Barclays now offers travel cards

With millions of Brits heading off on their summer holidays abroad, one major consideration is how to deal with taking money abroad.

Some people rely on cash and traveller’s cheques for spending abroad, whereas others prefer the convenience of credit and debit cards, despite the security risks associated with using your plastic abroad. However, there could be a safer alternative available, that combines easy and convenience with increased security.

Pre pay travel cards are available for consumers that want the ease and security of having a card rather than cash when they go abroad, yet do not want to risk loss or theft of their regular credit and debit cards. These cards are also useful for those that want to ensure that they do no spend more than they have budgeted for when they go abroad. Like a pre pay phone, these cards can be loaded with cash before you go on your holidays, and can be used up to the amount that you have loaded onto the card.

Barclays has now decided to offer travel cards to customers, which will be free to obtain and load with cash. However, ATM withdrawals will be charged at 2%, with a minimum £1.50 charge, and there will be a 2.75% conversion fee if it is in a different currency. A Barclay’s spokesman stated: ‘Pre-pay cards are safer than cash and more flexible than travellers’ cheques. Furthermore it helps holidaymakers budget for the spending on their trip by not allowing them to spend more than the balance on their card.’ 

There are travel cards available from other providers as well, and these are the Post Office, which charges a flat fee of £10 for the card and for loading, and from Travelex, which charges 2% of the amount being loaded onto the card with a minimum fee of £10.

Tom Smith
17th September 2007

Tags: rewards, barclays, travel, cards, spend