Lyn - Our son is off to Ibiza in less than 2 weeks and I had a chat yesterday with him about money.
He is hoping to take £700 for a week and is AI.
He is going to get a pre paid card on my suggestion from the Co-op (I have one) and withdraw as needed.
I am worried about losing his passport/money etc.
Will be so glad when he is back - that sounds very selfish but mums can't help worrying can they?
Irene

It sounds like a nightmare Lyn. As you know my daughter is about to go off to Swiitzerland for 10 days and from what I have heard Sausage n Chips for lunch is about 15 Euros she has got some included food thank goodness.

Have got 10 envelopes and am spliting money into ten portions to be put in a safe with one lot taken out each day, but I think your son might think that a bit babyish.

I like the sound of the Thomas Cook card that you load with cash, at least its not a credit card that could get lost and have f r a u d done on it and then you would have all that to sort out.

1000k in cash in a suitcase sounds like a disaster waiting to happen, even if it is stashed in four different places in the room. It's also bound to be nicked/lost at the begining of a holiday rather than the end of a holiday.

Definatly hold some back and wire it over in some way during the holiday, at least that way you will know he can still eat at some point.

Hi Lyn my son tends to take around £300 in cash (euros) have a bit in sterling for airport etc and then his hole in wall debit card which he has not had any issues with - he tends to get cash out with from hole in wall rather than use it to buy stuff with he tells me, as he fears for his card being cloned - don't forget he should let his bank know too of his whearabouts.

I agree, let him take about £300 in cash and get the rest out of the ATM's. It'd also probably be best to get out the maximum from the ATM's which if in the eurozone is about 300 euros per day as this will have the least amount of costs! So when he's almost spent his first 300, get another 300 from the atm.
As it's a lads holiday could they not just split a safe between a group of them? I mean a safe for 10 days between 4 of them won't cost that much each. Maybe a tenner?
At the end of the day, it's very hard for you but you'll just have to let him get on with it and if he ***** it up then he'll hopefully know better next time!

Forgot to say Lyn my son always gets a safe and don't forget to remind him about insurance if he hasn't got already, worth noting too most insurance companies won't cover cash being stolen unless it's in a safe, i.e. not in drawer or something. I just hired a safe for one week it was 30 euros and got 10 back at the end of the week when you hand the key over

Right he now seems happy with me getting him £300 worth of euros and then using the ATM's for the rest . i'll get him to ring the bank tomorrow to be on the safe side and as a backup I'm going to give him my Pre-paid card to keep in a hidden place .Theres nothing on it at the moment but should the worst happen at least I can load some on from this end .

I've been a bit clever & transferred the money from his savings account into mine . It's his hard earned money but I've at least got the control from this end on it now. I'm not as stupid as I might look .

I've told him how important it is for him to get a safe and hopefully he will convey that to the other 3 sharing a room with him . So long as they all agree to get one , yes they will split the cost . if they dont then they are all being very very nieve & stupid.

Insurance is all dealt with . He has annual insurance anyway but I think he's probably paid the travel agents one as well . It was all booked by one of the other lads and I suspect insurance was included in their price .

Now I just need to keep him away from quad bikes & mopeds.

Try not to worry Lyn - I remember when my son went on his first lads holiday I half expected a phone call from the local police saying he's been locked up for drunken behaviour - but I didn't he texted me every other day anyway and yes probably had far too much to drink and didn't hear all the holiday stories thankfully, but they looked out for each other and they are going to do it sooner rather than later.

Get him to send you a text even if only a couple of words might make you feel a bit easier xx

Lyn
Do you think in these other Countrys when they hire them the quads and scooters they give them a helmet ? If so at least that would be something. I would imagine here that you couldn't hire such things without being given one due to us being H&S concsious ?

