

 

[MotorhomersRus]

Think a credit card with decent exchange rate is probably better than prepaid card as long as you pay it off when they ask - weswap do prepaid debit cards with a bonus for putting a certain amount on or used to and you know exactly what rate you will get - weswap also do cash purchase which you would receive in a couple of days

I'm looking at halifax clarity credit card for when i go - and taking cash as well - but you have to look at options and make your own mind up

@mfw thanks for the info

 

[MotorhomersRus]

Change your tunnel crossing date, no charge unless you take a dearer crossing time. Gives you more days, less stress. Also agree with a list.

@Sundowners but we’re so ready to go, would like to manage it if we can.

 

[MotorhomersRus]

I'll second that. Still time to get the card through the post, download the app to your phone, register a bank card to Revolut and you can top up anytime, anywhere at the click of a couple of buttons. Once or twice I even topped it up whilst waiting in a queue at a checkout before paying.

Only slight negative was it didn't work in fuel pumps in Scandinavia but for that I used a Halifax Clarity card, no foreign transaction charges.

@Cat53 thats a few votes for the Revolut card will have to investigate.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[MotorhomersRus]

I wouldn't worry about getting extra cards, they're not really necessary - we've got a loaded Caxton card but it's for emergencies, any extra cash we need we use a debit card, everything else is on credit cards with full repayment Direct Debit. I know exchange rates aren't the best but for the quantity we use it's immaterial. Forget about them.

Agree a week delay might help but there is very little in your "list" that would seriously affect your trip. Tip, why not print out that list, verbatim off here, and use that!

Stop, take a deep breath and r e l a x !

@TerryL thanks there’s more to the list than I have put all doable if I can just get a full day at sorting stuff out.
Think I will do that
Stop,take a deep breath and relax

 

[MotorhomersRus]

Good to hear your plans are coming together, revolut works well for us.

Hi @Oscar yes coming together but things are trying to stop it but we’re digging our heels in and still trying to make that date.
Thanks for your advice at where to stop at Calais, went and had a peaceful sleep will use it again when we cross this time

 

[MR. FUSION]

Well we leave the country for our first ever winter away in Europe and I’m just beginning to realise we might not have time to do everything
Hubby retires 31st October Chunnel booked 2nd November
Things still to sort ...........everything motorhome needs jobs finishing then it needs loading up.
Got grandkids here all week and most of next week
No car as ours was written off last week through no fault of ours was rear ended
House to sort, clean and shut down.
And there’s bound be loads of stuff to do that I can’t think of now
Oh also so heath issues to sort out as well !

Main one though is I haven’t sorted out if it’s worth taking a prepaid money card to access money while away. Don’t normally have one but there again not normally away this long.
Just use our Visa card and take some cash usually. Not sure there’s time for it to come

I’m grey already and hubby has no hair as it is so good knows what all this will do to us
Sorry for the nervous post but we are really looking forward to going it’s just the strees to get to that day.

Take as many cards as you can, weird stuff can happen abroad, my first direct card never worked in Scandinavia and Barclaycard changed from MasterCard to visa nullifying my existing card..... .... So two cards down still had plenty of euros in cash as a back up though.

 

[champers]

We are another Revolut users ...cant fault it..
Use everywhere except unmanned fuel stations ... With no commision unless you are over the commision free limit and top rates given ... cards arrive swiftly ...top up when you want with the amount you need and most currencies world wide ...

Have a great time and safe travels

John n Kath xxx

 

[Bailey58]

Just another thing on Revolut, unless you go for the paid version, and there's no real need, you can only withdraw the equivalent of £200 in cash per month.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}