Pre paid debit cards.

[timwilky]

So the missus is going on a Caribbean cruise with the eldest daughter in October, she does not have a credit card and not much money. she spent most of her savings helping the lad out with his mortgage when he had no work.

So I thought it would be nice to put a couple of hundred away for her for the next few months as a surprise. As on her cruise all the bills will be in US dollars I thought it would be a good idea to give her the surprise spends on a dollar card.

Having looked round, it is bewildering. Some want application fees, as if I would want to pay to let somebody have my money up front. Others want monthly fees. Sod that. Others apply transaction fees and yet others want whopping fees for the use of ATMs

Have any on you any recommendations? I am tempted towards a moneycorp card as they don't have most of the above fees and seem to offer good exchange rates as well. Remember all the transactions on the card will be in dollars.

Recommendations/suggestions please. I suppose the best way is to give her a "fistful of dollars", but it is then the security and practicality of settling accounts with cash rather than swipe etc.

[tigersaw]

Is this for spending on the boat, sorry liner?.. My dads a cruiser, he runs a tab then settles at the end of the cruise. Maybe something could be arranged with the cruise ship, bunging some money on account?

Call me old fashioned mate, but, American Express travellers cheques? Or are the cards cheaper?

[timwilky]

Originally Posted by tigersaw

Is this for spending on the boat, sorry liner?.. My dads a cruiser, he runs a tab then settles at the end of the cruise. Maybe something could be arranged with the cruise ship, bunging some money on account?

Yeah everything is on account, bar bills, dining supplements etc. even a flipping fixed daily dining tip and 15% bar bill tip. So I just thought the card would enable her to easily settle her bills plus the flexibility with on shore shopping etc.

Remember I want this to be a surprise for her, travellers cheques are not an option as she would have to be there as they are bought to sign them etc.

Originally Posted by timwilky

Remember I want this to be a surprise for her, travellers cheques are not an option as she would have to be there as they are bought to sign them etc.

Shows how long it is since I used travellers cheques. I take it the cards come with a chip and pin number, ie: they are more secure than cash if she were to loose it?

Are we talking about the Missus, or your Daughter, or both?

[timwilky]

Exactly, a pin number, so they can be used at ATMs etc. or swiped in a shop etc.

Just for the wife, daughter has her spends.

She was asking last night if I would give her some money to take and nasty old me told her if she couldn't afford it, she shouldn't have booked it. The daughter knows I am planning on giving her a grand in spending money so gave me some real jip about being a miserly old man.

I just hope that she doesn't raid the joint account for spending money to teach her tight husband another lesson.

think post office and thomas cook do them cards, preload them etc

[Spikenipple]

Travelex do pre-paid travel cards, which if i remember correctly are free. I picked mine up from the bureau de change in my local Tesco.

[Balky001]

Tim

You can but traveller's cheques without the wife being present, you just have to sign a disclaimer sayng you are aware they are not covered until she signs them. Just get her to sign when you give them to her. Make sure the ship accepts the traveller's cheques first though!

I have a FairFX card ( mastercard ) which I used in France earlier this year. The exchange rate was pretty good and there was no additional charges, however! Most of the places I went to did not accept it and the only way I could get money out was by using ATM's at banks. The advantage of them is that you don't carry lots of cash all the time, but you can get stuck if the place your at does not accept the card.
Being on a cruise ship should not be a problem as they all have ATM's and you might get help from the service desk if there is a problem.
Ste.