I'm not convinced on the helmet situation Chris . I'm fairly sure they wouldnt enforce anything , We've all seen those horror stories on TV. Last year when the other lads went to Malia they hired quad bikes . When they returned them some "mystery " damage was claimed by the shop on one of the bikes . The shop demanded 600 euros from them and like idiots they all clubbed together and paid . I've heard that is very common practice and after being bitten last year I'm hoping they will stay clear of them . From what I remember from my younger days moped hire is the big business in Ayia Napa.

I'm even tempted to hide his driving licence before he goes . I did ask him to leave that at home but of course they like to carry that for drinking ID purposes. I'm sure I read somewhere though that the drinking age was 16 or maybe 17 in cyprus .

I'm sure they will all look out for each other Pinky and they have all agreed if any of them has any money problems they will look after each other in that department . As is the Norm around here I'm sure some will go loaded down with money whilst others wont be so lucky . They all returned in one piece last year but my son couldnt go. Not only could he not afford it we had already booked him with us to go to Cuba. He wasnt happy at the time .

I was also going to suggest the Post Office card, they tried to get me to have one the other day. The Euro version has no-commision on top ups (don't get the Sterling version as there's a charge to top it up and then another to withdraw in Euroland!!)

http://www2.postoffice.co.uk/travel/travel-money/travel-money-card&intcampaignid=PI0691 one useful feature is that they offer a free replacement service (including courier delivery) if he loses it!

Do you think in these other Countrys when they hire them the quads and scooters they give them a helmet ?

In most of Europe [France,Greece,Spain,Portugal,Cyprus etc] Crash helmets are required by law on motor bikes and scooters, it dose vary on quads,, the most important things to remember are quad bikes and Mediterranean roads are an extremely dangerous combination. IF they should have an accident MOST HOLIDAY INSURANCE will not cover them [considered a dangerous sport] and even with extended holiday insurance if any alcohol at all is found in the blood it be be deemed invalid

I'm sure you are just worry in the way that a Mum does Lyn and that all will be well.

I know what you mean about their will always be someone from the group loaded with money, we used to ahe that on school trips, all the kids would be told to take a certain amount that I always used to stick to,a nd there would be two or three with triple the amount. wandering round London Zoo where there is naff all to buy for goodness sake. If i was the Mum helper I would then be in charge of more than I had myself !

In some ways teenage kids are still innocent of the world, so if a dubious owner tells them they have done some damage, unlike those of us who might challenge it, if we felt we hadn't, they will just stump up the 600 Euros.

Sorry to go a bit OT.

Steve are you still about ? Would I be able to use that pre-paid Post Office card thing in Switzerland ? I can't work out if it is in Europe for monetary purposes, the fact that it doesn't have the Euro is confusing my small brain ?

Still here. As I read it you can use any version in any country - but if the currency is foreign to the country you'll pay an extra charge- and since there is no Swiss Franc version you're stuck with it! Don't really see the point of using it to draw cash where there is a charge if you have a debit card since the ATM transaction charge on that won't be much different and it's less hassle. Switzerland is in Europe (but not EU), where any Visa/Mastercard notes mention fees or free use they apply there just like EU. Just to confuse things even more, at least one major Swiss bank's ATMs will convert the transaction to Sterling for a UK card (and take the transaction fee themselves) but you shouldn't get charged any extra fee by the card issuer as it appears as a Sterling transaction on your account!

Thanks Steve, very helpful reply.

Well he's gone and what a stressful evening and morning that was . He is at this moment having a skinful in the bar at heathrow airport with 23 mates . Now he 's just got the lecture that they wont be allowed to board their flight if they have any more .

Just wanted to thank everyone for their input in sorting me out . You cant put an old head on young shoulders but I've had a darn good try.

relax - just think of the washing he'll bring back!

Lyn, thought you'd like to know that it's not just the first time that this worry is with you. My youngest (25 but still living at home) gets the same treatment before every holiday he goes on It's just a 'mother' thing.

I agree..It is a mum thing! My son and daughter are both married and have children of their own,but i still worry about them(but i try not to let them know). As my mum used to say....You die if you worry,you die if you don't...SO WHY WORRY. Easier said than done though,isn't it.