No problem, i use my nationwide all the time, there are a fair few in sharm, HSBC is one of them.

Michelle x

The hotels I have stayed in have ATMs on the premises.

I would recommend to anyone going to Egypt intending to use the hole in walls, to inform their bank before travelling, as it has been known that cards get swallowed up and blocked for security reasons.

Debit cards are ok, they wont swallow them up, its credit cards you need to watch out for.

I have often used my debit card in Egypt but last time I forgot to tell the bank I was travelling. The first transaction was ok but after that it was blocked (but not swallowed!) and there was a message on my answerphone from my bank's f raud squad on my return! Whilst in resort I resorted to using my credit card to obtain cash.

When I got my credit card statement I noticed I had been charged a cash handling fee and quite hefty interest despite clearing the whole of my previous balance before due date. I queried this with credit card company and spoke to a really helpful chap, he explained that all cash advances attract interest (obvious) and that payments against balances are allocated not in chronological order but by transaction type, cash being last (not so obvious - hidden in smallprint). Therefore one may have cleared the total balance but if the credit card is still being used one is still paying interest on the cash advance! Needless to say I cleared the whole of the balance to date.

Moral of the story LET YOUR BANK AND CREDIT CARD COMPANIES KNOW YOU ARE TRAVELLING AND IF YOU HAVE TO RESORT TO TAKING CASH OUT ON CREDIT CARD CLEAR YOUR WHOLE BALANCE AS SOON AS YOU CAN OR YOU WILL BE PAYING INTEREST ON THE TRANSACTION FOREVER!

Thanks to all who answered my query. Must say have never had to inform Nationwide that I am going abroad, the flex account is advertised for using abroad, (on T.V.) Nationwide isn't a bank so maybe that has something to do with it. I know in Greece you have to press CHECKING as the type of account you want your money from. I know people who press SAVING and this has swallowed the card, the choices that come up on the screen are different to here in the U.K. Can be a bit confusing. Thanks again fellow travellers.

I did tel the NW that i was going to Egypt and New york this year, and they said i didnt have to tell them. It maybe just NW customers. I use mine and never tell them now, but always do my CC, cannot afford to take that risk.

Hi just back again and I used my debit card once. Tried to use it again but couldnt. Got home and had a letter from the bank to say they had put a block on the card due to suspected fraud. So dont rely on your card only for getting cash or you will have to spend a small fortune calling your bank in the UK to sort it out. Natwest said they dont have the facility to note that you are using your card abroad and will automatically block it. Spoke to quite a few who all had different cards and banks and the same had happened to them as well.

That's such a shame you had problems, i suppose we have been lucky. I have never had problems with my Nationwide debit card anywhere abroad i have used it. I know CC you have to tell them you are going which is understandable. It is good to have security to prevent mis-use, but to stop travellers from using there own is really awful.

Hi, as I mentioned in a previous post the same happened to me though I usually advise them when I am travelling (if you bank with Barclays this can be done online). I was quite cross as if they had bothered to check my records they would have realised its not unusual spending as I travel to Egypt quite frequently. I'm sure banks and credit card companies are getting tougher on the use of cards abroad so its worth taking a variety of cards and UK sterling as well just in case of problems.

Hi I think the banks are trying to keep on top of fraud. I had mine cloned last year and ithin a matter of hours they cleaned me out. I was still in possession of my card. I too am a frequent traveller to Egypt but I dont really use my card as I have 2 Egyptian bank accounts. It was the other holidaymakers I really felt for as they literally had no other money. Someone else I was talking to said it cost her more than £50 in calls from her mobile to the bank in the UK to re activate the card.

My son has a Nationwide one which he uses and he has never had any problems. I agree that you shouldnt really rely on your card unless the bank clarifies that they are aware you are going abroad and that they wont put a block on it.