Candida

Often the ATM machines abroad will ask which language you want to use so there is no problem understanding.
Do find out how much your bank charges for withdrawing cash abroad, I'm with the Halifax and they charge £1.50 for each withdrawal but I believe some banks charge even more.

Regarding the very obvious plug for Nationwide by Cider monster and other users,you can use almost any card in atm machines in Spain and while these do incur a small charge it generally does cost more in the long term using a credit card as this is classed as borrowing.
We usually use our maestro cards to withdraw cash and even after charges get a better rate of exchange in spain than we would in britain.
however using any card now even in tabacs sometimes incurs a small charge so we take our euros out first and pay in cash
So please holiday truths please stop plugging as it is nauseating and stomache churning and nothing to do with offering advice to holidaymakers.

Maybe you should read my posts before you start talking cr*p!!

My account is with Lloyds TSB, that is why i dont take my card abroad - i use travellers cheques ... as stated in my above post! I only said that i wouldn't use my card unless it was charge free - and the only place i know that does this is the Nationwide

Why i would be plugging a building society that i dont bank with is beyond me!!!

You said you would not recommend using any other card in an atm abroad other than a nationwide one,that seems to give the impression that no others are accepted,therefore you, like other Ht members should perhaps desist from continously plugging a product and instead give unbiases advice.
Its a reasonable request and for the record i dont posess a credit card and dont like people being pushed into debt.
This is supposed to be a holiday forum.

Can i have an ounce of what you are smoking, please?

Point 1 - This is a holiday forum, someone asked about euros, etc, and people have responded with their preferred means. The replies have been a mixed bad, hardly a big ad for the Nationwide, and as i've already said - MY PREFERENCE IS TRAVELLERS CHEQUES!!!!!! Can't you read?????

Point 2 - No one (that's NO ONE!) said that other cards weren't accepted in ATM's, so stop making things up!!

Point 3 - Credit card? Pushing people into debt? Who mentioned that????? The person who mentioned the nationwide account was actually saying that you pay NO FEES with that account - so, for trying to save people money, you are accusing them of trying to get people into debt with Credit Cards!?!?! I personally DONT use the nationwide as i can get free travel insurance, phone insurance, AA cover, etc, with TSB - that's why i use TRAVELLER CHEQUES!!

You really shouldn't post on these forums if you are just going to make cr*p up, to be honest it's quite embarrassing!

Please folks, keep discussion friendly !!

Holidaytruths is not plugging anything. Members are only giving their own personal recommendations and advice, which others may or may not choose to follow. But at least let us try and keep it friendly.

Many thanks
David

instead give unbiases advice.

Just because someone recommends using the Nationwide card doesn't mean that they are biased. Along with many other members I have mentioned using it and will continue to do so and it comes highly recommended on sites such as MoneySavingExpert as being the only debit card which does not impose fees or charges and also gives the Interbank rate of exchange.

luci

Had a letter the other week from TSB, money drawn out from atm abroad is now a 2.99% charge. i am with cidermonster, travellers cheques will do me with a few euros to get me going.

I would love to have an account with Nationwide but due to the fact that I live abroad and have had a Halifax current account for many years I use their card. If I return to the Uk to live in the future I would definitely open an account with Nationwide to save money on my transactions. I am gratefull to HT members for posting the information about Nationwide (which I wasn't aware of) and have never at any time felt that anyone was being pushed into using this bank or their credit cards.

Sorry I just have to comment on this.

I believe that Cidermonster recommended the Nationwide because they are one of the few if not the only bank that don't charge for using your card abroad.

So please holiday truths please stop plugging as it is nauseating and stomache churning and nothing to do with offering advice to holidaymakers.

Just for the record, HT has no affiliation with the Nationwide and does not receive any financial remuneration for recommending it (if we did it would be very nice) but believe it or not we really are trying to offer help and advice!

Thanks to everyone for their input.

Kath HT Admin

to go back to the request for info on nat west maestro, this is what i use.
they charge you a % fee which used to make it less economic to withdraw less than £100(which i believe they have just changed to £200), but i still get a better rate in spain than if i get commission free euros from my bank.
the ATM recognises that you have a non-spanish card and automatically offers you options in english.
before you get your money it asks if you want to be charged in euros or pounds -commission free - and you should select the "no" button which will make your transaction in euros and give you a better exchange rate.

Just so happens that Yahoo has an article on this online today

http://uk.biz.yahoo.com/03072007/389/holiday-money-costing.html

hope i don't get accused of having shares in Yahoo now!

hi does anyone know what the exchange rate is in costa brava at the moment as l have looked on the internet and all l have found is business rate and not the tourist one
many thanks
jan

we were in blanes 2 weeks ago and we were getting 141-142 euro to the pound .

I got back from Lloret yesterday and we were getting 1.44, which is exactly the same exchange rate I got at home before I set off!

many thanks for that candida will see if it changes before we go to malgrat
jan

Hi
Im taking kids to Fennals the Oasis park 15th for 1 wk 1/2 board - can anyone recommend how much spending money i should be safe with??
thanks
vickie

Hi All

I'm going to Lloret de Mar this Saturday for the first time and was wondering if anyone could tell me what the exchange rate is in resort just now? Where's the best place to change £s?

We'll only be changing a few hundred pounds so would want the best rate and not one of those places where you need to change over £1,000 to get a good rate.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. We're staying at the Gran Casino Royal Hotel if that helps with the location.

Thanks,

Gillian

your best bet is probably just to use the ATM's.
if you do your transaction in euros you usually get a good rate.
the rate is falling daily at the moment, but i have seen 1.34 in shops in the main shopping area, but i dont know about minimum amounts as i dont use them.